Couples and Family Therapy Team

Dr Lycia Forde is a Clinical Psychologist, Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, Psychodynamic Psychotherapist and Behavioural Couples Therapist.  Lycia is a warm and compassionate clinician who places huge importance on the development of collaborative, safe and authentic therapeutic relationships.  She strongly believes in the ability of people to change and achieve their psychological goals and is committed to delivering the highest standard of psychological care at all times.

After graduating with the top first in psychology, Lycia went on to complete a Masters in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and doctorate in Clinical Psychology.  She has also completed her high intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy training, Behavioural Couples Therapy Training level 1 training with the Association of Family Therapy and a mindfulness course at the Tavistock and Portman.  Besides her involvement in various research projects and publications and her work at the Fitzrovia Psychology Clinic, she also works as a Clinical Psychologist for West London NHS Trust.  She has over 15 years of clinical experience, knowledge and expertise across the private, public and charitable sectors.

Lycia’s clinical practice is based on theory and methodologies informed by the latest evidence-base and she works in adherence with the NICE guidelines.  She is trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Behavioural Couples Therapy, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Systemic Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Compassion-Focused Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Positive Behaviour Support, Mindfulness-Based Therapies and Mindfulness.  Her wide-ranging training means she is well-placed to deliver a highly adaptable and flexible therapeutic approach that can be tailored to the individual or couple to deliver effective results.  She offers short, medium and long-term therapy and is experienced in dealing with clients of all ages and diverse cultures who are experiencing:

• Adjustment Disorder
• Agoraphobia
• Complex Trauma
• Depression
• Generalised Anxiety Disorder
• Grief and Bereavement
• Health Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Low Self-Esteem
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Panic Disorder
• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
• Relationship Difficulties
• Self-harm
• Social Anxiety Disorder
• Specific phobias

“Dr Lycia Forde helped me by being empathetic, understanding and showing me how to leave my own head and see things from a more considered perspective. My experience with her has allowed me to be more compassionate with both myself and other people. Her open but structured approach made me comfortable knowing I could talk about anything I needed to while also knowing that we were taking deliberate steps towards reaching my therapy goals.” Former Client

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“The therapy was very well-structured, goal-oriented and nurturing. By applying the coping strategies, I was taught I could see measurable improvements in my thinking patterns – all while having a safe and understanding space to express myself. Additionally, my daily habits, emotional regulation and self-confidence have all vastly improved. I would highly recommend seeing Dr. Lycia Forde to anyone who is struggling with their mental health.” – Former Client

Caroline Parker is a qualified Systemic Psychotherapist and has thirty years experience of working with young people, their families and couples in various clinical settings. This has included Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) within the NHS, Social Care and within private practice.

Children, young people and their families can benefit from Family Therapy when they are faced with stressful circumstances and relationship challenges. In a non-blaming environment, her practice endeavours to facilitate a space whereby each family members’ view and understanding of a particular problem can be heard. This enables families to express and explore difficult thoughts and emotions safely, to understand the different views within the family and for families to unlock their strengths and full potential.

Within Caroline’s practice, she strives to develop a collaborative therapeutic relationship with those that she is working alongside in order to create a safe environment from which change processes can take place.

Caroline is skilled at working with families facing major life events and is particularly experienced with families whereby a member has a diagnosable mental health issue such as anxiety, ocd and clinical depression.

Depending on the circumstances, Caroline is able to work with all members of the family including sibling groups, parents and individuals. Additionally, she has a particular interest in Couples Therapy.

Caroline is accredited with UKCP and maintains regular continual professional development.

I am a Systemic Psychotherapist, Systemic Supervisor, Executive Coach, Author and Leadership Trainer, working with individuals, couples, families, leaders and organisations around mental health, wellbeing, and systems change. My work brings together clinical experience, coaching, consultancy and supervision, always with a strong relational and systemic focus.

