About
Hayley aims to work collaboratively with each client to meet their specific needs and tailors her approach to be unique to their life challenges. To develop this uniqueness, she integrates different approaches, drawing mainly from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), solution focused therapy (SFT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and schema therapy to create the most appropriate treatment plan.
She chose to become a psychologist in order to empower others, promote mental health as a priority and encourage the perspective that counselling is for everyone.
She mainly works with adolescents and adults from all backgrounds and walks of life, with her special interest being young adult and adolescent work. She aims to create a safe, supportive and welcoming space where she can work together with the patient to build a healthier and happier life. She approaches counselling with empathy and non-judgement to explore thoughts, feelings and life experiences.
Position at Priory
Hayley is a child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) counselling psychologist at Priory Hospital North London. She is new to the service and began working with the team in March 2024. Hayley is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a counselling psychologist and is in good professional standing with the council.
Training
Hayley obtained her qualifications in Psychology and Sociology in South Africa through Rhodes University and Nelson Mandela University. She has an undergraduate degree and two postgraduate degrees. She trained on-site for her internship at the Student Counselling Centre at the university clinic. She then went on to work at Houghton House Addiction and Mental Health Treatment Centres, the South African College of Applied Psychology (SACAP), and opened her private practice as a sole proprietor in 2022.
She has completed various further development training courses on topics such as addiction, DBT with adolescents, anxiety, social media, risky behaviour, and bridging the neurodiversity gap.
Research interests
During her training, Hayley has completed a systematic review research paper as well as a full thesis. Her systematic review was entitled ‘A systematic literature review of adolescent cyber bullying in the last 10 years through Facebook, and the resulting psychological consequences’. Her thesis was entitled ‘Perceived impact of cyber bullying on young adults’ psychological wellbeing’.
Research papers:
Perceived impact of cyber bullying on young adults’ psychological wellbeing (seals.ac.za)