Dr. Steve Holmes & ASSOCIATES are a team of dedicated specialists who work together to try to ensure the best possible service is offered to anyone who chooses to come to see us.

About Dr. Steve Holmes...

I am a Chartered Clinical Psychologist and have worked as a Psychologist within the National Health Service since 1996.  I have been an integral part of many mental health teams across the South of England over the years and most recently I have managed a specialist Chronic Pain service for patients with long standing pain, in Southampton.   I completed my undergraduate degree at Cardiff University and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Southampton University.  I am also an accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist.

I enjoyed working within the NHS but found that due to increasing funding issues, many people were being turned away from the service.  As the NHS became more focused on providing care for people in hospital and with severe mental illness, I felt that many people with problems such as depression, fears, anxiety, relationship difficulties, sexual problems, plus a whole range of other difficulties were not able to find the help they needed to get on with life and to feel more comfortable. 

In response to the demand from clients and from my colleagues, I have set up an independent practice.  I am delighted and proud to be able to offer a high quality, reliable and fast service to people who want our help and also to be able to offer some support to our colleagues in the NHS.

The British Psychological Society has judged my qualifications and my ongoing standard of work are in keeping with their rigorous rules and code of ethics.  You can find me on the British Psychological Society on-line register of chartered clinical psychologists at www.bps.org.uk   I am also accredited by the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies, again you can find me on the BABCP website www.babcp.org.uk I am also a registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Professionals Council – look me up on www.hpCheck.org

About Peter Neilson...

I am a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist and an accredited addictions therapist with the Federation of Drug and Alcohol Professionals (FDAP).  I have worked within the field of psychological therapies, utilising the cognitive behavioural approach to treatment for twelve years, as part of a team of healthcare professionals working with a wide range of conditions.  These have included obsessive-compulsive behaviours, depression, anxiety, addictions and post traumatic stress disorder.  In 1995 I joined the Priory Healthcare group, an independent healthcare provider; working initially out of their Roehampton Hospital site as a senior addictions therapist, and joining The Priory Hospital Marchwood in 2003.

In 2004 I undertook training with The Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre, qualifying as a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist in 2005.  In addition, over the past five years I have specialised in the application of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), a recommended treatment for the resolution of trauma, a useful compliment to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

As well as working in private practice, I continue to work at the Priory Hospital Marchwood. Southampton. 

About Kirsty Wilson...

I am an accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist and have over 20 years experience in the field of psychiatry. I originally qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 1984 and worked in the NHS for 10 years working with multidisciplinary teams, treating adults with a wide range of mental health problems. In 1994, I joined The Priory Healthcare Group, an independent health care provider, and worked at the Roehampton Priory for 8 years which included roles as The Day Hospital Manager and The Therapy Services Manager. I worked at Marchwood Priory, Southampton for 5 years.

In 1996, I gained a post graduate qualification in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and, in 1999, started up a private practice in London. At this time I became involved in Occupational Health. Over the last 9 years I have worked with large Corporations to help them address psycho/social problems in the workplace both on an individual and team basis. I have run a number of Stress Management workshops for Unilever, BskyB and other smaller organisations.

Since 2002 I have worked in private practice in Hampshire and more recently in Suffolk. In 2009 I returned to Hampshire to work in private practice and I continue to work as an external therapist for Unilever in the Occupational Health Department.    

I have experience and interest in all aspects of mental health. I specialise in helping people to recover from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). I am registered with the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists (BABCP).

On a personal level, I derive a huge sense of reward and pleasure from working with people and seeing them regain their health and get their lives back.  

About Anne Blackburn...

I am a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist accredited by the BABCP with more than twenty years of experience in mental health. I initially trained as a Registered Mental Nurse and worked in a busy NHS Day Hospital where I was the sister. In 1996 I gained an Advanced Diploma in Person Centered Counselling and in 2002 I was awarded a Diploma of the University of Southampton in Cognitive Therapy.

I have considerable experience working with phobias, anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorders and trauma linked to childhood abuse. I have been gaining experience in post-traumatic stress and have been trained in the use of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).

