Dr Caroline Boyd
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (University of East London),
Psychology MSc, MA Hons (Cambridge University)
I support parents in adjusting to the messy, lived realities of this tough and tender journey. Becoming a parent can trigger and tap into all kinds of vulnerabilities. I’m interested in how difficult experiences growing up and cultural stories (e.g. Western ideas of ‘Supermum’) intersect to influence that transition. Working with me can mean reflecting on your own family and cultural experiences, to separate out what ‘belongs’ to you, and what ‘belongs’ to your baby. Empowering you to find more helpful ways of responding in the here and now.
I work collaboratively around a range of difficulties including:
· Postpartum anxiety
· Intrusive thoughts
· Low mood
· Anger
· Loss (related to your identity, the body, community)
· Birth trauma
· Interpersonal difficulties
· Mood swings, stress
I can also support you around particular parenting challenges. These could relate to supporting you and your child who may be experiencing difficulties such as around behaviour, sleep, feeding, toileting, separating and attachment.
I also offer specialised support to parents (or parents of children) identifying as Highly Sensitive (HSP).
We may be working 1:1, or with some family members together or on their own (such as individual work, work involving both parents, couples therapy).
A little more about my style…
I work integratively, drawing on a range of evidence-based models to suit your unique needs. I’m interested in understanding you within your own contexts, such as (but not limited to) gender, race and sexuality.
The wider context to psychological difficulties includes the impact of social inequalities, such as experiences of trauma, poverty, and oppression. Therapy can involve giving voice to these experiences, supporting you to build preferred futures that help reclaim your identity - strengthening more meaningful ways of living.
Feminist, Critical and Community Psychology also inform my practice. These focus on people’s rights to power and understanding ‘problems’ within a system (as relational), rather than internal to an individual.
Clinical experience
Post qualifying, prior to and during training, I have worked in a wide range of NHS settings including:
Haringey Parent-Infant Psychology Service
Community Psychology Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service
Haematology (inpatients and outpatients, adults and children)
Pain Management Service (adult outpatients)
Inner-city Community CAMHS (under 5s; behavioural pathway)
Adult Learning Disability Service
Inner-city Community Recovery Team (adult mental health)
Behavioural Treatment Clinic (adult mental health)
Oncology and Palliative Care Service (inpatients and outpatients)
Inner-city Complex Trauma service (therapeutic groups for asylum seekers and refugees; research post conducting clinical research exploring prevalence of ‘PTSD’ and psychological distress post facial injury)
Kings Centre for Military Health (research post for study exploring impact of paternal ‘PTSD’ on children’s wellbeing).
Publication: Forbes, H. J., Boyd, C. F., Jones, N., Greenberg, N., Jones, E., Wessely, S., ... & Fear, N. T. (2013). Attitudes to mental illness in the UK military: a comparison with the general population. Military medicine, 178(9), 957-965.
