Dr Charlotte Frankham
My Experience
I have worked in a variety of settings within the NHS since 2010, and prior to this working in health and social care settings. I have experience of working with adults, children and older people with mental health difficulties, and have also worked in health settings, supporting people to navigate the impact of receiving a diagnosis of a long-term condition, with people with learning disabilities, autistic spectrum conditions and brain injuries. I have experience of working withdepression, anxiety, OCD, trauma, bereavement and loss, and psychosis.
Currently I work in community mental health team working with adults with complex mental health difficulties, specialising in the treatment of psychosis and unusual experiences, such as hearing voices, having beliefs that others don’t share and paranoia. I also work with the families and carers of people with these difficulties to improve family relationships and communication.
In my work with clients I think it is very important to consider not only what the individual is experiencing but how these difficulties are influenced by what is going on around them. I think it is important not to view people in isolation but as connected and responsive to the effect of family, social and cultural influences, to ensure that these factors are incorporated into therapy where necessary
My Values
The work I do with clients is always tailored to suit their individual needs and the goals they seek to achieve. I believe it is very important that therapy is goal focussed so that my clients feel they are working towards creating a meaningful difference in their lives. In my work with clients I also think it is very important to consider not only what the individual is experiencing but how these difficulties are influenced by what is going on around them. I think it is important not to view people in isolation but as connected and responsive to the effect of family, social and cultural influences, to ensure that these factors are incorporated into therapy where necessary
Models I Work With
The approach I use in therapy is selected in discussion with my clients. I mainly use a cognitive behavioural approach (CBT) but also draw upon compassion focused therapy (CFT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and incorporate mindfulness and the skills from dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) into therapy as a means of managing distressing and overwhelming experiences. I draw heavily upon systemic ideas in my work with clients as I believe it is very important that difficulties are not just located within the individual but acknowledged as also being a response to the influence of family, society and culture on our lives and daily experiences. I am also trained in behavioural family therapy (BFT) which is a skills based approach to improving family life and functioning in families where one or more individual has a diagnosis of bipolar or a psychotic illness.
Clinic Information
I currently hold a clinic in Ealing Broadway, London and offer face to face appointments on Wednesday evenings. I work with people age 16 years upwards.
Training and Qualifications
Academic
- Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, University of Southampton, 2017
- MSc Foundations of Clinical Psychology, University of Bournemouth, 2012
- BSc Psychology, The Open University, 2008
Clinical
- Post-graduate diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychosis, Kings College London – Currently studying
- Working with negative symptoms, West London NHS Trust, 2018
- Open Dialogue approach, West London NHS Trust, 2018
- Behavioural Family Therapy, Meriden, 2017
- CBT for Psychosis, University of Southampton, 2017
- Working with Complex Problems, Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre, 2014
- CBT for bipolar disorder, Charlie Waller Institute, 2013
- Brief Behavioural Activation for Depression, Charlie Waller Institute,2012
- Certificate in Brain Injury Studies, University of Northampton, 2011