FAQs

  • I offer therapy to adults (anyone over the age of 18). I work with individuals only - I do not offer couples or family therapy. I only work with people who live in the UK.

  • Qualifications & Training

    Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy) | University of Bath (2018)

    Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) Practitioner Training | Association of Cognitive Analytic Therapy (2022)

    EMDR Training | EMDR Academy (2024)

    PGDip in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) | British Isles DBT & Bangor University (2022)

    Professional Registrations

    I am a registered practitioner psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). My registration number is PYL36236. You can review the register here.

    I am a registered and accredited CAT therapist with the Association of Cognitive Analytic Therapy (ACAT). You can review the register here.

  • Both! I offer appointments in central Bristol (UK), and I also offer appointments online.

  • At the moment, I offer appointments on Fridays.

    Please email me at maddyharrispsychology@protonmail.com to find out my current availability for new clients.

  • I am very sorry to say the building I work from does not offer step-free access, and many of the rooms and the toilet facilities are only accessible via flights of stairs, with no lift. This unfortunately means face to face appointments are not accessible to people who use wheelchairs or are limited in their mobility. Please note I offer appointments online as well as face to face, so please do get in touch if you would like to explore this option.

    If you have any disabilities, health conditions, or sensory issues, and you would like to discuss these with me before deciding on next steps, please get in touch.

  • Currently, I am not registered with any insurance providers.

  • Clinical psychologists are trained in a variety of psychological models and therapeutic approaches. This means we can draw on different perspectives and models to shape an approach suited to a person’s particular needs. This level of training means clinical psychologists are experienced in working with people who may face more complex issues with their mental health.

    In the UK, the training route to become a clinical psychologist involves doctoral level academic study alongside clinical practice. It is important to note that clinical psychologists are not psychiatrists or medical doctors, and do not prescribe medication.

  • CAT is a therapy which focuses on how people think, feel, and act. It considers past experiences and how these may influence how a person lives their life now. Fundamentally, CAT is a therapy which thinks about relationships, past and present – our relationships with others, and our relationship with ourselves.

    If you find yourself stuck in particular relationship patterns, get in touch and we can have a think about whether CAT therapy might be a good fit for you.

    If you would like to find out more about CAT, please visit the Association for Cognitive Analytic Therapy (ACAT) website here.

  • EMDR is a therapy which can help the brain heal from traumatic experiences. When we experience something traumatic, sometimes the memories can get ‘stuck’, and this can mean we continue to experience very intense and overwhelming memories and emotions related to past traumatic events, even if they happened a long time ago.

    EMDR involves remembering the traumatic event and experiencing bilateral stimulation at the same time. Bilateral stimulation involves activating both sides of the brain at the same time – this might mean moving your eyes from side to side, or alternate tapping on both sides of your body. If you have not heard of EMDR before, this may seem a little strange! At the same time, there is lots of evidence to suggest EMDR is very effective for helping people to process trauma, and it is a recommended therapy for PTSD by the NHS.

    If you would like to find out more about EMDR, please visit the EMDR Association UK website here.

  • DBT is a therapy suited for people who feel emotions very intensely and can struggle to manage them. This difficulty in managing emotions can lead people to act in unhelpful or damaging ways at times, which can then create problems in relationships or poor self-worth, leading to a vicious cycle that can be very hard to break.

    DBT aims to balance compassionate understanding of why we are the way we are, and at the same time changing aspects of our lives which, in the long term, cause more problems than they solve.

    A note on DBT: whilst I am trained in DBT, I do not provide a comprehensive DBT programme in my private work. This is because full DBT is delivered by a team, and so cannot be provided by one person alone. However, I can draw on my DBT training in my clinical work, so if a DBT informed approach to therapy is something you would like to consider, please get in touch.

    To find out more about DBT, you can visit the British Isles DBT training website here.

    If you would like details of therapy providers who may be able to provide a full DBT programme, you can review the Society for DBT register here.