I joined Priory Healthcare Group in 1990 and continue to work at the Priory Hospital Marchwood as a senior therapist

About Tony Miller...

In 1973 I qualified in London as a Clinical Psychologist and gained British Psychological Society ‘Chartered’ status a few years later.  My earliest experience of working in the National Health Service was with patients from Westminster, Twickenham and Richmond.  In 1979 I moved down to Salisbury and joined the Psychology Department at the Old Manor Hospital, where I worked for five years.  In 1984 I took time out to work with Hmong hill tribe refugees in Thailand for the best part of a year.  Back in England I was the first person to work in the Salisbury Drug Advice Centre, which eventually led to taking a post at Consultant Clinical Psychologist level in the Wessex Regional Drug Problem Team, based in Portsmouth. Whilst there I took a year’s sabbatical leave in 1991 to work with Community and Family Services International, an international organisation for refugees in Hong Kong.  In the past twelve years I have worked in adult mental health in various teams between Southampton and Poole, both privately and as an employee of the NHS, and for five years as a Consultant Clinical Psychologist in Swindon Forensic Service. 

Almost all my clinical work has been in adult mental health.  The bias in my Institute of Psychiatry training was towards ‘behaviour therapy’, which has since developed into Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, or CBT.  Nevertheless, I do believe that there are times when other therapeutic approaches are likely to be as, if not more, helpful.  The important thing is to sense out the approach that is most likely to suit the client.

On a purely personal level, I have greatly enjoyed the variety of my working life and feel very privileged to have been allowed into the private lives of so many different people.   It is also extremely rewarding when another person derives benefit from our sessions together.

About Katherine Choonucksing... 

I am a Senior Integrative Psychotherapist accredited by the UKCP. I completed my Masters Degree at Regents College, Regents Park in London ten years ago. I have more recently completed the Turvey Course in Group Analysis.  I have worked in the field of Psychological Therapies and Mental Health for the past fifteen years. My career started off in Psychiatric Nursing and naturally progressed into the field of Psychotherapy. I have always been interested in people and would forever enjoy listening to life stories and experiences.

Over the years I have managed a variety of inpatient wards and day care hospitals within both the private sector and the NHS. Part of these roles has included teaching/ training GP’s and other health care professionals on the treatment and management of eating disorders on a national and international level. I currently lead a team of clinicians within a successful day care hospital for the treatment of eating disorders and also have a Private Practice in Farnham, Surrey.

My experience has shown me that people come into therapy for a variety of reasons and for a wide range of difficulties including forming and maintaining relationships, experiencing a sense of emptiness and unfulfilment, low mood, depression and suicidal feelings, personality disorders, grief and loss, low self esteem, emotional, sexual or physical abuse.

My speciality is within the field of eating disorders, obesity and body image. We all have different ways of coping with difficulties in our lives and for the person that has an eating disorder they have found a solution through their relationship with food. Therapy aims to understand this relationship, both it's function and meaning and to help the individual find alternative ways of coping and accepting self.

I also enjoy facilitating therapeutic groups and have experience of running a variety of groups including: Self Esteem, Body Image, Psychotherapy Groups and Bulimic Groups. Groups offer us a unique forum to understand ourselves relationally and interpersonally, to see that we are not alone in our difficulties and can help build a support network that can be extremely beneficial.

The therapy that I offer aims to help you to express and understand yourself, to explore your life and your current difficulties and help you achieve your full potential in a safe contained environment.

I believe that one of the most important elements of therapy is to have a sense of being understood and accepted for who you really are. We are all uniquely individual and relate to the world around us in differing ways, as such the individual remains of foremost importance.

About Dr. Dominique Mossman ...

I am a Chartered Clinical Psychologist specialising in child and adolescent mental health.  I qualified as a Clinical Psychologist in January 2001 and have been working in the NHS since 1995.  I completed my undergraduate degree at the Royal Holloway College, University of London. Following this I worked in the NHS for two years, before undertaking a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Southampton. I am a member of the British Psychological Society and I am on the register of chartered clinical psychologists which can be found on-line at www.bps.org.uk.

