Meet the team
Dr Fiona Wood
Specialist Clinical Psychologist/ Managing Director
Psychology BSc, Clinical Forensic Psychology MSc, Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, DClinPsy, HCPC Registered.
Through my career I have developed particular interests in Community Psychology, addressing health inequalities, and systemic approaches, perceiving the people I work with in a broader socio-political capitalist system that perpetuates mental health difficulties. I believe strongly in social justice, equality and equity, and currently work part-time as an Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion lead on the Teesside Doctorate in Clinical Psychology programme. With ReNEW I hope to change the way we, as a society, think about women's mental health; empowering women a individuals whilst always acknowledging and addressing the social inequalities that contribute to challenges faced. Having my own lived experience of mental health challenges, I also hope to break down the 'us and them' divide that exists between mental health 'professionals' and 'service users'; challenging the profession wide stigma that exists for professionals that are also personal experts.
I currently work clinically in a Learning Disability setting and have several years experience working in Forensic settings. I work frequently with systems, providing indirect support to staff teams, including supervision, reflective practice, and working to change organisational culture. I am also involved in co-produced research , improving the well-being of psychological professionals, and leading on service user and carer involvement. Recent training I have completed includes Structured Clinical Management, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Power Threat Meaning Framework, and the Show Racism the Red Card Ambassadors Programme. Within ReNEW I take a lead on Research, Service Evaluation and Audit, as well as leading on Intersectionality and Inclusion.
Dr Abbie Woodhouse
Specialist Clinical Psychologist/ Managing Director
Psychology and Counselling BSc, Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, DClinPsy, PGCLTHE (ongoing), HCPC Registered.
Working as a Clinical Psychologist within local organisations has given me a unique insight into organisational challenges that can create barriers to people getting the help and support they need. Having the privilege to work with people during some of the most difficult times of their lives has given me respect for people's strength and resilience. It has allowed me to develop specialist skills in compassionate, person centred therapeutic approaches, aimed at supporting people through times of trauma and adversity; affecting their well-being, self-esteem, and social relationships. Within ReNEW I take a lead on therapeutic interventions, striving to offer a range of evidence-based interventions to support people within their community. Like many professionals; having both personal and professional experience of trauma, inequality and mental health, has allowed me to gain an awareness of gaps in compassionate therapeutic support and community based interventions, that prevent people from gaining the help they deserve. I have seen from both sides the detrimental impact stigma surrounding mental health difficulties and prescribing can have amongst populations of health professionals; and wish to take an active stance against the notion that mental health support is for the few and not the many. I believe in the ethical provision of psychological therapy; ensuring people are fully informed, offered the right support for their personal circumstances, and are provided with sustainable strategies to manage their mental health in the long term.
Due to my experience of working within forensic services I also lead on the pathway for women within the criminal justice system, recognising the relationship between victimisation and future offending. I have several years experience working in Forensic, Learning Disability and Community mental health services; as well as taking a lead on Co-production and Inclusion within my public sector role. I am trained in EMDR, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, as well as a range of psychological assessments (cognitive, risk, neuropsychological).
Mrs Louisa Clarke
Master Coach - EMCC UK Registered/ Non-Exec Director
Fellow of Chartered Management Institute (FCMI), Member of Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (MIWFM).
My career started in the Royal Air Force, where I proudly served for a decade and learned to thrive in a male-dominated work environment. In 2004, I received a commendation for my service on that year’s honour's list for outstanding professionalism, sterling efforts, and devotion to duty. After leaving the military, I started a role as a Contracts Manager at a multi-million-pound facilities company. I didn’t keep that role for long; determined to succeed, I worked my way up to become the first female operational director and board-level managing director of the company within a few short years. I have been a finalist for multiple awards, including the ‘ex-forces in business’ and the ‘women in business’ awards. I currently serve as a Member of the Government Veterans Advisory Board, and on the Women in Facilities Management Committee (WIFM).
