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Clare Smith

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A great many problems would not have become problems, had the right support been available early enough. For children and young people, timely support is particularly important, as help to understand their issues can make an enormous difference, not only to them, but also to everyone in the family.

I only provide the kinds of therapeutic support that I would want my own family members to receive. I incorporate a range of therapeutic approaches but specialise in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy.

EMDR Therapy, which traditionally involves eye movements, tactile pulsars, self-tapping, or bilateral alternating sounds, but which may also include drumming, drawing, storytelling, movement or ‘play’, enables distressing memories that have been frozen in time as ‘trauma memories’ to be reprocessed into narrative, non-distressing memories.

I work entirely collaboratively, working with you towards your goals, at your own pace.

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Experience

Extensive experience of working with neurodiverse people of all ages (such as those who are autistic, experience ADHD, tics, or dyslexia) enables me to provide a psychological trauma service to this frequently marginalised group, who are known to experience trauma more often than those without such differences. Specialist training and experience in working with dissociation, including complex dissociation, also enables people experiencing dissociative identity disorder/response (DID/DIR), partial DID, or OSDD to engage in therapy with me. This includes people with dual differences, such as when DID co-occurs with autism. In addition to ‘in person’ sessions at Thinking Space, for those who prefer an online service, this can be provided through either Thinking Space in the UK or through The Keystone Clinic in Ireland.

I am an international speaker on EMDR therapy in autism, and the lead author of a chapter, co-written with Professor Derek Farrell MBE, in the Oxford Handbook of EMDR. I have also contributed to published research in the fields of both neurodiversity and EMDR therapy and am a peer reviewer in the field of complex dissociation.

I offer supervision/consultation to other EMDR therapists in both Ireland and the UK.

Previous experience

2009 – 2024 – Lecturing at the University of Worcester; as associate lecturer, contributing to the training of EMDR therapists on the Post Graduate Certificate in EMDR therapy (2022-2024) and (2015-2022) lecturing on a wide range of mental health issues (adults and children), case formulation, human development, attachment theory, childhood trauma, childhood sexual abuse, special educational needs and disability, trauma, and dissociation; as a visiting lecturer, on autism in children (2009-2015).

2015 to 2017 – Freelance Advocate; providing general advocacy for adults living with autism and/or severe learning difficulties in care homes.

2001 to 2015 – Worcestershire CAMHS (child and adolescent mental health service). Associate Specialist Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. Specialism in the mental health, assessment and support of neurodiverse children and young people (those experiencing differences such as autism, ADHD, tics/Tourette syndrome, sensory processing difficulties, language and learning difficulties).

Late 1990s to early 2000s – Sexual Health Medicine: Time4U (a rural outreach service) and YES (Youth Enquiry Service) offering sexual health and relationship support to high school pupils; sexual health and contraception for people of all ages.

Early 1990s – Doctor with the Great Britain Junior Swimming Team; supporting Team GB teenagers to manage the psychological stress of international competition, and providing general medical support.

Late 1980s to early 1990s – Post Graduate Training in General Practice and then a GP.

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Training

Master’s degree (MSc) in EMDR therapy (with distinction)

EMDR Europe Accredited Consultant

EMDR Europe levels 1, 2, 3, and 4.

EMDR Europe Children & Adolescents levels I and II.

Complex dissociation training, including advanced/ specialist training in dissociative identity disorder (DID) and MSc dissertation on EMDR therapy in DID

Trauma Center, Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TC-TSY) foundation training/workshop

Wide range of trauma training – adult and children

DBT (dialectical behaviour therapy) essentials training

ADOS (autism diagnostic observation schedule) basic training

3Di (developmental, dimensional, and diagnostic interview training for Autism assessment)

STORM – self-harm mitigation and suicide prevention training

Institute of Psychosexual Medicine basic training (2-year course)

A variety of additional short training courses covering a range of topics

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Academic Qualifications

Master’s degree in EMDR therapy (MSc)

Diploma of the Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (DFFP)

The Joint Committee on Postgraduate Training for General Practice – Certificate of Prescribed/ Equivalent Experience (JCPTGP)

Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB)

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Memberships

Registered with the General Medical Council (GMC no. 3120907) but having retired from clinical medicine, I am not currently licensed to practice medicine as a doctor. Therefore, I cannot prescribe medication, undertake formal assessments, make formal diagnoses, complete reports or sign documentation as a doctor, or engage in any other work that can only be undertaken by a doctor.

Affiliate of The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Member of the EMDR All-Ireland Association and of the EMDR Association UK.
Member of the Research Committee of the EMDR All-Ireland Association

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What People Say

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