I have experience of providing assessment and intervention for children and adolescents with a wide range of emotional and psychological difficulties, including depression, anxiety and phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder, behavioural difficulties, poor self-esteem, trauma and abuse. I also have experience in working with children and young people diagnosed with autistic spectrum conditions, and their families. I enjoy working with children and young people across the age range from the very young up to eighteen years. I tend to draw on a range of therapeutic approaches in my clinical work, including cognitive behavioural therapy and systemic therapy. My therapeutic work is informed by the latest research on helpful and effective therapies in the field of child and adolescent mental health.

In addition to offering private practice, I continue to work in the NHS as a Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist in a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service in Dorset.

About Dr. Helen Rathore ...

I am a Chartered Clinical Psychologist and have been working in the NHS since 1998, and in the private sector since 2006.  I have worked both in Liverpool and London with children, adolescents and their families and in addition, with adults in Surrey and Hampshire.

In 2008 I decided to dedicate my time to working within the private sector.  I now enjoy working with people of all ages and offer appointments to people from 8 years upwards.  

Like most good Clinical Psychologists I am able to draw on a broad knowledge and skills base and a range of therapy models to develop flexible and creative psychological interventions that make sense to clients, help them to meet their goals, and find understanding and solutions. 

I aim to ensure that my methods are those recommended by up to date research and by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence whenever possible. With that in mind, there is a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) underpinning to my work and I also have some training in creative ways of working and often use art, toys or plasticine, especially when working with children. I enjoy interweaving play and effective therapy into a personalised appropriate therapy package.  I also draw on the Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) model as I find adults can really relate to the techniques from CAT and find them very helpful.  Finally, I am also skilled in using Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing therapy (EMDR) which is a NICE guidelines recommended treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  

I see it as important to work in partnership with my clients and aim to develop a shared understanding of difficulties and to be able to choose from a range of effective and appropriate therapeutic techniques to help them reach their goals. The best bit of this job is that I get to see people do the most amazing things with their lives.

About Dr. Sharon Pettit ...

I am a CBT Lecturer, an Accredited Cognitive Therapist and Chartered Clinical Psychologist.

I trained and qualified as a Clinical Psychologist later in life and then worked in secondary care psychological therapy services in Wiltshire.  This involved both inpatient and crisis team work, as well as provision of psychological therapy for people with a range of complex mental health problems.  I took the Diploma in CBT for Serious Mental Health Problems at Southampton, and I am accredited with the BABCP.  In addition, I am a trained DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy) therapist, and led a DBT service in South Wiltshire for people with borderline personality disorder type difficulties.  I have always enjoyed continued academic links, and in June 2009 I took a part-time CBT Lecturer post at Southampton University to contribute towards their CBT programmes, and help deliver the new Diploma in Cognitive Therapy for Anxiety and Depression (IAPT).  This obviously involves teaching and supervising other people to deliver high quality, evidence-based CBT therapy.  Part-time provision of private therapy brings an ideal balance to my work life.

About Jenny Holmes...

I am accredited with the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists, and a UKRC Registered Independent Counsellor. I work from a Humanistic approach with a theory base of Transactional Analysis. I have worked in the NHS for twelve years in Primary Care as part of a team of health care professionals in GP surgeries. I have a private practice where I offer one to one counselling or couple work, I also offer a supervision service  to other counsellors.  I have experience of working with issues of depression, low self esteem, sexual abuse, bullying, stress, bereavement, adoption, infertility, weight problems, life events, and all types of change. I have a great deal of experience of working with adults who wish to understand difficulties in their relationships at home or at work. I believe that  counselling can be a supportive experience that may help you to understand yourself more fully and empower you to make personal life changes.

For further information I can be found on the following websites: www.ukrconline.org.uk and www.cpc-online.co.uk

About Moira Presslee...

I am the Practice Manager and the first friendly ‘port of call’ to anyone who makes contact with us by telephone.  I will provide you with information about our service and can help you to decide whether you would like to speak to any of the other professionals at the practice before making an appointment.  I also manage the diary for each of the team members enabling clients to telephone me to arrange and rearrange appointments without having to wait to speak to Peter, Tony, Anne, Katherine, Dominique, Helen, Steve or Jenny.