Campbell & Josephs Psychology

Psychological Assessment And Therapy
For Adults, Children & Young People

Face to Face and Online Appointments Available.

We are Clinical Psychologists offering short-term and long-term psychological assessment and therapy to adults, adolescents and children.

We understand that it can be very difficult for people to make the decision to see a psychologist. Our aim is to provide a supportive, confidential and non-judgmental space for our clients to discuss their difficulties. Therapy can help with specific issues such as anxiety problems, low mood and panic attacks. It can also help to clarify what the problems are, break old patterns and create new opportunities. We use therapies that have been shown to be effective, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Third Wave approaches (ACT, Mindfulness and Compassion Focused Therapy) and Psychodynamic approaches (ISTDP). We work flexibly and collaboratively, drawing on the most suitable models of therapy to meet our clients’ needs. We hold doctorate-level qualifications and are registered with the Health and Care Professional Council and the British Psychological Society.

Dr Shamila Josephs BSc Hons, MSc, DClinPsy

Clinical Psychologist

I have worked within a variety of NHS clinical services since 2000 and have had my own private practice since 2017. I have gained experience of working with a wide range of clients in both Adult Mental Health Servies and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

I use a number of therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) depending on the client’s needs. I specialise in anxiety and depression, including associated problems such as OCD, panic attacks and self-harm. I will work towards, not only reducing symptoms, but also improving interpersonal relationships and quality of life.

I have been trained in diagnostic assessment of adult Autism and ADHD and work therapeutically with people struggling with difficulties associated with neurodiversity.

The therapeutic relationship is at the centre of my practice and I always aim to provide a confidential, non-judgmental space for clients to explore their difficulties, gain more understanding and develop healthier ways of coping.

Dr Angela Campbell, BSc Hons, BSc Hons, PsychD

Clinical Psychologist

I qualified as a Clinical Psychologist in 2011. Since then, I have worked in various services in the NHS including a mainstream Child and Adolescent Service (CAMHS), a specialist Adolescent Service as well as a Neurodevelopmental Service supporting families and children after a diagnosis of Autism/ADHD.

In my private work I specialise in working therapeutically with adolescents and young adults. The young people I work with tend to be struggling with difficulties such as low mood, anxiety (including OCD/phobias) and self-harm. I offer a supportive space to help them understand and make sense of the difficulties they are experiencing and manage these through developing new ways of coping.

I draw on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) approaches and I have a particular interest in third wave therapies; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT).

In addition to talking therapy, I have extensive experience providing cognitive assessments for adults in the NHS. In my private practice, I offer cognitive/learning assessments for children and young people aged 6+ years.

Adults

We provide adult therapy for a wide range of emotional and psychological difficulties such as anxiety and depression, OCD, panic, relationship problems, trauma related difficulties, anger problems and bereavement.

For most people, making the decision to see a psychologist is a big step. Many feel that talking does not come easily and may be apprehensive about embarking on therapy. For this reason, we would usually start with an assessment session. During this session you will have the opportunity to talk about the problems you are having and your psychologist will help you to think about what type of therapy might be most helpful for you and to identify your goals for therapy.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a type of talking therapy that focuses on your thoughts (cognitions) and your behaviour. It is based on the idea that people’s thoughts, behaviour and emotions are all linked. It is easy for negative thinking patterns to develop. In CBT your psychologist will work with you to identify and challenge any negative thinking patterns and behaviours that may be causing you difficulty.

Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy

ISTDP is grounded in traditional psychodynamic and analytic practices and theory, emphasising the idea that repressed negative emotions can influence our decisions, relationships, and behaviours in harmful or destructive ways. ISTDP will consider how early childhood experiences have influenced current ways of managing feelings and behaviour.

This approach has shown itself to be effective for a wide range of complex emotional difficulties, particularly for those who struggle to connect with and express their own feelings. It is an active and emotion-centered therapy which also focuses on regulation of physiological symptoms of anxiety.

Young People

*1 in 5 children and young people (aged 8-25 years) had a mental health problem in 2023

We provide therapy for secondary school aged children and young people who are experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties. We specialise in all types of anxiety problems such as OCD, panic, social anxiety, generalised anxiety, phobias, hair-pulling and exam stress. We also work with young people experiencing low mood, depression, low self-esteem, anger, self-harm and relationships difficulties.

