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