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Psychology and Psychotherapy Team

We are a team of Clinical Psychologists and Psychotherapists offering a selection of support options to people under the care of Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health (NCTH) on the treatment pathway. If you’d like more information about us, you can read our bios here, and you can view the bios for all NCTH staff here People who have received a diagnosis and are under the care of NCTH can be referred to the Psychology and Psychotherapy team for therapy by speaking to their supporting clinician at their second assessment or during a follow up appointment.

 

Therapy

We offer one to one, face to face, as well as group therapy options to people. The people we see may present with concerns about anxiety, low mood, self-esteem, sex, and relationship issues.  The work we do is person centred and individually tailored to each person’s needs. This includes working in a joined-up way with other colleagues to support people with specific medical interventions they might be receiving via NCTH as part of their transition. We aim to undertake therapy using person centred ways to explore with people and build an understanding, while also working to the strengths of an individual to empower them to take the next step in their journey.
Some people might be better supported by local services. When this is believed to be the best course of care for a person, we can offer to work with these other services to offer specialised support.

 

 

Extended assessment

At NCTH diagnostic assessments occur over a minimum of two sessions, however, some people may require more time, thought, or discussion about this and the path they choose regarding their gender transition. Clinical Psychologists within the Psychology & Psychotherapy team also offer extended assessments to people who would benefit from more time to explore their gender and whether a diagnosis and readiness for medical intervention is appropriate for them.

 

 

 

Psychology and Psychotherapy Team 

 

Dr Meghan Thurston, BSc (Hons), MPhil, PGDip, PhD, PGCert, DClin Psy (pronouns: she/her/hers)
Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Lead for Psychology and Therapy Services

Meghan has worked in Transgender health for over 10 years and has worked at the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health (NCTHnet) since 2020. She holds a dual role within the service and provides both diagnostic assessments for individuals seeking gender affirming medical interventions and extended diagnostic assessments. She also provides psychological assessment and intervention for individuals needing support for mental health difficulties relating to gender. She gravitates towards evidence based therapeutic interventions and is qualified in CBT, narrative, and CFT therapy. She supports and line manages the psychology and therapy service. She also provides teaching to DClin Psy courses and trainee placements. Meghan represents the clinic at local and national gender groups, and has also published and presented at conferences at a national and international level. In her spare time, Meghan very much believes the more miles she suns equals the more cake she can eat, and she is also often telling people in the clinic Canadian facts as she is originally from Canada!

 

Dr Richard Waterman (pronouns: he/him/his) BA Psychology, MSc Psychology, Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
Specialist Clinical Psychologist

Richard is a Specialist Clinical Psychologist who joined the clinic in September 2022. He is trained in a number of psychological models including Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT), and he uses a combination of the therapeutic approaches that best fit the needs of each person. He has been working with LGBTQ+ people for 15+ years in mental health and education settings, and has experience working with young people, adults, and older people across a range of services. Richard enjoys walking, the gym, R&B and soul music, and sitcoms from the 80s and 90s. As a patient, you may see Richard for second assessments, extended assessments, or for psychological therapy. 

 

Sally Robbins-Cherry (pronouns: she/her/hers) RGN, MSc, UKCPreg
Nurse Consultant and Sexual and Relationship Psychotherapist

Sally has worked in Transgender Healthcare for 16 years with the last 12 years being at the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health.

She works as a lead clinician at Nottingham. Her work involves assessing people for treatments, hormones and surgery, and psychotherapy. Sally has presented nationally and internationally on transgender health and sexuality and is a chapter member of WPATH Standards of Care version 8, and a council member of BAGIS.

 

Trainee Clinical Psychologist

 

A trainee Clinical Psychologist is undertaking a professional doctorate in clinical psychology. At NCTH we facilitate placements for trainees during either their second or third year of training. Placements typically are either six months to one year in duration. You may meet one of our trainees during either a first or second assessment for diagnosis, or for psychological therapy.

 

Psychology undergraduate students 

 

Psychology undergraduate students are completing their Psychology degree and as part of their course they access a year long placement. This is after their second year of their degree. Our psychology undergraduate students undertake a range of responsibilities at NCTH including: research; audit; shadowing and observing clinical activities; administrative responsibilities; and completing tasks necessary for their placement.