IMPART TEAM
Janet Aldis - Psychological Therapist
I joined IMPART in August 2008 as a Psychological Therapist. Previously I had been working as Therapies Lead for Havering Inpatient Wards at Mascalls Park since joining the NHS in October 2006.
I qualified as a counsellor in 2001 while working for a local mental health user group. I have worked in a wide variety of agencies providing talking therapies in the voluntary sector and my special interest is addiction. I obtained an MSc in Addiction Counselling in December 2006.
My interest in Personality Disorder has developed over the years of working with people, diagnosed or not, but intensified whilst working on the inpatient wards. The removal of the “treatability test” from the new MH Act 2007 makes Personality Disorder an exciting area to be working in.
In my spare time I enjoy, travelling, socialising and theatre. Studying is also a long term hobby.
Lezah Austin - Psychological Therapist
I qualified as a Mental Health Nurse in 2000 and initially worked in older peoples’ mental health services. In January 2003 I moved into adult mental health services and worked in a day hospital where I was involved in helping to support people in the recovery phase of their illness.
I joined the DDART Team in August 2005 and have a great interest in working with people who have a personality disorder and substance misuse problems. I am also pleased to have been a part of a developing service and to have seen the changes that the service has made in the last three years, including the change of the service name to IMPART and to the service opening in two new boroughs.
In my spare time I enjoy reading, going for walks and shopping for clothes and jewellery.
Dr Diana Bögner – Chartered Clinical Psychologist
I am originally from Germany, but have lived in London for over 12 years now where I completed all my psychological training. I graduated from University College London in 2005 with a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology. During my training I have gained experience in applying a range of psychological therapies across a variety of clinical settings, having previously worked in adult mental health, neuropsychology, health psychology including sexual health, learning disabilities, children and families, and forensic mental health.
I have always been interested in working with people with complex needs. Before I joined IMPART in September 2007 I worked in a medium secure unit with offenders with severe and enduring mental illness. Working with this client group has increased my interest in working with people with personality disorders. I am keen to develop my therapeutic skills in the current post, as well as pursue my interests in research and training and supervising others.
When I am not at work I enjoy yoga, climbing, socialising with others, art, films, eating out and travelling.
Katrina Bull - Clinical Psychologist
I’m originally from Australia where I received my qualifications as a Clinical Psychologist from the University of New South Wales and the University of Wollongong. I conducted my undergraduate research on the limbic system and learned fear. My postgraduate research evaluated a perinatal support service for women who used drugs during pregnancy. I moved to the UK in 2007 for the greater career opportunities, travel and European culture. I really enjoy working in adult mental health, particularly supporting people with complex needs including personality disorders, trauma, drug and alcohol problems, and chronic depression.
It’s exciting and challenging to be working at a dedicated personality disorder service and expanding my understanding and practice of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy.
Jane Grant - Health Visitor (Better Bonds Project)
Details to follow.
Marianne Hayward - Consultant Psychiatrist
I’m a consultant psychiatrist in general adult psychiatry, with special interests in psychological therapy and personality disorders. I joined North East London Foundation Trust in March 2008, where I work partly as a consultant psychiatrist in a Community Mental Health Team in Havering and partly with IMPART. Within IMPART I have a range of roles, including direct clinical work, contributing a psychiatric perspective to team discussions, and helping develop the relationship between IMPART and general psychiatric services across NELFT.
Through my previous posts I have experience of providing a range of psychological treatments in both individual and group formats, including within two therapeutic communities. I’ve provided individual therapies including cognitive analytic therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy and psychodynamic therapy, and have facilitated psychodynamic therapy groups, motivational enhancement groups and skills based groups for relapse prevention. As a psychiatrist I’ve experienced in working with people with a wide range of mental health problems including personality disorders, eating disorders and drug and alcohol use, as well as more traditional psychiatric problems such as depression, anxiety and schizophrenia. I’ve also been actively involved in psychiatric research for a number of years, particularly in the field of personality disorders.
Barry Keeble- CBT Therapist
I joined IMPART last year as a CBT Therapist having worked for many years as a Therapist, Group Co-ordinator and Project Manager in the voluntary and statutory sectors in the field of drug and alcohol dependency. At present I am enjoying working with the IMPART clients.
Prior to joining IMPART, I set up a structured recovery day programme within the South East Essex Partnership Trust in partnership with Essex Drug Action Team. I was subsequently presented with a Quality Award by Sir Teddy Taylor at the Towngate Theatre for the successful establishment and development of the programme.
In 2005/6 I was involved in the development of a new tier two drug and alcohol service in the Basildon, Billericay and Brentwood area of Essex in partnership with local Community Mental Health and various Community Drug and Alcohol Teams. In 2005 I also completed an MSc in Rational Emotive and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy at Goldsmiths College, London.