I began my professional life as a Mental Health Nurse, and over the past 30 years I’ve worked across the NHS, Social Services, Education, Corporate and Charity sector. As a nurse, psychotherapist, and leadership coach. I’ve had the privilege of working in diverse and multi-cultural settings across London, the South East, the West Midlands, and internationally, experiences that continue to shape how I listen, understand, and work.

I hold qualifications in Nursing, Psychology, Systemic Psychotherapy, Coaching, and Supervision, and I’m accredited by the UKCP, AFT, and Association for Coaching. While credentials matter, what matters most to me is creating a space where people feel heard, respected, understood alongside opportunity to grow.

In 2016, after experiencing burnout and feeling a strong pull to work more creatively and authentically, I founded my own practice. Since then, I’ve focused on supporting people to reconnect with themselves, their values, relationships, and sense of purpose, whether in their personal life or professional lives.

How I work is relational, holistically and collaboratively. I draw on Psychology, Systemic Psychotherapy, Coaching, and Intuition, recognising that we all exist within wider systems, such as family, culture, work, and society. While everyone has struggles, ongoing or overwhelming difficulties can leave you feeling stuck or depleted. Therapy or coaching can offer a place to pause, make sense of what’s happening, and find a way forward with greater clarity and resilience.

I am the author of “Bringing Your Heart to Work: A Seven-Step Journey to Mental Health and Wellbeing”, which shares the Seven-Step model I developed in my practice. The model invites people to pause, reconnect with who they are, clarify their values, and move forward with greater intention.

This approach underpins my work whether I’m supporting someone in therapy, coaching a leader, or working with an organisation seeking cultural change I’m delighted that the book has reached the publisher’s bestseller list 3 times!

For therapy clients, I offer Systemic Psychotherapy working with individuals, couples and families who may be feeling overwhelmed, stuck, emotionally distressed, or impacted by ongoing difficulties in their lives or relationships. My therapeutic approach is relational and systemic, meaning we explore not only what you are experiencing internally, but also how your relationships, family history, work, culture, and wider context may be influencing your wellbeing.

I offer performance, leadership and executive coaching for individuals and teams, who are navigating complex systems, responsibility and change, often while managing the emotional impact of their work.

My coaching is informed by psychological and systemic thinking, recognising that leadership and performance do not exist in isolation, but within organisational, relational, and cultural systems. I work thoughtfully and ethically, supporting clients to reflect on values, boundaries, identity, and wellbeing alongside goals and responsibilities.

I offer consultancy, Supervision, and reflective practice to individuals, groups and organisations,  paying attention to issues on mental health, wellbeing, leadership and relationships within complex systems.

I support organisations to reflect on culture, leadership, team dynamics, and the emotional impact of work, particularly in high-pressure and caring environments.

Outside of work, I enjoy sea swimming, pilates, walking, dancing, djembe drumming, and writing, practices that help me stay grounded and connected.

List of problems I work with

• Anxiety
• Abuse
• Grief and Loss
• Depression
• Trauma
• Relationship
• Stress and Burnout
• Identity issues
• Mood Disorders
• Self Image
• Issues in Child and Adolescent
• Life Transitions
• Career Development
• Hormonal issues
• Separation and Divorce
• Couples and Family therapy

Publications

I have been featured in or contributed to various journals and magazines including.

• Business magazines – Mind Your Business Magazine
• TheGuardian  I had sex with my ex. What should I do? | Relationships | The Guardian
• Context- Association of family and systemic journals, three times between   2020 and 2025
• https://lnkd.in/dNnZQzJh
• In Bustle magazine- advising journalist on  Friendship 2017-11 Of The Best Ways To Make Friends, According To Science
• The Coaching Academy Magazine
• UKCP Blog- 2025-psychotherapy.org.uk/news/bringing-your-heart-to-work-hazel-hyslops-new-book/
• BACP Blog- 2025
• Publication- My book-Bringing Your Heart to Work: A Seven-Step Journey to Mental Health and Wellbeing by Hazel Hyslop
• I have been doing my own Podcast since 2019-Bringing Your Heart to Work with Hazel Hyslop | Podcast on Spotify