Jessica Hayward 

CBT Therapist (BABCP accredited)

NNEB, BSc, PGCert, PGCert, PGDip, MSc

I am a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist specialising in the mental health of children, young people and adults who consider themselves as neurodivergent. Working within the Neurodevelopmental service within the NHS, I provide assessment and specialist mental health support for young people with diagnoses of Autism, ADHD and Tics/Tourette’s Syndrome, alongside my private practice Jessica Hayward Psychotherapy.

I began working with children and young people 20 years ago as a Nursery Nurse, specialising in parental and behavioural support. I have since worked in a variety of roles within the National Health Service (NHS) supporting the health and wellbeing of both young people and adults for over a decade, including within Paediatric Clinical Health Psychology and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Although much of my clinical experience is with children and young people, I have also worked within Adult Health Psychology and the Specialist Weight Management Service. 

I am trained to assess Autism using the ADOS 2 and have completed specialist training in CBT for Autism. I am skilled in delivering a range of successful and effective therapeutic interventions to neurodivergent children, young people and adults. Some of these interventions include behavioural therapies for Tics/Tourette’s Syndrome (Habit Reversal Therapy and Exposure and Response Prevention), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), behavioural and parenting approaches, Compassion Focused Therapy, Mindfulness, trauma therapy (Trauma-Focussed CBT) and psychological approaches within health.  

Qualifications:  

• Accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist with the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists (BABCP) (1000235)
• Master of Science (MSc) Neuropsychology
• PGDip Psychological Therapies 
• PGCert Clinical Supervision of Evidenced-based Practice, 
• PGCert Low-Intensity Psychological Therapies for Children and Young People
• BSc (Hons) Psychology with Education 
• CACHE Diploma in Childcare & Education, Level 3 (NNEB).

Specialist Training:  

• Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Second edition (ADOS-2)
• Advanced Behavioural Therapy Training for Tics/Tourette’s Syndrome
• Behavioural Therapy Training for Tics/Tourette’s Syndrome 
• Psychoeducation on Tics
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Practitioner 
• CBT for ASD 
• Complexity in OCD and BDD in Children and Young People
• Connect 5 Mental Health Trainer
• Sleep Scotland Sleep Awareness Training