Dr Emily Smyth is a Co-Founder of the Fitzrovia Psychology Clinic. As a Clinical Psychologist, Cognitive Behaviour Therapist and Integrative Psychotherapist, she has accumulated over 10-years of clinical experience, knowledge and expertise across the private, public and charitable sectors to date.
Emily completed her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London, where she specialised in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with refugees and survivors of torture. She additionally completed a masters degree in Psychology with distinction; a 5-year masters degree in Integrative Psychotherapy; a postgraduate diploma in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy; and a postgraduate certificate in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. Alongside her work at the Fitzrovia Psychology Clinic, Emily also works part-time in Oxford as a trial psychologist on the Study of Trauma and Recovery (STAR): a NIHR funded multi-site Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) investigating the effectiveness of a new integrated trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy for people with severe and enduring psychosis.
Fundamental to Emily’s approach is the emphasis she places upon the development of a safe, trustworthy, and authentic therapeutic relationship. She believes in the importance of showing unfaltering kindness, empathy and unconditional positive regard to every client she works with. Emily holds an unfaltering belief and hope in people’s ability to change and overcome their difficulties, no matter their struggles, and believes it is possible for everyone to flourish and thrive. She therefore recognises the importance of identifying each person’s unique strengths and abilities, and believes that the therapeutic process can be a place to share not just difficult experiences, but positive experiences and humour also.
Emily is particularly passionate about conducting and contributing to research that furthers the field of psychology. In addition to working as a trial psychologist on the STAR trial, she has published research in the field of neuropsychology where she examined the effectiveness of using multisensory detection tasks to screen for cognitive impairment in healthy vs. ageing populations. Furthermore, Emily has published research examining the prevalence of psychosis in refugees, and has additionally submitted further research for publication examining the relationship between complex victimisation trauma and psychosis in refugees compared to non-refugee populations.
Emily is highly skilled in developing and delivering integrative, evidence-based treatment protocols; delivering career, educational and organisational consultation services; providing specialist clinical consultation to multidisciplinary professionals within the field; and in training multidisciplinary teams in specialist psychological interventions. Emily’s training resources for managing dissociation and understanding PTSD are showcased by the European Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapist (EABCT).
Emily is one of the lead facilitators of The Fitzrovia Psychology Clinic’s group therapy programmes, and is experienced in working individually with people presenting with:
Emily is trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), Mindfulness-Based therapies, Narrative Therapy, Systemic Therapy and Positive Behaviour Support (PBS). She is also experienced in delivering Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and is currently working towards becoming a fully accredited DBT practitioner and supervisor with the British Isles UK Institution. Emily also brings a wealth of experience in delivering relational, person-centred psychotherapy which is more exploratory and reflective in nature. She therefore offers a highly adaptable and flexible therapeutic toolbox that can be tailored to the individual needs of each client she works with. Emily offers both short and long-term interventions, and is experienced in working across cultures and languages with interpreters.
Emily’s clinical work is grounded in theory and informed by the latest evidence-base, and she works in adherence with the NICE guidelines. She is committed to delivering and maintaining the highest standards of psychological care at all times.