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About Freena

Modern Living Room

Freena is a Clinical Associate in Applied Psychology (CAAP) registered with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and Certified Executive Function Coach. She provides specialist services to support children, young people and families as well as adults.

 

Freena completed her clinical MSc in Applied Psychology for Children and Young People, a programme accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) at the University of Edinburgh. She has 10 years experience working with children and families, and has worked predominantly in the NHS Specialist Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS, for up to 18 year olds). Freena's skills and experience are carrying out clinical assessments and treatments for children, adolescents and families in relation to a range of emotional, psychological and behavioural difficulties. She also offers specialist mental health training, consultation and supervision to Social Care, Early Help and Education staff. 

 

Freena is also qualified as an Executive Function/ ADHD Coach, which supports the development and strengthening of Executive Function Skills in young people and adults, particularly neurodivergent individuals, such as those with ADHD or Autism, where executive function skills can be even more challenging. Coaching focuses on supporting individuals to improve executive function skills such as task initiation, planning, prioritising, time management, organisation, emotional regulation and metacognition. 

 

Freena holds full membership with the BPS (FMBPsS). She holds public liability and professional indemnity insurance, and is supervised by HCPC registered Clinical Psychologists in both her private and NHS roles.

 

 

Memberships  and Governing Bodies  

Professional Registration with British Psychological Society (BPS) -

Wider Psychological Workforce Register ID - CAAP1226

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) | 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

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Current Work

Since 2018, Freena has been working at Anna Freud/ University College London (UCL) and is now Programme Director for two post-graduate courses: CYP IAPT Supervision Course and the new 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, Traumatic Stress and parenting interventions, as well as training clinical supervisors.

 

Previous Experience (2012 - 2019):

Clinical Director for an NHS commissioned Third-sector Mental Health Service for Children and Young People 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 Psychologist, Greater Glasgow & Clyde NHS

Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner Adult Service, Hertfordshire NHS

Assistant Psychologist, CAMHS, Staffordshire NHS & Psycho-Oncology Service, NHS

Early career included volunteer work at NSPCC Childline and Age UK.

 

Further Training/ Continued Professional Development:

  • 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

  • Inclusive Recruitment Training - Anna Freud Centre - 2022 

  • Cultural Competence - Nafsiyat Intercultural Therapy Centre’s CPD - 2022 

  • Interculturality within the Supervisory Relationship - Nafsiyat Intercultural Therapy Centre’s CPD - 2021 

  • Effective People Management - Leadership - Juno Learning & Development - Anna Freud Centre - 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

  • Increasing Access of the CWP service to BAME communities - 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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