Schema Therapy Team

Dr Lucy Viney is a Clinical Psychologist and Co-Founder of the Fitzrovia Psychology Clinic. Lucy initially completed a masters degree in Psychology with distinction before undertaking her doctoral training and qualifying as a Clinical Psychologist from University College London. Across her work in the NHS, Lucy specialised in working with adults with complex mood disorders and personality disorders and her specialist knowledge of developmental psychopathology enables her to understand an individual’s psychological wellbeing from a longitudinal perspective.

Lucy is a co-founder of The Fitzrovia Psychology Clinic and has worked in private practice since 2017. She believes strongly in providing expert and compassionate psychological care and adheres to guidelines of clinical excellence in her practice. She is experienced in working with a range of difficulties including:

• Addiction
• Anxiety Disorders
• Bipolar Disorder
• Chronic Pain and other Physical Health Conditions
• Dementia and other Neurological Conditions
• Depression
• Grief and Bereavement
• Low Self-Esteem
• Perfectionism
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Personality Disorders
• Psychosis
• Self-Harm
• Stress
• Suicidality

Lucy is trained in a number of therapies including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-Based Therapies, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing and Narrative, Systemic Therapies. As a certified and experienced Schema therapist, Lucy is the Team Lead for the clinic’s Schema Therapy Team.

Lucy is highly experienced in delivering both short and long-term psychological interventions and is a skilled group facilitator. Lucy has extensive experience in neuropsychological assessment and intervention for a range of conditions, including neurodegenerative illnesses such as dementia and developmental disorders including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Lucy’s clinical work is informed by theory and the latest evidence-base, and she works in adherence with the NICE guidelines. She is experienced in delivering Mental Health Awareness training programmes and mental health workshops across both corporate and educational settings.

Lucy has an active media presence, and is regularly featured in the press, journals and other psychological literature. Some of her recent work is listed below:

• https://www.mrporter.com/en-gb/journal/lifestyle/holidays-festive-season-alone-without-family-friends-2022-23683596
• https://sheerluxe.com/2020/07/…
• https://www.standard.co.uk/esmagazine/psychiatry-vs-psychics-london-crystal-healing-jewellery-tarot-b1095124.html
• https://metro.co.uk/2021/06/28/what-is-body-dysmorphia-and-what-treatments-are-available-14827087/
• https://edition.pagesuite-prof… (page 80-81)
• https://www.ok.co.uk/lifestyle…
• https://medicaltravelmarket.co…
• https://medicaltravelmarket.co…
• https://www.lbbonline.com/news…

Please contact Lucy at hello@thefitzroviaclinic.com for any media enquiries.

“I just wanted to say thank you. After what feels like two years, I feel like I’ve finally gotten over my depression. I’m feeling happy again and generally positive about the future.. which honestly feels amazing after so long of not feeling that way.

A lot of that is down to what I learned in our sessions and how to deal with and cope with depression. I still think back to some of the things we talked about, and they really stick with me.

So yeah, just wanted to say a proper thank you! You really helped me!”

Dr Heather Westwood is a highly skilled Clinical Psychologist, Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and Research Psychologist who has worked in mental health settings in the UK for over twelve years.

Heather completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Newcastle University before going on to study for a Post Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Studies at The University of Southampton, for which she gained a Distinction. Heather then completed a research PhD at King’s College London, focusing on the relationship between autism and anorexia nervosa. Heather achieved the Elsevier Outstanding PhD Thesis Prize for exceptional doctoral work in recognition for her studies. Wanting to shift her focus more to clinical work, Heather then completed her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Royal Holloway University of London, from which she gained HCPC registration as a Clinical Psychologist.

As a therapist, building rapport and creating a safe, judgement-free, and empathic space is at the core of what Heather does. Heather very much believes that being “in therapy” is an active, rather than a passive process and works collaboratively with her clients to ensure they are getting as much out of the therapeutic relationship and process as they can. This includes developing a shared understanding of a client’s difficulties through a comprehensive assessment process and working together to implement evidence-based interventions to address factors that may have led to and are maintaining these difficulties.

Heather specialises in the treatment of adults with eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and other atypical presentations. Alongside her work with The Fitzrovia Psychology Clinic, Heather holds a senior leadership position in an adult eating disorder service within the NHS. Heather is passionate about drawing on evidenced approaches within her practice, in line with current NICE guidelines. Heather draws upon several therapeutic approaches within her work, including Schema Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and “third-wave” approaches, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Compassion-Focused Therapy.

