Carl Taylor

Valuing your subjective experience.

Your emotional well-being is important. Don't let past experiences or relationship challenges overshadow your present. By identifying and resolving unhelpful coping mechanisms and interactions, you can make meaningful changes.

Our past has a way of shaping how we perceive ourselves, the world, and our relationships. We may get stuck in difficult memories or emotions we'd rather forget. Negative thinking, ingrained beliefs, and maladaptive coping strategies can lead to self-defeating behaviours that impact our daily lives.

These past experiences significantly influence how we handle stress and emotional difficulties. They bring forth challenging memories and emotions we may try to bury. However, it's crucial to remember that your past doesn't define who you are now. Don't let unwanted memories, traumatic events, or outdated relationship patterns hold you back.

Approach:

As a psychologist with a background in NHS mental health services, I have received training in cognitive, psychodynamic, and integrative models of psychotherapy. With experience in addressing a wide range of mental health difficulties, I can draw upon various theoretical orientations and evidence-based practices.

My approach is goal-oriented and focused on helping you make positive changes in your life. Together, we will explore how your difficulties may have developed through past experiences and how they are maintained in the present. I take a direct and practical approach in therapy, working collaboratively with you to develop self-awareness and reflective skills. This will enable you to recognise and revise unhelpful patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving, empowering you to move forward.

Don't let outdated viewpoints, beliefs, or misconceptions hold you back. Take action now to create positive change in your life.

Clinical Expertise:

With over 21 years of clinical experience, including 14 years within the NHS, I have developed expertise in various areas. Starting my career in 2002, I worked in psychotherapy services of university and charitable trusts. In 2006, I pursued my specialization in anxiety, depression, and personality disorders within the NHS.

Within the South London and Maudsley NHS trust (SLaM), I held a senior position as the lead clinician for Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) and Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT) services in the Lewisham Integrated Psychological Therapies Service (Lewisham IPTT).

Throughout my professional career at SLaM, I have worked in Psychiatric Inpatient Wards, Community Mental Health Teams, and Integrated Psychology and Psychotherapy services. I have provided clinical consultation to colleagues and supervised and managed qualified and trainee clinical and counselling psychologists.

Qualifications:

I completed my undergraduate studies in Psychology with honours (BSc Hons) at Royal Holloway College (University of London) in 1998. Subsequently, I pursued a Masters in Counselling Psychology at Regents College, followed by a Post Masters Diploma in Existential Counselling Psychology.

Continuing my professional development, I obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) in 2012 and achieved accreditation as a CAT supervisor in 2014. Expanding my expertise further, I pursued clinical training in Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT) and gained accreditation as an MBT Practitioner with the British Psychoanalytic Council in 2015.

These qualifications and extensive training have equipped me with the skills and knowledge necessary to provide exceptional therapy and support to my clients.

Initial Consultation:

I offer limited clinical slots assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. When you contact me, we'll discuss your preferences for in-person or online sessions and whether you prefer evening or daytime appointments. If you plan to use health insurance, please provide the provider information.

If I have a slot that matches your preferences, I'll reserve it for you and arrange an initial consultation. This meeting serves as a business discussion to address your concerns and practical aspects of starting therapy. It also allows you to get a sense of my therapeutic style and approach.

Having a conversation before committing to ongoing treatment is beneficial. You can openly share your struggles and ask any questions about my practice. During the consultation, I'll outline the initial sessions and provide a recommendation for your therapeutic approach.

If I believe another therapy approach would better suit your needs, I'll inform you accordingly.

First Sessions:

The initial appointments focus on assessment, gathering comprehensive information about you. We explore your presenting problem, life context, family background, relationships, therapy history, and conduct a risk assessment. This helps us tailor our approach and establish therapy goals collaboratively.

Looking after your mental health is a priority, don’t let feelings of anxiety and depression have a negative impact on your relationships, work opportunities and overall emotional well-being. Unhelpful coping strategies, thought patterns and maladaptive beliefs can lead to self-destructive behaviours which can have a significant impact on your day to day functioning.

