Hi, I’m Dr Chantell Douglas
I am a Senior Clinical Psychologist, training and working for 10+ years in the NHS in a range of adult, paediatric and family mental health settings. In 2019, I was highly commended for an NHS Trust Excellence Award. During the pandemic, I set up an NHS service supporting children and young people’s emotional wellbeing in schools, where I am currently the lead psychologist.
Mindful Yoga Psychology is my small independent practice. I’m passionate about sharing holistic therapeutic approaches to wellbeing. I work intergratively drawing on a range of clinical psychology models, research and training as a yoga and mindfulness practitioner. I completed doctoral training at Salomons -Canterbury Christ Church University, with post-doctoral trainings at University College London, Kings College London, The Anna Freud Centre, Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust and The Institute of Narrative Therapy.
Body-mind-whole
“Body-based techniques such as yoga and breathing exercises alongside talking therapies can have a profound effect on psychological and physical health.” ~The Tavistock Clinic.
Body-based approaches can connect us to our wisdom and strengths. It has transformed the way I live, work and lead. I qualified as a yoga teacher in 2015, studying in Europe and India, and further trainings with Teen Yoga UK and The Minded Institute (accredited by Yoga Alliance and the British Psychological Society). I specialise in therapeutic yoga and mindfulness-based approaches for adults, children and young people to promote psychological wellbeing, drawing on research and practice-based evidence and experience. I offer writing, talks and workshops. I lecture on several adult and child yoga teacher trainings. Topics include: compassion, mindfulness, trauma-informed practices, ethics and philosophy, child development, regulation & more.
Mission & Values
Our mission is to make science-based and holistic therapy approaches for healing, transformation and mental health more inclusive and accessible - to promote psychological wellbeing for adults, children and families.
Our values include:
Shared Humanity - suffering, joy and the waves of life are part of being human; all of you welcome is here.
Wisdom- is within us all and can guide transformation and growth. We believe the body is wise and the mind too.
Equality - working to address structures that disadvantage and promote ways to honour our unique context and dignity.
Holistic & Flexible - there’s no one size fits all including for mental health; awareness, choice and flexibility are important.
Collaboration - skills and wisdom exist within and between us. Your ideas, expertise and creative solutions are valued.
Community - stronger together, relationships, connection and compassion in action are the heart of our work.
Learning - ongoing learning, growth, reflexivity and humility.
Experience:
Podcasts:
Experience prior to, during and post-qualifying, over 14 years in NHS mental health settings:
Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (emotional wellbeing / whole school and community approaches)
Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (general / neurodevelopmental pathway)
Paediatric Psychology Service - Cardiac conditions (inpatients, outpatients, community care)
Paediatric Psychology Service - General paediatrics (inpatients, outpatients, community care)
Paediatric Psychology Service - Gastroenterological difficulties (inpatients, outpatients, community care)
Paediatric Psychology Service - Craniofacial (inpatients, outpatients, community care)
Paediatric Psychology Service - Orthapaedics and surgery (inpatients, outpatients, community care)
Paediatric Psychology Service - Cardiac and respiratory conditions (inpatients, outpatients, community care)
Paediatric Psychology Service - General, including urology, cardiology, surgery (inpatients, outpatients, community care)
Older Adults Mental Health Service
Adult Learning Disability Service
Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (adolescents and families)
Adult Mental Health Service (acute crisis team, secondary mental health)
Perinatal Mental Health Service (adults, and children and families)
Under 5s Children’s Centre Psychology Service
Looked After Children’s Service
Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (including neurodevelopmental pathway)
Targeted Mental Health in Schools Service (children, adolescents, whole school approaches).
Research:
Doctoral thesis: Experiences of motherhood (particularly marginalised experiences). (Research highly commended by doctoral training course).
Conference Paper: Rimes, K.A., Wingrove, J. & Douglas, C. (2013). Can mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) help people with chronic fatigue syndrome still experiencing excessive fatigue after a course of standard cognitive behaviour therapy? Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice Conference, Chester, April 2013.
Conference Paper: Rimes, K.A., Wingrove, J. & Douglas, C. (2013). Mindfulness based cognitive therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome: A pilot randomised study. Annual Conference for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies, London, June 2013.
Additional Training:
Specialist Yoga Trainings include:
Yoga Therapy, most specialist area with parents, children and young people
Teen Yoga and Mindfulness
Yoga Therapy Skills for Psychological Therapists working with Adults
Mindfulness and Compassion
Children’s Yoga Workshop
Traditional Hatha and Meditation
Transformational Hatha and Vinyasa Yoga
Mindful Hatha Yoga
Advanced Psychology Trainings include:
Trauma-Informed Approaches
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Compassion Focused Therapy
Mindfulness Therapy Approaches
Narrative Therapy
Trauma-Focused Approaches for Children and Young People
Systemic approaches for Children, Young People and Organisations
Clinical Supervision
Organisational Leadership and System Transformation