Outside of eating disorders, Heather has an interest in trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and is skilled at treating trauma in the context of eating disorders and other presenting problems. Heather has extensive experience of treating a range of mental health problems including:

• depression
• anxiety disorders (including generalised anxiety, health anxiety, social anxiety, panic, and phobias)
• obsessive-compulsive disorder
• eating disorders (including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder)
• post-traumatic stress disorder and complex post-traumatic stress disorder
• low self-esteem
• personality disorders

Heather has extensive experience of working with autistic people and is experienced in delivering CBT to address symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Heather can tailor treatment accordingly for neurodivergent individuals.

Outside of her clinical work, Heather maintains her interest in academia and research and continues to conduct empirical research and to publish high-quality papers, working with some of the most prestigious researchers within the eating disorder field.

Dr Gavin Menzies is a highly experienced Clinical Psychologist with expertise in treating a wide range of psychological presentations.  He has 15 years of experience across a diverse range of mental health settings, and currently holds a senior leadership position within the NHS.   

Gavin completed his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Newcastle University, with a particular focus on ‘third-wave’ psychological approaches such as Mindfulness-Based Therapy, on which he completed a research dissertation.  In addition, he holds a Masters in Psychological Therapy in Primary Care from the University of Stirling.  He is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council as a Clinical Psychologist and upholds high professional standards with an emphasis on client choice, confidentiality and evidence-based practice. 

Gavin develops an effective therapeutic relationship where individuals can feel heard and understood, and are able to gain comprehensive psychological insights into their own experience.  He works collaboratively with clients to find meaningful and achievable solutions to problems, and can draw upon a wide range of therapeutic approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Schema Therapy in order to tailor interventions towards a client’s needs.  He is skilled in the use of experiential change techniques that can help to create significant psychological shifts in one’s life, and will give clients the skills to sustain changes into the future. 

Gavin has expertise in treating a wide range of presentations, including the following problems: 

• Anxiety
• Attachment difficulties / developmental trauma 
• Bipolar Disorder 
• Depression
• Eating Disorders 
• Generalised Anxiety Disorder
• Health Anxiety
• Low Self-Esteem 
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder 
• Perfectionism 
• Personality Disorders 
• Phobias
• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder 
• Social Anxiety
• Stress and Burn Out 

Dr Mirko Esposito is an HCPC accredited Clinical Psychologist and Cognitive Behavioural Therapist. He is a Principal Clinical Psychologist within the NHS and has worked in a range of mental health settings in the UK for over ten years.

Mirko completed his undergraduate degree in Psychology and a master’s in the Psychology of Cognitive Processes (MRes) in Italy, before undertaking his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy) at University College London. 

Mirko aims to translate evidence-based interventions into the therapeutic space. Instrumental to this practice is an accurate assessment and formulation process, which he tailors to the individual needs of his clients. He values co-creating therapy as a safe, insightful, and transformative experience. 

Mirko is trained in a range of therapies including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Schema Therapy, Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), Systemic Therapies, Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT). He is fluent in English and Italian and delivers treatment in both languages. 

To date, Mirko has accrued extensive experience in working with adults with eating disorders, as well as supporting clients with body image, perfectionism, self-esteem, and relational difficulties. He has worked with individuals across the lifespan and is highly experienced in treating a wide variety of disorders including: 

• General Anxiety Disorders 
• Depression  
• Eating Disorders 
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder 
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 
• Personality Disorders 
• Acute work stress, burnout and moral injury

Alongside his clinical work, Mirko is passionate about academia and clinical research. In his role as a Senior Lecturer and Clinical Tutor on the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at University College of London, he continues to be actively involved in the teaching, training, and supervision of aspiring Clinical Psychologists.

Dr Frances Maclennan is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and has worked for the NHS for more than 20 years.  She has huge experience working with complex presentations in a range of settings.  She has worked in adult mental health settings in the community, hospital and prison.  She has a particular interest in trauma and complex trauma, personality disorder and neuro-developmental presentations including Autism and ADHD.  She is trained in a range of therapeutic models including schema therapy and EMDR.  She provides assessments, formulations and interventions. She teaches and provides training for a number of universities and organisations.