Don’t let unwanted past experiences, relationship difficulties and outdated self-perceptions cloud your here and now interactions. By working through and identifying unhelpful patterns of coping, relating and functioning you can make the changes in your life.

Your past experiences can influence the way you make sense of your world and relationships. The past can leave you with difficult unwanted memories and feelings which you would rather push away and forget. This can have a significant impact on how you cope with stress, adversity and emotionally difficulties.

However, your past does not define who you are now. Don’t let unwanted memories, traumatic events, and outdated relational patterns hold you back. Make changes in the here and now, recognise your blind spots and find more helpful and adaptive coping strategies.

Approach:

As a psychologist, I have trained in both cognitive and psychodynamic models of psychotherapy. I have worked across a wide range of mental health problems. I am able to draw on a range of theoretical orientations, evidence-based practices, and my extensive clinical experience to tailor therapy to meet your individual needs.

My work is goal orientated and focused on helping you to make changes in your life for the better. I will help you to understand how your problems may have developed and how they are maintained. I take a direct and down to earth approach with therapy to help you move forward by revising unhelpful patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving.

Clinical Expertise:

I have over 20 years of clinical experience, including 14 years within the NHS. I started my career as a clinician in 2002, initially working in university and charitable trusts psychotherapy services. In 2006 I went on to pursue my specialist interest in working with anxiety, depression and personality disorders within the NHS.

I held a senior position as the lead clinician for both the Cognitive Analytic Therapy service and the Mentalization-Based Therapy service within the Lewisham Integrated Psychological Therapies Service (Lewisham IPTT), which is part of the renowned South London and Maudsley NHS trust (SLaM).

Over the course of my professional career within SLaM I have worked on Psychiatric Inpatient Wards, and within Community Mental Health Teams, as well as within an Integrated Psychology and Psychotherapy service. I have been responsible for clinical consultation to colleagues and I have supervised and managed both qualified and trainee clinical and counselling psychologists.

Qualifications:

Having graduated in 1998 from Royal Holloway College (University of London) with BSc (Hons) in Psychology, I went on to complete a Masters in Counselling Psychology at Regents College and then a Post Masters Diploma in Existential Counselling Psychology.

Continuing with my professional development, I attained a Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) in 2012 and went on to attain accreditation as a CAT supervisor in 2014. Further developing my interest in working with complex cases I pursued clinical training in Mentalization-based Therapy and attained accreditation as an MBT Practitioner with the British Psychoanalytic Council in 2015.

Initial Consultation:

I offer an initial consultation (via Zoom), for potential clients who would like to get a sense of how I work. I don’t charge for the initial consultation, I think it is helpful for you to be able to have a conversation with me before committing to ongoing treatment. The meeting is essentially a business meeting between the both of us so that we can discuss your initial concerns and the practicalities of engaging in treatment.

I do ask that people take some time to look at my website before arranging an initial consultation.

As a psychologist there are some clinical presentations and therapy approaches which I have more expertise in than others, if I think that I am not the best choice for a particular difficulty I will let you know and make appropriate recommendations, equally the consultation helps the you to make an informed decision whether to proceed to a first session.

First sessions:

After the initial consultation we can arrange an appointment. The first appointment constitutes the assessment phase of therapy. During the assessment meeting I will ask you about your current difficulties and your past experiences. I will also ask you about your interpersonal relationships, and your family background. This process forms part of the initial assessment and will inform the agreed treatment plan for therapy. In practice assessments will usually be the first 2 sessions, after the assessment process we will be able to discuss an understanding of your difficulties and how best to proceed.

I place an emphasis on developing a psychological understanding of your difficulties so that you are able to recognise how unhelpful patterns develop and are maintained. My aim is to help you make sense of your here and now difficulties whilst taking into account and valuing your individual experiences and relationship to the world in which you live.

