About Freena

Private Psychologist for Children & Young People specialising in Autism, ADHD and Executive Function in Bedford, Bedfordshire and beyond

Freena is a Psychologist and Certified Executive Function Coach. She provides specialist psychological therapy, coaching and support for children, young people, families and adults.

Freena trained in NHS CAMHS as a Clinical Associate in Applied Psychology (CAAP) in her previous NHS roles, and completed her clinical MSc in Applied Psychology for Children and Young People in 2014 — a programme accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) at the University of Edinburgh. She has over 12 years’ experience working with children and families, predominantly within NHS Specialist Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Her skills and experience include carrying out psychological assessments within her scope of practice and delivering evidence‑based treatments for a range of emotional, psychological and behavioural difficulties. She also provides specialist mental health training, consultation and supervision to Social Care, Early Help and Education professionals.

Freena is also qualified as an Executive Function and ADHD Coach, supporting young people and adults to strengthen executive function skills. This approach is particularly helpful for neurodivergent individuals, including those with ADHD or Autism, where executive functioning can be more challenging. Coaching focuses on developing skills such as task initiation, planning, prioritising, time management, organisation, emotional regulation and metacognition.

Freena holds Full Membership with the British Psychological Society (FMBPsS). She holds public liability and professional indemnity insurance, and receives regular clinical supervision from HCPC‑registered Clinical Psychologists.

In independent practice, Freena provides psychological therapy, coaching and specialist support within her professional scope as a Psychologist and Therapist.

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Memberships  and Governing Bodies 

Full Membership with British Psychological Society (FMBPsS)

Information Commissioners Office (ICO) registered

Clinical Supervision provided by a HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologist

Freena holds public liability and professional indemnity insurance.

Freena holds an Enhanced DBS certificate.

Qualifications 

MSc in Applied Psychology for Children and Young People (BPS Accredited Programme) | University of Edinburgh

PG-Diploma in Psychology | University of Nottingham

PG-Certificate in Children and Young People’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (CYP IAPT) Management and Leadership | University College London (UCL)

BA (Hons) in English & Psychology | Birmingham City University

Certified Executive Function Skills Coaching Level 1 & Level 2 | Connections in Mind

Certified Conscious Uncoupling™ Coach | Katherine Woodward Thomas

Current Work

Freena works at Anna Freud/ University College London (UCL) as Programme Director for two post-graduate courses: CYP IAPT Supervision Course and the PG Diploma Senior Wellbeing Practitioner (SWP) Programme. She leads, manages and teaches to professionals training to work in children’s mental health, specifically in relation to presentations such as Anxiety, Depression/ Low Mood, OCD, Tics & Tourette's, Neurodivergence, Traumatic Stress and parenting support, as well as training clinical supervisors.

UCL Staff Profile

Anna Freud Staff Profile

Previous Experience (2012 - 2019):

Clinical Director for an NHS commissioned Third-sector Children's Mental Health Service in Bedfordshire & Cambridgeshire.

Senior Early Help CAMHS Clinician, East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT)

Early Help CAMHS Clinician, ELFT NHS

CAMHS Clinician, Lanarkshire NHS

Trainee Clinical Associate Applied Psychologist, Greater Glasgow & Clyde NHS

Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner Adult Service, Hertfordshire NHS

Assistant Psychologist, CAMHS & Psycho-Oncology Service, NHS

NSPCC Childline and Age UK.

Further Training/ Continued Professional Development:

Collaborative Divorce & Co-Parenting Tools for Two-Home Families - Katherine Woodward Thomas - 2025
National Autism Trainer (Train the Trainer) - NHS England NATP - 2024
Sensory Profiles & Accommodations for Neurodivergent CYP - Anna Freud/ UCL - 2024
School Exclusion & School Anxiety in Neurodivergent CYP - AT-Autism - 2024
The SPELL Framework for Autism - AT-Autism - 2024
Dropping the Mask & Meltdowns, Emotional Burnout in Autism - The Autistic Advocate - 2024
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in CYP & CBT Interventions - Anna Freud/ UCL - 2024
Conscious Uncoupling™ Coach Training - Katherine Woodward Thomas - 2021-2022
Cultural Competence - Nafsiyat Intercultural Therapy Centre’s CPD - 2022
Interculturality within the Supervisory Relationship - Nafsiyat Intercultural Therapy Centre’s CPD - 2021
CBT Strategies for working with Emotional Regulation and Self-Harm – Anna Freud Centre – 2020
Guided Parent-led CBT for Child Anxiety (Train the Trainer) - Cathy Creswell - 2020
Executive Function Skills Coaching Level 2: Competent Executive Function Coach Status with Grade 1 Outstanding – Connections In Mind Foundation - 2020
ITSIEY Specialist: Reflective Supervision in Infant Mental Health (0-24 months): Holding the supervisee, child and family in mind (3 day) – Anna Freud Centre - 2019
Executive Function Skills Coaching Level 1: Core Skills Accreditation – Connections In Mind Foundation - 2018
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Essentials (3 day) ELFT NHS – 2017
DBT Skills Development Group (3 day) ELFT NHS – 2017
Wellbeing Ambassador Programme for Schools (Worth-It) – Train the Trainer - 2017
Enhanced Clinical Supervision Training (4 day) – Anna Freud Centre - 2017
Adapting CBT for Children/ Adolescents with ASC: Training for Practitioners Experienced in CBT - NHS Education for Scotland (NES) - 2016
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Children & Young People - Theory & Practice - University of Edinburgh – 2014
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - University of Edinburgh – 2014
The Incredible Years® Parenting Programme - Webster-Stratton – 2014
Dina Dinosaur School The Incredible Years® Child Training Programme - Webster-Stratton - 2014
Triple P® Parenting Programme - 2014
Mellow Parenting - Parenting and Relationship Programme - Mellow Parenting - 2014
Making Sense of Children's Behaviour - Training for Foster Carers/ Adoptees - NHS South Staffordshire & Shropshire - LAC CAMHS 2013

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