Chandra Atkinson

Child and Parent Specialist Therapist

I am a Child and Parent Specialist Therapist with 36 years of experience of working in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in the NHS in both clinical and managerial roles. Until 2023 I held senior posts in the NHS as a clinician and as a manager to 5 Inner London CAMHS Teams, including Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster.

In my role as a clinician, I worked individually with children and young people and ran therapeutic groups for individuals and families. As a result, I developed specialist expertise in working with low mood, depression, low self-esteem, generalised anxiety, exam stress, social anxiety and self-harm.

I also worked with parents and families in different settings such as CAMHS, an ADHD assessment service and an Infant Mental Health service. Here, I developed specialist expertise in supporting parents of children of all ages, and in the context of ADHD and post-natal depression.

I use an integrative approach to therapy as I have trained in a number of therapies.

My approach is to first listen attentively and think about your goals for treatment so we together can agree a way forward and tailor the therapy to your needs. I would also offer guidance and strategies you can implement should this be needed. I believe that a collaborative, safe, supportive, empathic, and non-judgemental space is key for clients to work through issues with ease.

My training to work with children, adolescents and families using evidence-based techniques includes:

Registered Mental Health Nurse, Carshalton and Croydon College of Nursing, 1993
Diploma in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Maudsley Hospital, 1995
Parent/Child Game, CAMHS Kent, Sue Jenner, 1997
Master of Arts in Infant Observation and Psychoanalytic Studies, Tavistock Centre and University of East London, 2004
Baby Massage, Peter Walker, 2005
Teenagers Becoming Parents, Anna Freud Centre, 2008
Multi Family Therapy, Marlborough Family Service, CNWL NHS Trust 2011
Diploma in Family Therapy, Institute of Family Therapy, 2012
Incredible Years Parenting Training, Reading University 2013
IAPT Supervisor Parenting Strand, Reading University, 2013
Mindfulness Course, Recovery College CNWL 2014
IAPT Management Course, Anna Freud Centre, 2019
3DI / ADOS Training, CNWL NHS Trust, 2021

Publications

Atkinson, C. 20 Basic ideas to help you bring up your children. Spain: Desclee de Brouwer. Parenting book (In Spanish)

I am bilingual in English and Spanish

I have Professional Indemnity Insurance Cover and Enhanced DBS Clearance

Availability: Thursdays including evening sessions.

Charges: £85

Contact: enquiries@surreytherapypractice.com