Our Team

Dr. Louise Earley

Dr Louise Earley (BSc. Hons, PDIP, DClin. Psych) is a consultant clinical psychologist who has worked in mental health since 1994. She is registered with the HCPC, the Practitioner Psychologist’s governing body.

Until 2013 Louise worked in the NHS and has led and managed therapeutic services for looked after children in the Midlands providing child psychology services, training, consultancy and supervision to professionals. Louise has also been employed as a part time lecturer in Clinical Psychology at the University of Birmingham. Louise began her private practice in 2010 and following its success established Cura. She has considerable experience of working with organisations including Local Authorities, schools and residential children’s homes providing psychology consultation, training and supervision.

Louise’s clinical specialties include therapy with children, adults and families. Louise utilises a range of approaches whilst drawing upon the underpinning principle of the influence of our early attachment relationships. She is trained in an extensive range of psychological interventions and assessment techniques including DDP, Theraplay, CBT and DBT. Louise has a special interest in the field of trauma including children and adults affected by abuse, attachment difficulties, looked after children and complex trauma. She also treats adults with Post Traumatic Stress as well as other psychological concerns.

Louise is trained to Level 1 in IFS (Internal Family Systems) with IFS UK. For more information about this innovative form of therapy please see our blog on the insights page.

Debra Garbett

Debra joins our team as a Virtual PA. She is a skillful and dedicated Virtual Assistant with over 20 years of experience in the Administrative and Office Management field and extensive experience in the coordination, planning, and support of daily operational and administrative functions.

Davinia Bailach Cabrerizo

Davinia is a Music Therapist and Creative Expressive Therapies graduate. She believes in the inherent and intrinsic qualities of the arts and music to aid communication, exploration of self, relationship building, and the construction of a healthier self.

In Music Therapy, her main work experience has been around trauma and learning disabilities with both adults and children. However, she also has experience working with grief and loss, autism, brain injury, and dementia.

As a therapist, she works from a person-centered and trauma-informed approach. Davinia is a registered therapist under the Health Care Professions Council.

Dr. Andrew Brennan

Andrew works in NHS practice as a Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist in brain injury rehabilitation. He holds a Masters degree in Clinical Neuropsychology from the University of Nottingham, the British Psychological Society’s Qualification in Clinical Neuropsychology (QCN) and is included on the Specialist Register Of Clinical Neuropsychologists (SRCN). Andrew works with adults and young people who have suffered from stroke, a brain injury from road traffic accidents, assault and other forms of head injury.

He also supports staff who care for patients who have been severely affected and require hospitalisation and longer term care. Andrew can provide stroke/cognitive assessments and recommendations for treatment and therapy. He can also offer consultation to staff teams.

Andrew can offer private assessments for the Court of Protection (CoP3 forms), Neuropsychological Assessments (these typically include Cognitive Assessment), Mental Capacity Assessments and assessments of cognitive ability (WAIS) or memory. He also provides assessment for those living with neurological conditions. 

Hannah Defreitas

With over a decade of experience dedicated to supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of children and families, I bring a wealth of knowledge and a passion for empowering others. My journey began in 2012 as a Childline Counsellor, where I discovered my commitment to protect and safeguard children. My career has included roles supporting children and young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and neurodiverse conditions in both school and university settings. I further advanced my expertise by obtaining a Master’s degree in Social Work. This enabled me to gain further experience of working with looked after children, as well as foster carers, and led me to work within a local authority safeguarding team. For the past five years, I have been a part of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) within the NHS.

Restorative practice is at the heart of what I do and I enjoy helping children to develop a growth mindset, building their confidence, self-esteem, and resilience. I am particularly interested in trauma-informed practice, creative arts therapy, and Dyadic Developmental Practice (DDP). Currently, I am expanding my skill set by undertaking a training course in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), ensuring that I remain at the forefront of innovative therapeutic practices.

Dr Jennie Gough

Jennie is a Clinical Psychologist who has worked in various roles in the NHS, social care and private sector since qualifying as a Clinical Psychologist in 2007. Spending the start of her career in services for young people with severe mental health problems & community child & adolescent mental health service (CAMHS), she has a long-standing interest in the impact of trauma and early adversity on children, adults & communities. She is passionate about the power of relationships for children and families to promote recovery and healing from mental distress and trauma.

