Dr Victoria Samuel

Chartered Clinical Psychologist in Bristol

Qualifications:

  • Ba (Hons) Psychology with European Study, University of Plymouth, 2001 Awaiting Verification
  • Msc Health Psychology, University of Plymouth, 2002 Awaiting Verification
  • Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (D.Clin.Psy), University of Plymouth, 2006 Awaiting Verification
  • EMDR Part 2., EMDR Institute Inc., 2009 Awaiting Verification

How do we validate qualifications?

Governing Bodies:

  • Chartered Clinical Psychologist, British Psychological Society Awaiting Verification
  • YesAccepting Clients
  • YesClinically Supervised
  • YesLiability Cover
  • YesHome Visits
  • YesOwn Premises
  • YesDisabled Access
  • YesMember of Practice
  • NoFree Initial Consultation

Location

Contact Details

Dr Victoria Samuel

The Parent Support Service

Clinic Location: The Spire Hospital, The Glen
Redland Hill, Durdham Downs,
Bristol BS6 6UT United Kingdom

01179 244 860

Catchment Areas:

  • Bristol
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Personal Profile

 

Dr Victoria Samuel's areas of training and experience reflect a particular interest in working with children and families and working with people who have physical heath conditions.

Having gained a first class honours degree in Psychology from the Univeristy of Exeter, Victoria studied for a Masters in Health Psychoogy at the Univeristy of Bath, in which she was awarded a distinction. The Masters included research at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases and led to a published paper on activity management in chronic pain. After study at Bath Victoria worked as an Assistant Psychologist at Salisbury District Hospital where she supported the psychoogical adjustment of patients experiencing a range of chronic and traumatic physical health conditions. In 2003 Victoria secured a place to study for a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in Bristol, where she undertook specialist placements in a Looked After Children team and at the Bristol Haematology and Oncology Hospital.

Since qualifying, Victoria has provided psychological therapy to children experiencing a range of emotional, behavioural and social difficulties in two regional Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and a speciaist Child Disability Team. She currently works part-time at the Bristol Royal Hospital in two highly specialist services: Paediatric Intensive Care and the Cochlar Implant team for deaf children.

Victoria runs the Parent Support Service, which she established in 2007. The service provides practical, professional guidance to parents who are concerned about their child's emotional well-being or behaviour and brief, effective psychological therapy for children and adolescents. Victoria has advanced training in Eye Movement Desensitisation (EMDR), a powerful psychological therapy for alleviating the symptoms of unresolved trauma
 

Work Approach

Victoria places considerable importance on creating a supportive, non-blaming, empowering approach when working with young people and adults. The therapeutic orientations underpinning her work reflect this aim.

VIictoira's therapeutic work is underpinned by a Solution Focused approach in which the focus is on the future and on solutions, rather than on problems and the past. In her clinical work, Victoria is continually struck by the ability of even young children to identify creative, practical solutions to complex and long standing family difficulties. The orientation of Narrative Therapy, in which the focus is on the effects of a problem on a person's life, rather than on the problem as part of the person, complements her Solution Focused approach. Victoria has repeatedly found that the non-blaming, “externalising” approach of Narrative Therapy (eg. not "anxious", but "bothered by worry"), is particularly effective in playfully and effectively engaging children who may come to therapy feeling ashamed and criticised.

In addition to the above techniques, strategies from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy are also used to help young people to make sense of the interrelation of thoughts, feelings, behaviours and physical sensations, and to resolve difficulties themselves by learning practical, effective coping skills.

For specialist psychological therapy with children and young people who have been exposed to traumatic situations, Victoria's advanced training in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) provides a powerful tool for effectively alleviating the debilitating symptoms associated with unresolved, disturbing memories.
 

About The Parent Support Service

The Parent Support Service is run by Chartered Clinical Psychologist, Dr Victoria Samuel, and includes a network of experienced affilate therapists working with children and families in the Bristol area.

The Parent Support Service offers brief, effective, evidence-based psychological therapy for children and adolescents. Children and adolescents are referred for a range of reasons including: post traumatic stress; anxiety and panic; adjustment difficulties following bereavement and divorce; low self-esteem; obsessive compulsive disorder; anger and aggression and depression.

A warm, encouraging and supportive therapeutic relationship is viewed as the fundamental for empowering the young person to overcome emotional, relational and behavioural difficulties. The specific therapeutic intervention will be tailored to the child or adolescent's individual needs and may include Solution Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Narrative Therapy. Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing is used for children who have experienced traumatic incidents.

Practical, professional parenting guidance is available for couples or individual parents. Common reasons for referral include concerns around a child's: selective or restricted eating; sleep problems; tantrums and angry outbursts; defiance and confrontation and sibling rivalry.

Referrals

To refer to the service please call 01179 244 860 or email enquiries@parentsupportservice.co.uk. Victoria will provide a free introductory discussion by phone to ascertain your needs and discuss service options.

Many parents self-refer to the service. Victoria is registered with several health insurance companies. Please check with your provider.

Referrals from GPs, insurance companies and rehabilitation agencies are also welcomed.

Please see our website for more information: www.parentsupportservice.co.uk

Clinic Location

Therapy sessions take place at the Spire Bristol Hospital, Durdham Downs. The hospital is easily accessible and there is a car park.

A limited number of home visit assessments / observations can be arranged with the Bristol area.

 

Clinical Hours

Clinics are run on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Telephone consultations can be arranged at your convenience and evening appointments are offered.

A one off email response is available. You can normally expect a response within 3 working days.

 

Services

Contact Dr Victoria

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