Meet the Team
Dr James Banks
Consultant Counselling PsychologistDr James Banks is a Consultant Counselling Psychologist. He holds the qualifications of BSc in Psychology, MSc in Health Psychology, MSc in Psychology and Learning Disability, and a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology, and has a Certificate in Psychological and Psychiatric Forensic Mental Health. More recently, he has completed a post-graduate Diploma in Autism. He has also received specialist training in adult and child attachment styles and is a fully registered psychometric test user with the British Psychological Society.
Dr. James Banks has over 14 years of experience working in various mental health settings with children, young people, and adults in the field of psychological assessment, formulation, and intervention. He has knowledge and experience of working in the field of assessment, diagnosis and support of neurodevelopmental conditions. He has completed further training in ADHD Coaching through the ADD Coaching Academy. His experience also includes cognitive, capacity and medical-legal assessments. He also has training in several therapeutic approaches, including CBT, EMDR and DBT.
Millie Osborne
Assistant PsychologistMillie Osborne is an Assistant Psychologist who supports neurodevelopmental assessments for children, adolescents, and adults. She holds a BSc in Biomedical Sciences (Hons) from the University of Manchester and is completing an accredited MSc in Psychology at the University of Nottingham.
Millie has previously volunteered as an activity assistant at Headway, where she assisted individuals with traumatic brain injuries during rehabilitation, developing experience supporting complex needs. She is working towards qualifying as a Clinical Psychologist with a focus on neurodevelopment and neuropsychological conditions.
Millie is committed to providing evidence-based, compassionate care for all.
Jamie Leigh Abbotts
Specialist Mental Health NurseJamie-Leigh is a Psychiatric Nurse with experience across a range of NHS settings, including Older Adults Inpatient Services, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), and Primary Care. She specialises in Autism, providing holistic, person-centred assessment and tailored support to meet individual needs.
Jamie-Leigh is trained in evidence-based therapeutic approaches, including Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).
Her practice integrates clinical expertise with a compassionate, strengths-based approach, supporting individuals across the lifespan to improve mental well-being and quality of life.
Emma Brierley
Specialist Neurodevelopmental PharmacistEmma is a pharmacist with over 20 years of experience. She qualified as an independent prescriber in 2009, which allowed her to expand her role into mental health and neurodiversity.
Emma was fortunate to get a role in her local CAMHS team in 2015. It was here she began working with and supporting children and young people with ADHD and autism. Emma completed a postgraduate certificate in Psychiatric Therapeutics in 2020/21 to further enhance her skills within the team.
Emma later secured a new position with the Neurodevelopmental Service, where she undertook training for Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI-R) and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule 2nd edition (ADOS-2) in 2022. Emma remained with the NHS until 2024 before moving into private practice.
Caroline Tchighianoff
Occupational TherapistCaroline has expertise in supporting families of neurodivergent children, with a particular focus on sensory processing, regulation, and everyday skills/functioning. She can offer tailored parental support that helps caregivers understand their child’s sensory profile, co-regulate effectively, and embed neuroaffirming strategies into daily routines. Caroline works relationally and systemically, helping parents build confidence, reduce stress, and foster connection through practical, strengths-based approaches.
She delivers online intervention sessions for parents. These sessions translate sensory processing theory into accessible, real-world tools, offering insight into how sensory needs impact behaviour, learning, and emotional wellbeing. Caroline’s facilitation style is warm, engaging, and grounded in evidence-based practice, with a strong emphasis on collaboration, reflection, and inclusive care.
Matt Town
ADHD Life Coach I get it! After decades of feeling confused and misunderstood, succeeding at some things whilst dramatically failing at others, I stumbled into an adult ADHD diagnosis that changed everything!
Helping other creatively wired people discover who they're made to be is why I love to coach. As a pastor and youth worker before that, I've counselled, mentored, and coached people of all ages and backgrounds for over 20 years.
I'm currently working towards a professional coaching accreditation with the ADD
Coach Academy (ADDCA) and certification with the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
I'd love to help you discover a life with greater clarity, focus, and confidence.
CBT TherapistJodie Phillips
Hi, I’m Jodie, and I work with children, young people, families& adults. Mental health (anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, phobias), facing loss, & bereavement (illness, sudden death, suicide) can impact lives significantly; taking the first step to seek support may feel overwhelming.
I offer a free 15-minute call to explore your child’s difficulties, discuss any concerns about accessing support, and clarify goals & expectations. This call also gives us a chance to see if what I offer is the right fit. I’m an accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and bring extensive experience from leading a hospice bereavement service. CBT (ages 8+) can promote positive change for phobias, separation anxiety, social anxiety, OCD, trauma/PTSD, panic, generalised anxiety, and depression. CBT is about teamwork; we will work together to understand difficulties and develop coping strategies after therapy. Additionally, I can support parents in understanding symptoms and challenges.
When someone is palliative, or following a bereavement, the grief process can be difficult for individuals and families. I can support children and young people (ages 5 to 18), one-to-one or with siblings. I can also help families to support their grieving children. Please do not hesitate to reach out; I offer a compassionate service during difficult times.
Verity Tate
Counsellor
My speciality is in anxiety, grief, ADHD, and Autism.
I am a fully trained adult, child, and young person counsellor (Level 4 and 5) with a background in education and social care. I have experience working with organisations such as Changing Rooms with adults and Place to Be as a school counsellor.
I have additional qualifications in treating trauma (REWIND), and am trained to work in an affirming, informed, and collaborative way with neurodivergence.
Emma Buckley
Children and Young People’s Counsellor
Emma obtained her master's in Counselling (Children and Young People) at Birmingham City University, where she trained as a person-centred therapist specialising in attachment theory (how we connect to those around us) and interpersonal neurobiology (how our brains are shaped and relate to our wellbeing and relationships). She now loves continued learning and keeping up to date on research in the therapy world.
Working in both long- and short-term frameworks, Emma adapts to what feels right for you. She uses creativity and play to explore emotions in a language accessible to young people and provides a space that is calm, gentle, and authentic.
After obtaining her BSc in Psychology at the University of Birmingham, she built experience working in specialist educational schools, supporting students with neurodiversity and developmental needs.”