Jennie likes to work creatively to meet the needs of each individual child & family, drawing upon a range of approaches including DDP, EMDR and Theraplay.

Until recently Jennie worked in a Regional Adoption Agency in the West Midlands working both directly with families & running therapeutic parenting groups. In April 2022, Jennie began working independently to allow time to fully commit to therapeutic work with children and families.

Jennie has in interest on the impact of trauma on the body, as well as the mind. Outside of work she enjoys regular Yoga & Qi Gong practices and has recently trained to teach Yoga and Mindfulness to Children.

Hafifa Habib

Hafifa Habib (BA Hons/MSC/PG-DIP) Is a registered integrative therapist and a Counselling Psychologist in training (HCPC) who has over 15 years experience in working in various settings including schools, IAPT services, charities, NHS hospitals as well as private mental health services. She is registered with the BACP and BPS and working towards the HCPC accreditation.

Hafifa started her career working in school settings with young people and families in providing a therapeutic approach for a range of problems including anxiety, depression and neurodevelopmental issues (ADHD and ASD). Moving on to working in inpatient clinical settings with children and their families who have been diagnosed with genetic and various conditions.  Adopting a holistic therapeutic approach has enabled her to work successfully in providing appropriate transitions to home. Her Doctorate training has equipped her to work in various private settings with adults and young people with complex issues including trauma, OCD and relational issues.

Hafifa’s clinical specialties include therapy with adults, children and young people and working within an MDT using various modalities including CBT, CBT-E, Psychodynamic therapy, Humanistic values and Trauma- Focused approaches. Hafifa is equipped in using various psychological tools and is currently undertaking her own professional research.

Nia Matiya

Nia Matiya (MA, MSc, PGDip, PGCert, BSc Hons) is a BABCP Accredited Psychotherapist and experienced clinician specialising exclusively in autism assessment, with advanced training in both the ADOS-2 and ADI-R. Her role centres on delivering high-quality, standardised neurodevelopmental assessments across NHS and private settings, contributing to clear, robust, and reliable diagnostic formulations for children, young people, and adults.

She is fully trained and competent in administering, scoring, and reporting on all ADOS-2 modules, and is formally trained in conducting the ADI-R (Autism Diagnostic Interview–Revised). Her assessment practice is evidence-based, developmentally informed, and sensitive to cultural and family context.

Although her current role is focused on structured autism assessment, her therapeutic background informs a compassionate, person-centred approach. She prioritises building rapport, ensuring clients and families feel comfortable, respected, and supported throughout the assessment process, and providing clear communication at every stage.

Nia is committed to ensuring that autism assessments are accessible, culturally responsive, and grounded in best practice.

Lynne Mitchell

Lynne is a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor with a background in education and teaching. She has a rich experience working with children, adolescents and young people in education settings, having worked for the NHS with children and their families since 2018.

Lynne is an integrative practitioner offering clients the opportunity to use the expressive arts to work with image and metaphor. Lynne specializes in working with neurodivergent children and young people. She has a lived experience as an adoptive parent and parenting neurodivergent presentations.

Lynne has a particular interest in the principles of somatic mindful approaches which underpin her trauma informed therapeutic practice. Lynne is registered with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and abides by their ethical framework.

Dr. Jess Moreland

Dr Jess Moreland (BSc. Hons, DClin Psy) is a senior Clinical Psychologist who has worked for the NHS with children, young people and their families since qualifying in 2007. She is registered with the HCPC, the Practitioner Psychologist’s governing body.

Jess is experienced in supporting children and their families with a range of mental health and emotional problems and with difficulties related to behaviours that challenge.

Jess specialises in the mental health care of children and young people with neurodevelopmental conditions (learning disabilities, autism and ADHD).

In clinical practice, Jess utilises behavioural, cognitive-behavioural, solution-focused and acceptance and commitment models of therapy. She has a special interest in the use of Mindfulness practice.

Shannon Ownhouse

Shannon Ownhouse is a qualified Clinical Psychologist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council and the British Psychological Society. Shannon trained in South Africa and has over 12 years experience as a Clinical Psychologist and 20 years of experience working in the mental health field.

