Dr Kate Marks, BSc (Hons), PhD Child Development, Clin.Psy.D, HCPC Registered Clinical Psychologist

Hello and thanks for having a look at our website. My name is Kate Marks and I am a Clinical Psychologist with a special interest in developmental / complex trauma and attachment.

I was hooked on psychology and trying to understand human behaviour and experiences at a young age and completed an A-level and undergraduate degree in Psychology. I gained my degree in psychology from the University of Leicester in 2004. I then went on to complete a PhD in child development where I was involved in MRC funded research exploring the impact of stress in pregnancy on infants. I completed my PhD at the University of Manchester in 2010. At this point, I realised I wanted to learn how I might be able to support people who might be experiencing pain and suffering, as well as how to support others to reach their potential in life and experience more joy and comfort. This led me to the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. I graduated with a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from The University of Liverpool in 2013.

In terms of work experience, after graduating in 2004, I worked as a support worker in an adult learning disability residential setting, as an Education Welfare Officer in an education and youth offending setting and then as a research assistant for the University of Manchester on a large child development study.  During Clinical Psychology training I completed four core placements in adult mental health, child learning disability, older adults and child and adolescent mental health. I also had two specialist placements in a High Secure forensic mental health service and in a university student mental health team where I used a CAT informed model of care. After qualifying as a clinical psychologist, I worked for five years within the NHS for a specialist attachment-based team working with parents, children and families. I was a senior clinical psychologist within this team. Throughout this time, I had an additional role working with adults experiencing distress following a trauma. 

I currently provide assessment and therapeutic interventions to adopted children and their families. I also work with people across the age range who are experiencing difficulties following a trauma. I am an accredited Incredible Years parent group leader (a therapeutic parenting intervention), a Video Interaction Guidance guider (an attachment-focused parent-child intervention) and am also trained in the Solihull Approach (a parenting intervention). As well as therapeutic work, I contribute to teaching and research and provide training to professionals and parents on a range of child and adult related topics. I am a trained and qualified Mindfulness yoga teacher and, where appropriate, use these approaches within my work with adults, children and families. I have an interest in mindfulness and relational models of understanding people, families, resilience and distress. I am currently completing a further one year training program in using yoga to help adults and children recover from trauma.

I am passionate about providing support specific to the individual needs of children, adults and families by working together with them to help them re-claim their lives, reach their potential and thrive. Therapy is often a big step and I feel privileged to go on that journey with the people and families I work with.

In my personal time I love listening to music and going to see live music of many types. I try to practice yoga and mindfulness regularly to help me stay grounded and healthy. I get a lot from being out in nature, though live in the centre of Liverpool so do not do this as much as I would like to. I also enjoy seeing stand up comedy and watching (too much) Netflix.