I trained at St. Mary’s Medical School, Paddington, London where I qualified as a general Medical Doctor in 1990. Prior to this, I completed a BSc (Hons) degree in Physiology from Leeds University in 1985. My medical degree covered Surgery, General Medicine and Paediatrics allowing me to qualify as a Junior Doctor, before I specialised in Psychiatry. My broad medical and biological training has equipped me to be uniquely mindful of how physical illness can mimic and exacerbate psychiatric conditions or psychological issues. I undertook Registrar training in General Psychiatry on the Guy’s and St. Thomas’s rotational scheme from 1991 onwards. This training involved all aspects of psychiatric care for both adults and children. I also participated in and published peer-reviewed research, including studies on the mental health of the homeless population in London and a prevalence study of Asperger’s Syndrome in incarcerated young male offenders in Feltham Prison. During this time, I passed my Royal College examinations to become a Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 1994.

I subsequently transferred to the prestigious Specialist Registrar Training Scheme at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London. This enabled me to become a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. Great Ormond Street Hospital treats children exclusively and has a world- renowned reputation for excellence. During my seven years’ rotation at Great Ormond Street, I had the good fortune to undertake a number of different speciality training placements under the close supervision of internationally-recognised clinicians. I directly oversaw patient care, and taught Junior Doctors, whilst furthering my studies. I had direct clinical involvement with several sub-specialities during that time such as Eating Disorders (both outpatient and in-patient care), Neurodevelopmental Diversity (including Autistic Spectrum Disorder and ADHD assessments and treatment), Paediatric Ward Liaison, Chronic Fatigue, Pervasive Refusal Syndrome, and Forensic Young Person’s Psychiatry.

Additionally, I had mainstream generic Child and Adolescent Psychiatry responsibilities which included seeing young people with Anxiety, Depression, Self-harming, Obsessional Compulsive Disorder, Conduct Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Whilst at Great Ormond Street Hospital, I received my Certificate of Specialist Registration in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in 2001. This allowed to practice as an independent Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist.

During my time at Great Ormond Street I also trained and studied at the Institute of Family Therapy, Birbeck College, London and received further qualifications in Family Therapy.

In 2001, I undertook my first NHS Consultant Child Psychiatry post at the Royal London Hospital undertaking generic Child and Adolescent Psychiatric care.

In 2002, I transferred to an NHS Consultant Adolescent post in Haringey, which focused on treating psychiatric emergencies in adolescents who were either suicidal and/or psychotic and too unwell to come in to clinic. This emergency outreach service was a pioneer of its time and represented one of the then-flagship teams of the NHS, winning an award for clinical excellence. During this time, I successfully worked with a highly diverse client group, including refugee families as well as the travelling community.

My next post in 2005 was as a Consultant Adolescent Psychiatrist within an NHS Substance Misuse team, where I served as the Responsible Medical Officer in charge of the Alcohol and Drug Adolescent Misuse Service for under 18s, covering the whole of Hertfordshire. I successfully built up this team and treated many complex and difficult cases (some of the patients from this period I am still in touch with!). I was one of the few Adolescent Psychiatrists at the time who had the experience and licence to prescribe an opiate abuse substitute, Subutex, to heroin-addicted adolescents. I became part of a working group at the Royal College of Psychiatrists for the handful of British Adolescent Psychiatrists who treated substance misuse problems.

I furthered my interest in addictions in 2005 when I became the Director for Adolescent Substance Misuse at the privately funded Priory Hospital group. This move led me into private practice. I was lead clinician on a new unique adolescent substance misuse ward at the North London Priory Hospital, Southgate. This ward subsequently evolved to admit other addictions, including cyber addictions and self-harming addictions. At the time, it was the only medical ward in the UK that was actively and exclusively treating adolescents with addictions. During this posting, I was involved in a number of media interviews, including live TV news interviews, filmed documentaries, radio, newspaper, and magazine articles. I still continue some media work today.

Since 2005, I have worked exclusively in private practice and started consulting in the central London area. I am currently based between 127 Harley Street and 35 Great James Street, Holborn. I also regularly travel internationally to assess and treat young people in their home countries using a bespoke package of care (please see international section). I now enjoy seeing children, adolescents and young adults, from all walks of life, presenting with all manner of issues.

I very much look forward to meeting you and working alongside you and your child to hopefully alleviate any challenges or problems they may be facing.