BPS and ACAT accredited clinical supervisor.

I am an accredited clinical supervisor with the British Psychological Society and Association for Cognitive Analytic Therapy. I have supervised and managed both qualified and trainee clinical and counselling psychologists.

Clinical Expertise:

I have over 18 years of clinical experience, including 14 years within the NHS. I started my career as a clinician in 2002, initially working in university and charitable trusts psychotherapy services. In 2006 I went on to pursue my specialist interest in working with anxiety, depression and personality disorders within the NHS.

I held a senior position as the lead clinician for both the Cognitive Analytic Therapy service and the Mentalization-Based Therapy service within the Lewisham Integrated Psychological Therapies Service (Lewisham IPTT), which is part of the renowned South London and Maudsley NHS trust (SLaM).

I have worked as an integral member of community based Multi-Disciplinary Teams, providing clinical consultation to psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses and social workers. I was also responsible for the provision of psychological assessments, clinical interventions including referrals to and liaison with specialist tertiary services.

Qualifications:

Having graduated in 1998 from Royal Holloway College (University of London) with BSc (Hons) in Psychology, I went on to complete a Masters in Counselling Psychology at Regents College and then a Post Masters Diploma in Existential Counselling Psychology.

Continuing with my professional development, I attained a Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) in 2012 and went on to attain accreditation as a CAT supervisor in 2014. Further developing my interest in working with complex cases I pursued clinical training in Mentalization-based Therapy and attained accreditation as an MBT Practitioner with the British Psychoanalytic Council in 2015.

As a psychologist, I have trained in both cognitive and psychodynamic models of psychotherapy. I have worked across a wide range of mental health problems. I am able to draw on a range of theoretical orientations, evidence-based practices, and my extensive clinical experience to tailor therapy to meet your individual needs.

I have clinical expertise and experience of delivering specialist, evidence-based treatments, and have actively developed my interest in working with people who have had long term problems understanding feelings, managing emotional responses and negotiating interpersonal relationships.

BPS and ACAT accredited clinical supervisor.

I am an accredited clinical supervisor with the British Psychological Society and Association for Cognitive Analytic Therapy. I have supervised and managed both qualified and trainee clinical and counselling psychologists.

Clinical Expertise:

I have over 18 years of clinical experience, including 14 years within the NHS. I started my career as a clinician in 2002, initially working in university and charitable trusts psychotherapy services. In 2006 I went on to pursue my specialist interest in working with anxiety, depression and personality disorders within the NHS.

I held a senior position as the lead clinician for both the Cognitive Analytic Therapy service and the Mentalization-Based Therapy service within the Lewisham Integrated Psychological Therapies Service (Lewisham IPTT), which is part of the renowned South London and Maudsley NHS trust (SLaM).

I have worked as an integral member of community based Multi-Disciplinary Teams, providing clinical consultation to psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses and social workers. I was also responsible for the provision of psychological assessments, clinical interventions including referrals to and liaison with specialist tertiary services.

Qualifications:

Having graduated in 1998 from Royal Holloway College (University of London) with BSc (Hons) in Psychology, I went on to complete a Masters in Counselling Psychology at Regents College and then a Post Masters Diploma in Existential Counselling Psychology.

Continuing with my professional development, I attained a Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) in 2012 and went on to attain accreditation as a CAT supervisor in 2014. Further developing my interest in working with complex cases I pursued clinical training in Mentalization-based Therapy and attained accreditation as an MBT Practitioner with the British Psychoanalytic Council in 2015.

As a psychologist, I have trained in both cognitive and psychodynamic models of psychotherapy. I have worked across a wide range of mental health problems. I am able to draw on a range of theoretical orientations, evidence-based practices, and my extensive clinical experience to tailor therapy to meet your individual needs.

I have clinical expertise and experience of delivering specialist, evidence-based treatments, and have actively developed my interest in working with people who have had long term problems understanding feelings, managing emotional responses and negotiating interpersonal relationships.