Dr Natasha Holden, BSc (Hons), Clin.Psy.D, HCPC Registered Clinical Psychologist

Hello and thanks for looking at my profile. I am a Clinical Psychologist with a strong interest in developmental and complex trauma, particularly the impact of early trauma on emotional and psychological well-being. I integrate several established psychological models, including attachment theory, neurodevelopmental approaches, Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). My work brings together different kinds of support to meet you where you are. This includes comprehensive assessments and therapeutic work with adopted and SGO children and their families, consultation sessions where I work alongside parents, carers and schools, and online therapy for adults navigating their own emotional challenges.

As a parent to two autistic children, I have a deep understanding of neurodivergence, including Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). My lived experience informs my work with neurodivergent individuals and families, enabling me to provide compassionate, tailored support that truly meets their needs.

I am a certified facilitator of Compassionate Mind Training (CMT), an 8-week program designed to help individuals develop self-compassion and improved emotional well-being. I have successfully delivered CMT groups for Special Guardianship Order (SGO) carers and am passionate about expanding this work with other parents and carers.

My professional journey spans over 20 years, starting with my Psychology degree from the University of Manchester (2005) and leading to my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Liverpool (2014). Earlier in my career, I worked within the NHS, contributing to clinical trials focused on improving the emotional well-being of individuals with psychosis, bipolar disorder, and mental health challenges in young people. I also have experience in teaching Clinical Psychology Doctorate students and supervising professionals pursuing diplomas in CBT for psychosis.

Psychosis and bipolar disorder remain key areas of interest for me, and I continue to provide workshops on these topics, commissioned by NHS England. These workshops aim to enhance understanding and improve support for individuals experiencing psychosis and bipolar disorder, contributing to broader mental health education.

In both my personal and professional life, I am guided by my values: well-being matters, respect and boundaries are honoured, kindness is at the core, and I believe in lifelong learning, exploration, and connection. These values shape my approach, ensuring a compassionate, empowering, and inclusive environment for growth and healing.

Outside of work, I enjoy exploring new adventures with family and friends.

Thank you for taking the time to read my profile. If you would like to discuss how I can support you, your family, or your organisation, please feel free to reach out.

natasha@theclinpsychgroup.com

Published Research

Tarrier, N., Kelly, J., Maqsood, S., Snelson, N., Maxwell, J., Law, H., Dunn, G., & Gooding, P. (2014). The cognitive behavioural prevention of suicide in psychosis: A clinical trial. Schizophrenia Research, 156(2), 204-210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2014.04.029

Holden, N., Kelly, J., Welford, M., & Taylor, P. (2016). Emotional response to a therapeutic technique: The social broad minded affective coping. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 89(4), 451-466. https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12095

Aydinlar, S., Courtley, J., Douglas-Bailey, M., Graves, E., Hutton, J., Hutton, P., Holden, N., et al. (2018). Cognitive behavioural therapy in clozapine-resistant schizophrenia: The FOCUS trial. Psychosis, 10(3), 215-227. https://doi.org/10.1080/17522439.2017.1363276

Morrison, A. P., Pyle, M., Gumley, A., Schwannauer, M., Turkington, D., MacLennan, G., Norrie, J., Hudson, J., Bowe, S., French, P., Hutton, P., Byrne, R., Syrett, S., Dudley, R., McLeod, H. J., Griffiths, H., Barnes, T. R., Davies, L., Shields, G., Buck, D., Tully, S., Kingdon, D., & Holden, N. (2018). Antipsychotic drugs versus cognitive behavioural therapy versus a combination of both in people with psychosis: a randomised controlled pilot and feasibility study. Lancet Psychiatry, 5(5), 411–423. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30096-8

Longden, E., Corstens, D., Bowe, S., Pyle, M., Emsley, R., Peters, S., Branitsky, A., Chauhan, N., Dehmahdi, N., Jones, W., Holden, N., Larkin, A., Miners, A., Murphy, E., Steele, A., & Morrison, A. P. (2022). A psychological intervention for engaging dialogically with auditory hallucinations (Talking With Voices): A single-site, randomised controlled feasibility trial. Psychosis, 14(2), 156-169. https://doi.org/10.1080/17522439.2022.2049070


 
 
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