Sheilagh is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist. She studied Psychology at the University of Edinburgh, gaining a first class Honours degree in 2002. She proceeded to study Clinical Psychology at Edinburgh, gaining a doctorate in 2006 and acquiring chartered status thereafter.
Prior to joining the Keil Centre, Sheilagh trained and worked within the NHS. Sheilagh has expertise in the assessment and treatment of a wide range of psychological problems. She is qualified to work with individuals, couples and families, and with problems seen across a wide age range (young children to older adults).
Since qualifying, Sheilagh has chiefly focused her practice in the assessment and treatment of adult mental health problems. In her therapeutic work, Sheilagh works 'integratively'; that is, she draws from various models of psychotherapy in order to tailor treatment according to individual needs. Sheilagh draws from approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and psychodynamic therapy. She also has a special interest in 'narrative' psychology and how the self develops and changes in relation to others.
Sheilagh has gained from a range of post-qualification training. This has included accredited specialist training in CBT for severe and enduring problems, and further training in family work. She has also attended training in approaches such as 'narrative therapy' and 'solution focused therapy'.
Sheilagh has delivered presentations of her own research at international conferences and has published research in the area of identity change and postnatal depression. Sheilagh's doctoral thesis considered how young people's identities change and develop in the context of psychological trauma.
The range of problems treated include the following:
- anxiety
- social anxiety
- health anxiety
- panic disorder
- phobias
- obsessive compulsive disorder
- post traumatic stress
- complex trauma
- depression
- post natal depression
- low self esteem
- inappropriate anger
- relationship difficulties
- sexual problems
- grief
- adjustment to medical diagnosis
- work-related stress
- addiction problems
- eating disorders