About me

Denise Dunne

Psychotherapist, UKCP Reg. denise@denisedunne.co.uk | +44 (0) 782 535 1919 | Harley Street, Mayfair & City of London

A bit about me.

Knowing and trusting your psychotherapist...
I am an established psychotherapist with a number of years ' experience successfully treating a wide variety of mental health problems, from relationship problems and general unhappiness to complex personality disorders. My love for my profession and thorough training and work in a leading NHS mental health trust means that my clients can feel safe in the confidence that they are receiving a truly interested, genuine and empathic high standard of care .
For an appointment please contact me: denise.dunne@gmail.com or +44 (0) 782 535 1919. I aim to offer an initial consultation within a week of your enquiry.

Qualifications

Qualifications
I am qualified in several psychotherapy models, which enables me to effectively treat most mental health issues including some of the more complex conditions.

Integrative & Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
My pre-qualification academic training is in Integrative Psychotherapy. I studied for five years at the leading UKCP training institution in Regents College, London. Integratively trained psychotherapists are trained in a number of psychotherapy models, but importantly are specifically taught to expertly combine them to create effective treatment methods for each client. In Regents College trainees are heavily scrutinized by UKCP examiners on this particular skill before allowing qualification.
My pre-qualification clinical training focused on integrative short-term treatment, and on treating long-term complex mental health conditions (personality disorders, trauma, severe depression) using psychodynamic (psychoanalytic) psychotherapy.
My initial training gave me a solid foundation in skillfully creating bespoke treatment models for individual clients’ symptoms and personality styles, rather than fitting a client around a single training model like CBT or psychoanalysis. The basis of all my treatment models is a modern research-based psychodynamic (attachment based) theory of personality development.

Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT)
Upon qualification I trained in CAT (Cognitive Analytic Therapy) for a number of years with the prestigious South London & Maudsley NHS Trust, assessing and treating patients with very severe symptoms, including Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)/ Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD). CAT is a widely applicable treatment model, but is most frequently recommended for relational problems and for personality disorders. It’s use of jointly constructed diagrams and written summaries can be observed as both stabilizing and accelerating treatment progress. My experience is that most clients find this aspect particularly useful.
In addition, training in the CAT model enables the psychotherapist to very quickly assess, formulate and communicate a concise psychological understanding of the client’s main problems.

Mentalisation Based Therapy (MBT)
I then undertook further academic training and employment in Mentalisation Based Therapy (MBT) at the world renowned Anna Freud Centre/ UCL and South London & Maudsley NHS Trust. This broadened and deepened my expertise in treating Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)/ Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD). MBT is a leading psychotherapy which is observed as being highly effective in the treatment of a number of more serious mental health conditions. It is based on developmental psychology and attachment-based psychodynamic psychotherapy and the specific ways in which the mind develops depending on our childhood environments, and the corresponding effect on self-understanding and relationships with others. The treatment focuses on assessing and improving the client’s capacity to reflect on emotional and relationship dynamics. It can help balance an at times overly-emotional or overly-cognitive temperament.

Reflective Functioning Assessment
I am qualified through the Anna Freud Centre/ UCL to assess client’s reflective function: the capacity to explore and reflect upon emotionally complex interpersonal situations. Reflective functioning is the key quality which is observed as improving over the course of successful psychotherapy, correlating with with more positive levels of well-being.
This training helps me more acutely assess a client’s level of emotional functioning at any time and modulate the treatment to ensure maximum effectiveness and help prevent over-stimulation (too harsh treatment).

Attachment-based Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
I am a Director and have a seat on the Executive Committee of the International Attachment Network (IAN), a global organisation responsible for the promotion of and professional training in attachment theory. We train clinicians locally and as far as Cuba. Together with my continued professional development in affective-neuroscience, cognitive and developmental psychology and as contemporary trauma treatment, I have access to the latest research in treatment efficacy, meaning I can continually improve both short and long term treatment outcomes for my clients.

My professional title is UKCP Registered & Accredited Clinical Psychotherapist. UKCP registration, guarantees that:

I have studied and trained for a minimum of 4 years in a professionally recognised & accredited post-graduate academic and clinical training program; which includes hospital clinical training.
I have been professionally assessed as working to a high standard;
I undertake a minimum of 50 hours of professional supervision and additional training every year;
I participate in and integrate psychotherapy research;
I follow the UKCP code of ethical practice.

Experience

I have worked across a number of mental health settings *full qualifications & experience below :

NHS secondary care (hospital out-patients - assessing patients & delivering evidence based psychotherapies);
Leading mental health charities;
Private Practice;
Corporate Workplace.
I am experienced in a wide variety of issues including depression, anxiety, self-esteem problems, relationship problems and break-ups, workplace difficulties and bullying, loneliness, general life dissatisfaction, as well as diagnosed mental health conditions such as personality disorders, OCD, social anxiety disorder.

Specialist Interests

While I am experienced and passionate about all areas of mental health I have a particular specialist interest in the following areas:

Relationship difficulties
Men's mental health
Borderline Personality Disorder
Shame- based depression & relational problems
Post-CBT treatment of OCD, Phobias & Intrusive Thoughts
Entrepreneurial & Workplace performance issues

Abbreviated Resume:

UKCP Registered Clinical Psychotherapist

Psychotherapist in Private Practice (current)
Psychotherapist, IPTT SLAM Lambeth, St Thomas' Hospital
Psychotherapist, IPTT SLAM Southwark, Munro Clinic, Guys Hospital
Psychotherapist, Mind Hammersmith & Fulham
Psychotherapist, ELMS, Leyton
Director and Executive Committee Member - International Attachment Network (IAN) (current)
Member - International Society for the Study of Personality Disorders (ISSPD) (current)
Trained in Reflective Functioning Inventory (AAI) (Anna Freud Centre & UCL)
Practitioners Certificate in Mentalisation Based Therapy (MBT) (Anna Freud Centre & UCL)
Advanced Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy (Regents University)
PGDip. Dist. in Psychotherapy & Counselling (Regents University)
PG Cert in Psychotherapy (Regents University)
MA. Trinity College Dublin

In regular clinical supervision and ongoing professional training

Contact for an appointment: denise.@denisedunne.co.uk | +44 (0) 782 535 1919 | Harley Street W1G 0PH, Mayfair W1K 5JH & City of London EC3V 4QT

​Denise Dunne