Introducing Our Team
Dr Charlotte Wilkinson
DClinPsy, BSc(hons), Clinical Psychologist (HCPC)
I am a Clinical Psychologist with ten years of experience working with children and young people in the NHS. I have worked as a Clinical Psychologist in a variety of settings including within education (primary schools and pupil referral units) and NHS community services (Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and Neurodevelopmental Teams). I currently work in an NHS Neurodevelopmental Team.
Outside of the NHS, I am an Associate Tutor on the Doctorate of Clinical Psychology at the University of Surrey. My own journey into psychology started with a degree from Bath University and subsequently a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of East Anglia.
Over the years, I have specialised in assessing and working with children and young people with neurodiversity, and much of this work has focused on autism. I am passionate about developing a profile of the children and young people that I assess which covers both their strengths and differences, with the hope that this will enable them and others to better understand their own specific needs.
In my spare time I enjoy spending time in the outdoors with my family, swimming and Pilates.
I am registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Practitioner Psychologist. Registration number PYL27894. You can find my registration here htps://www.hcpc-uk.org/check-the-register/.
Dr Jessica Howse
DClinPsy, BSc(hons), Clinical Psychologist (HCPC)
I am a Clinical Psychologist, specialising in working with neurodiverse children, young people and their families. I completed my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at University College London (UCL) and have over eight years experience working for the NHS, including several roles working in various Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). I currently work in an NHS Neurodevelopmental Team.
I have a specialist interest, both personally and professionally, in Neurodevelopmental conditions, such as Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). I have been trained in several neurodevelopmental assessment tools, including the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2), the Autism Diagnostic Interview- Revised (ADI-R) and the Developmental, Dimensional and Diagnostic interview (3Di).
When I am not working I love going on long walks in the Surrey Hills and spending time with my family dog - a very lively black lab!
I am registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Practitioner Psychologist. Registration number PYL37634. You can find my registration here https://www.hcpc-uk.org/check-the-register/.
Deborah Parsons
BSc, MSc, PGDipCouns, RMN, RGN
A lifelong nurse, I initially worked with children in the acute sector, where I became equally interested in both their physical and mental health. After further Mental Health Nurse training, I worked with adults for a few years before specialising in child and adolescent mental health. I have extensive experience of working with children, young people and their families through senior clinical, professional and leadership roles within the NHS and the private sector, and have delivered training at workshops, conferences and universities.
As a Highly Specialist child and adolescent mental health nurse, I am familiar with the broad range of needs that children and young people may present with, including Anxiety, Depression, Eating Disorders, OCD, Gender Dysphoria and Neurodevelopmental conditions such as ASD and ADHD. I have considerable experience of mental health and neurodevelopmental assessment processes and believe that all young people deserve high quality, evidence-based assessments and formulations that will inform care, support and therapeutic interventions.
I continue to feel privileged to be able to work with so many incredible children, young people and their families, who have taught me so much over the years, and I hope that with empathy, warmth and a sense of humour I can help to facilitate the assessment process.
My registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) lists both my registrations as an Adult Nurse and Mental Health Nurse with the same PIN: 79I1625E and can be found here: https://www.nmc.org.uk/registration/search-the-register/
My background is in Mental Health Nursing and I have over seven years professional, and 20 years lived, experience working with neurodivergent young people in various settings including inpatient, school and community. I am passionate about advocating for all to live in an accepting world where young people have the opportunity to shine in their unique ways. As a parent of neurodivergent children, I understand the demands of the modern-day world on our young people and the pressures they are continually under to ‘fit in’.
I have specialist training in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). In more recent years I have trained and practiced in autism assessment tools, such as the ADOS, as well as supporting the needs of neurodivergent children and young people and their families. I think it is essential to develop a comprehensive profile of young people through the assessment process to ensure their needs are correctly supported, thereby allowing them to flourish.
When I’m not working in an NHS Neurodevelopmental Service, and running around after my children, I enjoy listening to audiobooks while gardening in my allotment, walking my dog and regularly practicing Tai Chi.
Emma Apted
BSc, RMN