As part of ReNEW I take a lead on leadership coaching for women in business, as well as leading on the veteran's pathway within the service. I’ve made it my mission to help people unlock their full potential. I want to empower my clients to stop waiting for permission and to start taking charge of their careers and their lives with confidence and determination. My leadership coaching practice is a safe place to unpack what is holding you back, develop a leadership style that is guided by your values, and create the success you know you deserve. I believe it’s time to smash the glass ceiling once and for all and I see a future with diversity, greater opportunities, balance, and fresh perspectives at all levels. I want to see my clients go after their dreams, challenge the status quo, and become powerful leaders and agents of change.
Dr Annaliese Jowsey
Specialist Clinical Psychologist
Applied Psychology BSc, Forensic Psychology MSc, Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, DClinPsy, HCPC Registered.
As a Clinical Psychologist, I have worked with a range of presenting difficulties underpinned by disruptions in attachment, adverse childhood experiences (ACE’s) and developmental trauma. I am interested in drawing on psychological models which focus on the use of a compassion-focused approach to target client’s presenting difficulties through identification of unhelpful relational patterns. Within ReNEW, I am the lead for reflection, consultancy, and supervision and I have experience in providing supervision and reflective practice groups. I have a particular interest in understanding the impact of vicarious trauma and the importance of staff support. I am keen to consider the different ways services can support their staff with heightened risk of burnout and compassion fatigue.
I have several years of clinical experience working within Forensic and Perinatal mental health services. With this in mind I lead on the Perinatal pathway within ReNEW. I feel passionate about working relationally with families, teams, and organisations to best support women within the perinatal period. I am trained in EMDR and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy.
Dr Mercedez Coleman
Specialist Clinical Psychologist
Psychology BSc, Applied Forensic Psychology MSc, Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, DClinPsy, HCPC Registered.
My passion for ReNEW started with a longstanding interest in supporting survivors of domestic violence. Recovering from the emotional and social impact of surviving abuse takes time and support. Whilst mainstream mental health services work hard to support survivors, there can be limitations to what they can offer. As a Clinical Psychologist I have specialist experience of working with people who have survived abuse and supporting the teams/services they work with. Within ReNEW I take a lead on working with local organisations to promote culture change through training, scaffolding, and education, and lead on the pathway for Relationships and Abuse. As part of ReNEW I aim to share my skills and knowledge to support women in the North East to feel empowered and take the next steps towards their future.
I have several years experience working in Forensic, and Perinatal mental health services; as well as taking a lead on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion within Teesside University. I am trained in EMDR, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, and Compassion Focused Therapy.
Dr Michelle Small
Principal Clinical Psychologist
BSc (Hons) Psychology, Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, DClinPsy, HCPC Registered
Since qualifying as a clinical psychologist I have specialised in working with adults with Learning Disabilities (LD) and/or Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) who have Forensic needs. These experiences have shaped my desire to support the Criminal Justice System (CJS) in making their procedures both for victims and perpetrators accessible for people with neurodiverse needs. I have recently developed an interest in stalking and domestic violence and am keen to work with the Police to improve awareness of the impact of these offences and to work more preventatively. Within ReNEW, I am the lead for neurodiversity in the CJS and alongside Dr Abbie Woodhouse, will lead on issues of stalking and domestic violence.
I have strong values aligning with ReNEW’s model. I believe that many of the emotional / psychological problems faced by individuals are an understandable reaction to / way of coping with adversity, prejudice/ discrimination, and disempowerment. I advocate for a move away from pathologising emotional distress and hope we can achieve this by giving back power and ownership to individuals and move towards a narrative whereby the ‘person isn’t the problem; the problem is the problem’. My epistemological stance aligns closely to ‘social constructionist’ views. I believe that the world is made up of multiple truths, that are unique to each person’s experiences and the relationships they have with others and the world around them. Due to this philosophical stance, I lean more towards qualitative research methodologies. I have 10 years’ experience in completing and supervising qualitative research projects and within ReNEW, I will be the lead on qualitative research methods.
I have 18 years of experience working within health care with individuals across the lifespan in primary, secondary, and tertiary care services. I have extensive experience in delivering supervision and consultation to multidisciplinary teams, and leading case discussions to support the psychological understanding of service user presentations, employing a compassionate approach which draws upon trauma/attachment, personality / coping styles and dialectics. I am trained in Integrative Psychological Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour therapy (DBT), DBT for SUD’s, Radically Open DBT and Prolonged Exposure for PTSD.