Shannon has experience working with a range of conditions and clients and specialises in treating adults with general mental health complaints. Shannon uses an integrated approach to therapy and draws on several therapeutic approaches, including psychodynamic therapy, EMDR, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy and Mindfulness. Typically, Shannon’s work with clients is underpinned by a person-centred approach.

Shannon endeavours to offer a safe, non-judgemental and relaxed space in which the client explore difficult emotions, thoughts and ideas.

Shannon is trained to Level 1  in IFS (Internal Family Systems) with IFS UK. For more information about this innovative form of therapy please see our blog on the insights page.

Dr. Beena Parmar

Dr Beena Parmar (BSc. Hons, DClin.Psych) is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist who has worked across the lifespan in the NHS. She is a registered HCPC, Practitioner Psychologist and a Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society.

Beena is able to work with children, young people adults and their families. She has experience of working with a range of mental health difficulties including complex trauma, OCD, depression, anxiety and complex relational difficulties. She has a strong interest in working with complex trauma and applies a wide range of therapeutic interventions to support clients. These therapeutic models include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Compassion Focused Therapy. Beena has a keen interest in using an Attachment Model to formulate difficulties and strongly believes that a clear formulation guides intervention.

Beena works for the NHS within an adult mental health service and has experience of working within looked after children’s service. Beena has significant experience of working with multiple agencies to support positive outcomes for our clients.

Dr. Jodie Pelech

Dr. Jodie Pelech (BSc Hons, MRes, DClinPsy, HCPC Registered) is an experienced Clinical Psychologist and qualified EMDR Practitioner with specialist expertise in perinatal mental health (including the impact of perinatal loss, birth trauma, and antenatal/ postnatal anxiety and depression) – supporting individuals to navigate their experience of parenthood and own attachment legacy. Alongside her private practice, Jodie also holds a Senior Clinical Psychologist NHS post in a specialist community perinatal team.

Across her career, she has worked extensively with both adults and children, supporting individuals across the lifespan with a wide range of difficulties including anxiety, panic, depression, OCD, complex trauma, low self-esteem, substance misuse, and emotional dysregulation. Prior to gaining additional qualifications in perinatal mental health, Jodie worked in a busy CMHT that supported a wide range of adults with a variety of complex mental health difficulties.

Jodie often works integratively, drawing on a number of evidence-based psychological approaches to tailor therapy to each individual’s needs. Her practice incorporates Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and psychodynamic and cognitive analytical principles.

With a compassionate and collaborative approach, Jodie is committed to helping clients develop a deeper insight into their experiences; feel less stuck, overwhelmed or disconnected; make meaningful change; and feel more empowered in their lives and relationships. She is able to tailor therapy to support individuals who are neurodiverse and those who want to explore their identity in a safe, non-judgemental space.

Dr Gemma Rutter

Dr Gemma Rutter (Bsc Hons, DClinPsy) is a senior clinical psychologist, who has worked clinically in the NHS for 20 years, having qualified, as a clinical psychologist in 2010. She is a HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologist, BABCP accredited practitioner, and EMDR accredited practitioner. Gemma has a special interest in the relationship between physical and mental health. She has most recently led and delivered services in clinical health psychology, specialising in cardiothoracic transplant, gastroenterology, and chronic pain.

Gemma also has extensive experience of delivering psychological therapy in primary care mental health services, within the NHS, and has worked with a range of common mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, PTSD and complex trauma, arising from prolonged abuse/trauma, and attachment trauma.

Gemma specialises in offering psychological therapy to adults, and practices from a Cognitive Behavioural approach. She has additional training in, and delivers CBT, EMDR, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and trauma focused ACT, (TF-ACT).

Gemma is passionate about delivering timely, effective, evidence-based therapies, that are person centred, and formulation driven.

Abigail Wileman

Abigail is a recent graduate of neuroscience from Aston University who has completed a placement within the NHS.

She works with patients who require rehabilitation due to a brain injury caused by road traffic accidents, assaults and other types of brain injury.

Abigail supports the team at Cura liaising with schools and families and carries out cognitive assessments and other responsibilities under supervision.