Veronica Watt

I have extensive NZ and UK experience working clinically with children, young people (adolescents), couples, adults and families. Having worked in a range of public and private settings, I am able to use a range of therapeutic approaches and have considerable experience of psychological treatments and providing clinical supervision.

Areas of Special Interest

• individual, couple, family and systemic psychotherapy
• psychodynamic and relational therapy approaches
• trauma/PTSD
• adolescence
• attachment
• somatic symptom/ functional disorder presentations
• parenting & parent/child relationships
• professional clinical supervision and consultation

Therapy Services

My practice is grounded in a strong commitment to evidence-based care, drawing on both clinical expertise and the latest research to guide the therapies I offer. We will work together to identify the most appropriate treatment for you—considering your specific difficulties, the evidence base, and your personal circumstances.I offer short-, medium-, and longer-term therapies, tailored to meet your individual needs and goals. At the heart of my approach is the therapeutic relationship, which I see as central to creating meaningful, lasting change.

I am trained in a range of evidence-based therapies, including Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) for adults and children/adolescents, Mentalisation-Based Treatment (MBT), and a variety of relational, trauma- and attachment-informed approaches. Where appropriate, I also integrate elements of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

I am also trained and accredited in a number of well-established parenting programmes, including Incredible Years, Strengthening Families Strengthening Communities, Triple P, Parenting with Love and Limits (for high-risk teenagers), and Circle of Security. In addition, I am accredited to provide MDMA-Assisted Therapy within research settings.

Therapy Approach

I mostly use a relational (systemic and psychodynamic) approach which means that it is most useful if we understand our difficulties in terms of the relationships we have- with our selves, our families, our wider social networks – and that making sense of these in new ways offers us steps towards changes and new understandings of our selves and others. I use an integrative model that incorporates best clinical practice with your unique situation.

Background and Experience

• Work with young people, couples, adults and families with a range of difficulties including depression, anxiety, personality and relationship difficulties, and existential issues for many years.
• Trauma (developmental and single/ multiple incident) in a range of contexts- children and young people in the care system, family violence and court work, youth forensics, specialist refugee services and complex needs of all kinds (including multisystemic therapy and intensive family interventions)
• Specialist Eating Disorders services and I am trained and experienced in Family Based Treatment (FBT), Adolescent Focused Therapy (AFT) and Multifamily Therapy (MFT)
• Consultant and national advisor in the UK on best practice in working with families, parenting, and high risk, complex presentations.
• Clinical consultant on Mentalisation Based approaches and teams
• Professional leadership in psychotherapy and health services

Supervision Services

I have provided individual professional supervision for many years to clinicians from a range of disciplines. These include consultants across a range of medical specialities, psychiatric registrars, junior doctors, nurses and allied health disciplines. I have also taught, mentored and supervised multidisciplinary clinicians in family therapy, systemic methods and techniques, relational and attachment approaches, and group work. I have worked within a range of legislative frameworks, and have been the service representative on a number of multi-agency strategic and operational groups.

As a practice lead and clinical supervisor of others, I have quality assured clinicians and partner agencies through live supervision, supervision groups, teaching and support.

I am also trained in the Solihull approach and an accredited supervisor and facilitator of Family Partnership Model (Centre for Parent and Child Support, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust) and have trained multidisciplinary clinicians in FPM and MESCH.