Dr Harriet Conniff
BA; MA; DipPsy; DClinPsy. PGDip, AFBPsS.
Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Hello, I am Harriet and I am a Chartered Clinical Psychologist who works with children, adolescents and their families.
Sometimes life can feel difficult, confusing, or overwhelming. My role is to help children, young people and families understand what is happening, find ways to copeand get back on track, and move forward.
I have worked in private practice for almost 20 years alongside my NHS work where I have over 25 years clinical experience. I have had a longstanding association with 35 Great James since it began and prior to this with its founders in other clinic sites.
I work broadly to support most mental health presentations and specialise in supporting children, young people and their families in managing physical health conditions, life changes and transitions, and trauma, loss and bereavement work.
My main therapy approach to all my work is Systemic and Solution Focused but I tailor different evidenced based approaches and interventions to fit the needs of the child/young person, parent/carer, family or system. I pursue regular CPD to maintain my registration, and I have postdoctoral specialist training in:
Solution Focused Therapy
Systemic Family Therapy
Narrative Therapy (Tree of Life, Beads of Life, Superheroes Therapy)
EMDR (Adults), ASSYST, GTEP Trauma Therapy
Motivational Interviewing
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
I am especially interested in focusing on what children and families are doing already to cope with the problems they are facing. I see my role as facilitating people to draw on their resources and strengths to manage difficulties in their lives. As one client put it, “you always help us solve our problems for ourselves”.
As a systemic practitioner, I consider the contexts to problems people are experiencing, that can include narratives about children and parenting, power and injustice and social inequalities. I am interested in how family and culture function in people’s lives. Essentially, I try to understand the bigger picture of what is happening in a child or young person’s life — including family, school and friendships — and help people build on their strengths and what is already helping.
I work with children and young people between the ages of 0-18 years with a range of emotional and behavioural difficulties and/or psychiatric diagnoses as well as those with medical conditions. I also work with parents/carers, siblings and other family members. All referrals need to be made via a Child Psychiatrist, GP or Health Professional. The reasons for seeking psychological support can include:
Managing living with a chronic physical health illness or condition (impact on individual and/or family)
Managing treatment adherence
Feeling different due to health condition and/or self-identity
Low mood and self esteem
Behaviour management
Anxiety and panic attacks
Problems with social relationships
Support during times of family crisis and transition e.g. parents separating, school moves, country moves
Individual & group work with child and/or parents or other family members
Bereavement, loss and Trauma
I completed my Doctoral training at the University of East London and trained in Paediatric Clinical Psychology at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and in the Department of Children and Adolescents at University College Hospital London. I worked for several years at Great Ormond Street Hospital in paediatric intensive care (PICU). I completed a postdoctoral Diploma in Systemic Family Therapy at the Tavistock Centre, London. I have worked in several paediatric specialist centres in the UK and covered the following medical specialties: PICU, Respiratory and Cystic Fibrosis, Cardiothoracic Transplant, Metabolic, Orthopaedics, Teenage and Young adult’s Cancer and Paediatric Palliative Care.
I have spent time living and working in different countries and speak Brazilian Portugues and some Italian. Before becoming a psychologist, I worked for 10 years as a youth and community worker and play specialist in inner London & projects abroad (Brazil, USA). During that time, I did a BA degree in Geography and a Masters in Brazilian studies!
I currently work at the Evelina London Children’s Hospital in Westminster, part of Guys and St Thomas’ NHS foundation Trust. As part of the senior team there, I manage and supervise teams and psychosocial professionals. Since the pandemic I have led on psychological staff support for staff working in women and children’s services and I lead on the Trauma debrief pathway across the Trust as a National expert in the area of psychological staff support in healthcare.
In my spare time, I work for various international humanitarian organisations supporting both paediatric patients as well as staff working in conflict zones and in the context of natural disasters. To relax and recharge I practice Yoga and Pilates, go dancing and enjoy travelling, especially spending time in the mountains or by the sea.
If you come to see me, we will work together to understand what is going on and think about what might help. I look forward to meeting you.
What’s the best that can happen?
Harriet
Professional Memberships:
Health Professionals Council (HPC) registration number: PYL04764
British Psychological Society (BPS) Membership Number: 041306
Association of Clinical Psychologists UK (ACP-UK) Membership Number: 2147