In my leisure time I enjoy walks in the country, gardening, reading and the company of my family and grandchildren.
Sunil Lad - Psychological Therapist
Ronnie Palumbo - Psychological Therapist
I was born in Scotland and moved to London in 1984. I have an honours degree in Psychology and Masters Degree in Dual Diagnosis. Although my background is in Psychology for many years, I worked in the Criminal Justice system and moved into mental health in 2001 working in Camden and Islington. I moved to North East London NHS Foundation Trust in 2004 and have worked in both inpatient and community mental health settings as a Dual Diagnosis Specialist.
I joined IMPART in June 2008 from Barking and Dagenham after managing a Drug Service. Moving to IMPART was a natural progression for me because the field of personality disorder intrigues me and I am interested in the relationship between personality and substance misuse.
I enjoy mountaineering and keeping fit and when not at work I can usually be found hanging off a mountain somewhere in the pouring rain!
Errol Roman- Psychological Therapist
I am a Registered Mental Nurse with experiences of working in Older People Services, Adult Psychiatric Services, Drugs and Alcohol Services. I was trained in psychological counselling at the University of Kent in Canterbury.
Mina Spatha - CBT Therapist
I was born and lived in Greece until 2000. I have studied psychology as my first degree and I came to the UK to do my Masters in Health Psychology. After I graduated from Stirling University, I moved to London where I joined the team of Drayton Park Mental Health Crisis Project for Women and I worked there for three years before joining the IMPART team. While working I did my training in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (MSc and currently working on a Doctorate) which gave me the qualifications needed to be employed as a CBT therapist in the IMPART team.
I have chosen to work in IMPART due to my great interest in Personality Disorders and dual diagnosis and how cognitive behavioral practices can be applied to help this client group.
Matthew Stainsby - Clinical Psychologist
I originally came to the IMPART team in September 2006 as a third year trainee clinical psychologist on a one year placement. However, I found working with the client group and the treatment approach highly satisfying and so on qualifying I successfully applied for a full-time post within the team, which started in October 2007.
After completing my undergraduate degree in psychology at Bristol University in 2000, I returned to London where I worked for three years in various areas of mental health including an acute inpatient unit, community outreach support, and a specialist mental health accommodation team. These experiences allowed me to appreciate both the ups and the downs of the mental health system as well as how, sometimes, it does not cater so well to those with personality difficulties.
My academic and clinical interests include the various developmental influences and pathways to psychological distress, critiques around the classification human misery, and the boundary between "normal" and "abnormal" experience. I have conducted research into the ways in which beliefs about mental health problems can affect quality of life and have published a review paper on different models of change (i.e. recovery) in long-term mental health problems.
My personal interests and hobbies include mountain biking, hill walking, playing frisbee, making stencils, and cooking.
Andrew Wilson - PD Link Worker
The Personality Disorder Link Worker is a voluntary sector worker attached to the IMPART team, employed by Tulip Mental Health Group, to outreach clients, who do not readily engage with other services. I help clients to support themselves in the community, promoting choice and social inclusion. This can take the form of engaging clients into the service, or supporting them to access the community resources/activities and working together, collaboratively with the clients to find more meaningful activities(whether social or vocational) to take part in, as well as signposting useful voluntary and statutory services that may be of use to the clients on their road to recovery (whether that may be benefit/debt advice, volunteering, etc), as well as being an active advocate for the clients, whether within IMPART or wider services.
I have been working within IMPART since June 07, primarily working within the borough of Barking & Dagenham. The role has certainly had its challenges, with regards to clients who may have already had a number of bad experiences with mainstream mental health services. It may be that it is their first time engaging with services. My work history (in total, around 10 years in support/care work) is in a range of areas, medium secure services, residential projects, and for the last two and a half years in the community, as the Personality Disorder link worker. For the period March 06 to June 07 I was connected to the BEHMHT, and from June 07 within NELMHT(now NELFT), within IMPART. Overall I feel that the position is a positive one, which gives added value to IMPART and a positive extra resource for a much maligned client group.
Allison Wilson-Thompson - Psychological Therapist
I have been employed as a Psychological Therapist at IMPART for at least a year, this is after having worked in various departments across NELFT, formally NELMT since 1988. I have also worked for a charity as a nurse therapist. The charity ran as a 24 hours Therapeutic Community for clients from around the country with a Diagnosis of Personality Disorders.
Prior to joining IMPART, I worked for Havering Psychological Services. I have always had a great interest in working with personality disorders, after at least 6 years of working in various therapeutic communities.
I am pleased to be part of such a dynamic service as IMPART, with a wide range of expertise and commitment to work with what is sometimes seen to be not only a complex but also a difficult client group. The rewards of working in such an environment has been noticeable in my short time at the service.
In my leisure time, I enjoy music being in the company of like minded friends, cooking, shopping and generally looking after my family which brings me pleasure