Child and Family Issues

The consultancy offers assessment, advice, mediation and therapy in relation to the following areas:

  • Family Therapy
  • Behaviour Management within the home
  • Family Issues in Divorce and Separation
  • Individual Therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Cognitive Analytic Therapy for Children, Adolescents and Adults
  • Therapy for Partners
  • Non-Legal Mediation

If you would like more information or would like to book an appointment, please contact us.

 

Our Psychologists and Therapists who may be able to help include:

John McKeown, MA (Hons), M Ed Psych, PGCE, AFBPsS: Chartered Educational Psychologist, Managing Partner

John McKeown is the Clinical and Managing director of MPA and has been an Educational Psychologist who has worked both within the local authority service and as an independent consultant for over 25 years. He works across the full age range from young children to adults. His experience includes particular expertise in assessments for general learning and specific learning difficulties (Dyslexia), behavioural management and adjustment issues related to promoting effective learning and emotional development.

He has a particular experience in both low and high functioning autistic spectrum conditions. His work extends to the interaction between school, college, family and community in the development and support for children, adolescents and adults. He has considerable experience in working as an expert witness in the courts on educational and child care matters as well as the special educational needs and disability tribunal.

 

Dr Stephen Briers, D.Clin.Psychol, Ph.D: Chartered Clinical Psychologist

Dr Stephen Briers works with a broad range of emotional and behavioural problems in both adults and children. He has a particular interest in trauma and adjustment disorders and prior to joining McKeown Psychology Associates worked in the field of HIV/Psychosexual health within the Health Service. Dr Briers is regularly instructed to prepared reports for forensic, medico-legal and Child Care Proceedings. He is experienced in the assessment and treatment of various aspects of family functioning and has been a resident Psychologist for Little Angels and Teen Angels for the BBC.

 

Dr Peter Jakob, Ph.D, C.Psychol, Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Dr Jakob works with a variety of difficulties in adults, children, young people and families. With some 25 years of experience as clinical psychologist and family therapist, his specialisation is in providing brief therapy and family therapy for anxiety, trauma and severe trauma, and for serious behaviour problems.

Before joining McKeown Psychology Associates, Dr Jakob headed a large child psychology department in the NHS, and was the clinical lead for a team providing therapy to young people and families involved with Social Services. Over the past years, he has been introducing 'Non Violent Resistance' to the UK, an approach designed specifically for working with behaviour problems as well as aggression and self-destructive behaviour in young people

 

Alison Lesley, MA Psychotherapist UKCP registered

Alison has over thirty years experience of therapeutic work with adults, children and families in a variety of settings including The Priory Group, the NHS and Employees Assistance Programmes as well as private practice. 

She trained at the Institute of Psychotherapy and Social Studies as a Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist but uses an Integrative approach based on the philosophy that each person is unique and thus requires a subjective intervention appropriate to their individual needs.

Alison has training and expertise in many areas including Couples Therapy, attachment and systemic problems, self-harm, suicidal ideation, sexual abuse and eating disorders.

 

Dr Joanna Livingstone, (BSc: DClinPsych), Chartered Clinical Psychologist

Dr Livingstone works half time between private practice and the NHS. She works with adults and children providing a mainly cognitive behavioural therapeutic (CBT) approach as well as systemic principles to a range of emotional and behavioural problems. Tailoring specialist CBT programmes at home or school for children and adolescents with specific learning and/or behavioural problems is often an integral part of this approach. Emotional problems treated include anxiety, depression, panic, phobias, relationship issues, and obsessions.

 

Frankie McLean BSc (Bristol University), MSc (University College London, 1995) – Principal Associate MPA Ltd

Mrs McLean worked for the NHS between 1995 and 2003 and has worked in private practice since 2003. Her specialist field is children and families with a particular interest in families in crisis; childhood trauma and neglect. She has 14 years experience of undertaking expert assessments for the Court in care proceedings, private law proceedings, compensation claims and pre-proceedings assessments. She is also involved in the supervision and training of other clinical psychologists who are beginning to undertake such assessments.

 

Terry Moriarty, M.A., PG Diploma in Counselling

Terry is a very experienced Counsellor who spent many years teaching prior to her completing her diploma in Counselling in 2000. She has worked extensively with students and staff both in mainstream and special education and has an additional qualification as a Teacher of the Deaf.

She has been working as a freelance Counsellor in four local secondary schools, two of which are mainstream schools, and two special schools. She has worked with young people who present with a wide range of needs and difficulties, including young deaf people, those with physical and medical problems, others who are on the Autistic Spectrum and teenagers with emotional and behavioural difficulties. She sees young people whose concerns range from family breakdown, depression and anxiety, school refusal, bullying and anger management.

Her long career in teaching coupled with her current experience as a counsellor has enabled her to work closely not only with young people, but with families, carers, educators and other associated professionals. Her background in Drama has been another valuable tool in empowering clients and enabling them to work in a related sphere

 

Veronica Rosenberg BSc MSc Chartered Clinical Psychologist

Qualified as a clinical psychologist in 1976 and has 30 years experience of working with children, their families or carers in the NHS. She has been in private practice since 2001.She has worked in a variety of NHS settings including child development centres, paediatrics and CAMHS (Child and adolescent mental health services).

She works with a broad range of emotional and behavioural problems in children and adolescents providing both assessment and therapy. Her therapeutic work draws on both cognitive behavioural and systemic principals. She has a particular interest in working with children and their families with a chronic or life threatening illness as well as children with neurodevelopmental difficulties, including children on the Autistic Spectrum.

 

Rachel Sievers, MA, PG Dip CCS, MRCSLT, MASLTIP

Rachel Sievers is an Independent Speech and Language Therapist, who has many years' experience of working with children and young people with speech, language and communication impairments. She has worked in a wide range of settings, including health centres, mainstream and special schools, and has provided training for parents, carers and staff.

Rachel works with clients of 3-18 years and with adults who have had communication difficulties from an early age. Clients can be seen at either school/college or at the offices of McKeown Psychology Associates in Brighton.

Rachel will normally carry out a speech and language assessment that may enable you to gain a better understanding of the individual's difficulties and strengths. Strategies for improving the individual's communication and access to learning situations are suggested.

Assessment is often followed by blocks of speech and language therapy sessions on an individual, paired or group basis, as appropriate. Structured activities and games or role-play and discussion are used to help develop the individual's communication skills, using strengths to support weaker areas. Clients also benefit from being taught strategies to cope more effectively with their difficulties.

Therapy targets are set and reviewed on a regular basis. Liaison with school or college staff and support to parents is also offered to facilitate and extend the individual's developing skills.