The first appointment is an assessment session, offering an opportunity for you and your child to discuss the difficulties they are facing. It’s also a chance for you to ask any questions and get a sense of whether you and your child feel comfortable with the therapist. At the end of the assessment we will explain how we work, what to expect from therapy and the types of therapy that may be most suitable.

Depending on your child’s age, it may be more helpful to have this initial appointment without them present. We will decide this with you when arranging the assessment.

We offer a range of evidence-based approaches that are known to be effective for young people and will tailor these to your child’s individual needs.

CBT & Third Wave Approaches

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for children and adolescents is a structured, evidence-based approach that helps young people manage emotional and behavioural difficulties by identifying and changing negative thought patterns. Through CBT, children learn practical strategies to cope with anxiety, depression, and other challenges, empowering them to build resilience and improve their overall well-being.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a form of CBT that helps children and adolescents face their fears and reduce anxiety by gradually confronting anxiety triggers, helping them break avoidance habits.

Third-Wave Cognitive Behavioural Therapies, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), and Mindfulness, focus on helping adolescents and young people build a healthier relationship with their thoughts and emotions. They encourage accepting difficult feelings without getting caught up in them, reducing rumination, promoting self-compassion, and improving stress management and emotional regulation. These approaches help young people build their emotional resilience and navigate life’s challenges with greater confidence.

*(2023 NatCen, Children and Young People’s mental health in 2023)

Cognitive Assessment

Cognitive / Learning Assessments for Children and Young People

We offer comprehensive cognitive / learning assessments for children (ages 6+) and young people.

Our comprehensive assessment package begins with meeting with parents/carers to discuss your child’s development, mood, behaviour, and home and school life. We also liaise with school to understand any academic social and behavioural concerns. Using the latest gold-standard internationally recognised tests, (WISC-V© & WIAT-III ©), we provide a detailed profile of your child’s cognitive abilities and academic skills, alongside an evaluation of their mood and self-esteem as well as their practical abilities in day-to-day life. Following the assessment, we provide a full written report with personalised recommendations and a feedback session to discuss the findings.

Why Might My Child Need a Cognitive Assessment?

A cognitive assessment provides insight into how your child learns, thinks, processes information and understands the world. It can help clarify why they may be struggling at school or finding it difficult to manage at home. By understanding your child’s cognitive profile, we can offer tailored recommendations to support them both at home and in school.

There are many signs that may suggest your child is facing challenges. You might have observed emotional or behavioural difficulties at home, reluctance to attend school or struggles with homework. Teachers may also have raised concerns about your child’s learning.

Some common difficulties that could indicate the need for a cognitive assessment include:

Difficulties with reading and spelling,
Struggles with numeracy, mathematical fluency, and reasoning.
Poor attention and concentration
Difficulty keeping up with work in class
Academic performance falling below expectations
Managing day to day lessons but struggling during exams and underperforming.

What Can a Cognitive Assessment Tell Me?

A cognitive assessment can provide a clear understanding of your child’s intellectual and cognitive profile. Specifically, it can:

Provide an overall IQ score (intellectual functioning)
Provide a picture of your child’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses
Diagnose specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia and/or dyscalculia
Identify intellectual giftedness
Identify learning difficulties
Offer tailored recommendations for supporting your child at home and at school

Our assessment can also

Provide an insight into your child’s mood, anxiety and self-esteem
Help understand their practical abilities when it comes to communication, social functioning, daily living skills and motor skills

Understanding Complex Presentations

It is not always easy to recognise the difficulties children and young people are grappling with based solely on their behaviour and performance in the classroom, as difficulties can often go unnoticed. Specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia (affecting around 10% of the population) and dyscalculia (affecting about 6%), are common, but frequently unidentified, leaving children to struggle more than they need to throughout their school life.

Children can be very adept at masking their struggles, downplaying the effort they need to make to get through the school day. They may rely heavily on their strengths in one area to compensate for difficulties in another.

These challenges can significantly impact a child’s self-esteem, contributing to low mood, anxiety and behavioural issues. Struggling children may become demotivated, avoid tasks at school, disengage in the classroom, often leading to frustrations at home.

