Clinical Psychology

We are a team of experienced professionals working within the hospital to help people manage their physical and emotional health care and achieve the best possible quality of life.

In the clinical psychology department we help individuals who are experiencing psychological difficulties which may be impacting their lives negatively and making it hard for them to progress with their treatment or rehab. It can be common for instance to feel anxious, overwhelmed and low in mood after suffering an accident or physical health condition needing hospital admission. Symptoms of trauma and stress such as flashbacks and difficulties sleeping are also common.

In the psychology team, we treat these symptoms using evidence-based therapies and approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Counselling and Eye movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). We aim to reduce levels of distress and help people to learn about ways of managing and overcoming stress and trauma. We help people manage anxiety provoking events such as surgery and we also support people to adjust and come to terms with life changing diagnoses and experiences.

We work alongside departments across the hospital including Oncology, Stroke, Burns and Plastics, Paediatrics and Maternity, supporting people in making difficult decisions about their care and recovery, managing procedures such as scans, blood tests, and treatments such chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.

Another part of the service involves helping individuals with long-term health conditions such as diabetes and chronic pain. We work in conjunction with other professionals in the hospital such as nurses, doctors and physiotherapists to help support people in engaging with their rehab or treatment to improve coping and maximise quality of life.

Throughout the service, we aim to help people build resilience, and understanding of the link between psychological and physical health to enable people to feel more in control of their recovery.

Please note, we are not an emergency service. If you have concerns about your mood please contact your GP in the first instance.

	Professor Nigel North, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Head of Department Nigel is head of the Department of Clinical Psychology and has worked in Salisbury for many years and previously worked in Edinburgh. He is a Clinical Psychologist and also a Neuropsychologist. His areas of expertise include the management of chronic pain, physical rehabilitation of complex injuries and neuropsychology. He has published research papers in the areas of cancer, neuropsychology, stroke, communication skills, brain injury and spinal cord injury.
	Louise Smith Louise is the Secretary for the Clinical Psychology Department and will likely be the first face you see upon arrival to the department. She has been part of the team since 2018 and organises all the therapists, diaries which include making and amending appointments.
	Dr Jane Lewendon, Consultant Clinical Psychologist Jane joined the department in 2015. She works with adults and children and is the Psychology lead for Burns and Plastics and Paediatric Diabetes. She has a special interest in trauma and is trained in both trauma-focussed CBT and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing). She has recently been appointed as the joint lead for a two-year post-COVID staff wellbeing project.
	Dr Kate Jenkins, Consultant Clinical Psychologist Kate joined the department in 2006, when she ran a three-year project into Psychological Services for patients with cancer. Since the end of that project she has been the Clinical lead for Cancer and Intensive Care, working with national groups to develop services around the UK as well as here in Salisbury. Most recently Kate has started working on the Staff COVID Recovery project and has taken the role of Deputy Head of Department.
	Isobel Bros, Assistant Psychologist Isobel joined the team in early 2022, she assists Jane with the Paediatric Diabetes team, creating resources and running youth clinic sessions around wellbeing. She is also working on a research project into our Stars Appeal Engage Volunteer scheme; looking at the ways social engagement from our volunteers impacts older adults during their hospital stay.
	Dr Sophie Callis, Clinical Psychologist Sophie has been working in the department since 2022. She primarily uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy but also draws on other modalities to develop a personalised plan for each patient. She works with inpatients and outpatients across the hospital and has a particular interest in treating psychological difficulties after an intensive care admission.
	Dr Kath Gwynn Kath has over 12 years' experience working for the NHS and works across all departments in the hospital with people of all ages. She has substantial experience working with young people. She works integratively drawing on cognitive behavioural, as well as psychotherapeutic approaches, as well as acceptance and commitment therapy. She is the Psychology Lead for adult Diabetes.
	Sarah Jane Pestell, Counsellor and Psychotherapist Sarah has over 30 years' experience of working within the NHS. initially as a Registered Nurse, specialising in intensive care and for the last 15 years as a Counsellor and Psychotherapist specialising within cancer, maternity, fertility and bereavement services. She works with a number of different therapies, including Psychodynamic, Person-Centred, Existential, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Compassion Focused Therapy and Mindfulness. She has been involved in a number of research studies, which have been published.
	Dr Stephanie Farrar, Clinical Psychologist Steph recently joined the department in 2021 and works with patients experiencing a wide variety of physical health problems. A key part of her role is supporting patients with a Cancer diagnosis and those under the Burns and Plastics Department, and providing support to staff in these areas. Steph uses a number of therapeutic approaches in her clinical work, including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and third wave approaches, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Steph has a special interest in trauma focused work and body image concerns.
	Simon Wickes Simon joined the department in 2015, working as a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist. He has a special interest in anxiety across the physical health setting and is trained in trauma focused CBT. As well as working in the department, he is also a psychologist in the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Centre.
	Rubina Thiebaut, Stars Appeal Engagers Programme, Volunteer Coordinator Rubina joined, what is now known as the Stars Appeal Engagers Programme in July 2019 and manages the programme from the recruitment, teaching and training of volunteers, through to the day-to-day requirements of the programme, as well as liaising with wards to ensure their requirements are being met. For more information on the Stars Appeal Engagers Programme, please click here.
	Zoe Leggett Zoe works behind reception answering calls and helping the team with administration.
	Trainees We often have Trainee Clinical Psychologists working with us as part of their doctoral training at the universities of Bath and Southampton.