Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Clinical Director of Bamford Psychology Service
Face to face consultations in Leamington Spa on Tuesdays & Wednesdays only. Online consultations on Thursdays & Fridays. (No evening appointments).
Client ages: Children, adolescents, adults, older adults.
Insurance registrations: BUPA, Axa Health, Aviva, WPA.
Dr Catherine Bamford is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist as well as the founder and Clinical Director of Bamford Psychology Service.
Originally from Northern Ireland, Catherine completed her Psychology degree at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland in 1999. Her first job after graduating was as a lead research psychologist for the renowned Epicure study and this sparked her interest in becoming a Clinical Psychologist. Catherine obtained her Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Hertfordshire in 2008. After qualification, Catherine worked in the NHS as a specialist clinical psychologist in neurological rehabilitation. She then went into private practice, and set up Bamford Psychology Service in 2015, an independent clinical psychology practice for children and adults. Due to the growth of her thriving practice and the growing demand for private psychological services, Catherine recruited a team of associate psychologists, to join Bamford Psychology Service, in 2022. The business has continued to go from strength to strength, providing a "gold standard" level of mental health services to clients across Warwickshire.
Catherine is known for her warm and down to earth manner. Her first priority is to help clients feel safe and comfortable to speak openly about their struggles in a non-judgemental environment. She is committed to providing the highest standard of service to her clients.
In her current practice, Catherine provides specialist psychological assessments and evidence-based therapeutic treatment for a wide range of mental health difficulties and needs. Working with children, adolescents and adults, Catherine helps her clients to manage and overcome challenges such as depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), bereavement, relationship difficulties, phobias, chronic illness, chronic pain, stress and many other psychological difficulties.
She draws upon a range of psychological approaches in her work, tailoring each intervention to the individual she is treating. Catherine specialises in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Trauma Focussed CBT and Solution Focussed Therapy.
Continuing on from her previous work in the NHS, Catherine also works in field of neurorehabilitation, providing specialist neuropsychological assessments and therapy with clients that have acquired brain injuries and neurological conditions.
Catherine has completed additional training and has a special interest in the assessment and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and trauma related psychological illness. Having previously worked as an expert witness in the field of personal injury, Catherine now focuses on providing psychological therapy for this group of clients. Her work in this area involves providing psychological therapy for clients that have sustained serious and often life changing injuries. Catherine also provides consultation, training and support for professionals working within the emergency services who are at a heightened risk of experiencing vicarious trauma symptoms.
In terms of teaching and supervision, Catherine has supported the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology course at the University of Hertfordshire in her role as a supervisor to trainee clinical psychologists. She currently provides supervision to a number of clinical psychologists, including the associates within Bamford Psychology Service. She also provides consultation, training and supervision to other health care professionals and within the public sector, most recently providing services to West Midlands Police.
Catherine has chartered status with the British Psychological Society and is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Catherine is the daughter of the late Professor David Bamford, whose contribution to mental health services in Northern Ireland was recognised in the establishment of the Bamford Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing at the University of Ulster and The Bamford Review.
In her spare time, Catherine enjoys travel, nature, singing and cooking.