A cognitive assessment can uncover both the strengths and specific areas of difficulty that may otherwise be overlooked. Some children have a ‘spikey’ learning profile, excelling in some areas, but struggling in others. This uneven learning pattern is especially common in children and young people who are autistic.

What Does a Cognitive Assessment Cover?

Our assessment package provides a detailed and holistic evaluation of your child’s cognitive abilities, academic attainment, everyday functioning, and emotional well-being.

1. A Cognitive Profile

- Full-Scale IQ: A general indicator of intellectual functioning.
- Verbal Comprehension: The ability to access and apply word knowledge.
- Visual-Spatial Ability: The ability to identify visual details, patterns and relationships.
- Fluid Reasoning: The capacity to recognize relationships among objects and apply rules.
- Working Memory: Attention and concentration, ability to focus, register and hold information in mind and manipulation of this information.
- Processing Speed: How quickly and accurately information is processed.

2. Academic Attainment: Assessment of a broad range of skills, including reading, comprehension, spelling, and mathematical problem solving and numeracy.

3. Adaptive Functioning: Assessment of your child’s practical abilities in day-to-day life:

1. - Communication: How well they communicate and understand others, including their reading and writing abilities.
  - Daily Living Skills: Their ability to manage everyday tasks such as self-care and household chores and navigating life outside of the home.
  - Social Functioning: How they manage social situations, friendships and emotional control.
  - Motor Skills: Evaluation of gross and fine motor coordination.

4. Mood Assessment: We also assess for low mood, depression, anxiety, and self-esteem.

What Tests Do We Use?

We use the latest versions of internationally recognised standardised tests. Including the Weschler Intelligence Scales for Children – fifth edition (WISC-V ©), the Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale – fourth edition (WAIS-IV ©) for 16+ and The Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT-III ©).

What Does a Cognitive Assessment Involve?

1. Initial Parent/Carer Meeting: This is an opportunity to discuss your concerns, your child’s developmental history, behaviour at home, school experience and any relevant medical history.

2. Review of Previous Reports. We review of any existing medical/psychological or other allied health professional reports you provide.

3. School Liaison: We contact the school to gather information about your child’s academic performance and any concerns related to social skills or behaviour.

4. Questionnaires: An online questionnaire is emailed to parents and carers asking about your child’s day to day functioning. A second questionnaire assessing mood is also emailed to be completed by parents/carers and the young person.

5. Cognitive testing: This takes place face to face in our clinic in central Bromley. The testing is mostly iPad based with some pen and paper tasks and lasts approximately 3 hours with breaks included.

6. Full Report: A detailed report including personalised recommendations is provided.

7. Feedback Meeting: A meeting with parents/carers to discuss the report and recommendations.

For more information or to book an assessment please contact us.

Practicalities

Sessions

The assessment session, and all therapy sessions thereafter are 50 mins long and are usually weekly at the same time and day. The number of sessions suggested will be discussed with you at the end of the first appointment.

Fees

Please contact us for costs for therapy or assessment.

Private Health Insurance

We are registered with a number of private health insurance companies. If you would like to access our service via a health insurance policy please contact your provider and obtain an authorisation code or contact us for more information.

Location

We offer face to face and online appointments

Practice Address:
The Bromley Old Town Hall
Tweedy Road
Bromley BR1 3FE

The Bromley clinic is walking distance from Bromley North and Bromley South train stations.

2nd Practice Address:
The Gatehouse
24 Southend Road
Beckenham BR3 5AA

The Beckenham clinic is walking distance from Beckenham Junction tram and train station.

Ethical Code

We are both registered as Practitioner Psychologists with the HCPC (Health and Care Professionals Council), which is the regulatory body for Clinical Psychologists in the United Kingdom. We are also chartered members of the British Psychological Society (BPS). We are subject to their ethical requirements and standards.

Emergencies and Crisis

This service does not offer emergency support. If you find you are in crisis and unable to cope between appointments, please contact your GP. Alternatively, you could contact NHS 111 for advice. If you feel you are at risk to yourself or others, or you know of someone who is in danger, then you can attend your local A&E department or contact the emergency services on 999.

Psychological Assessment And Therapy
For Adults, Children & Young People