Specialist Eating Disorder Therapy Clinic In London
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Dr freya wallington
Senior Clinical Psychologist
As a clinical psychologist I feel incredibly privileged to be in a position to support young people, families and young adults on their recovery journey. I can appreciate how vulnerable people may feel coming into therapy, therefore building up a strong therapeutic relationship to create a safe space is very important to me.
I am passionate about developing an understanding of someone’s struggles, working together to make sense of their experiences, feelings and responses to create a psychological formulation. This formulation, taken together with research of evidence based treatments, and personal preferences, allows me to tailor therapy to meet the needs of the people that I work with. I am trained in systemic therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy and often draw upon compassion-based approaches along the way to support recovery.
I hope to help people build upon their compassionate self and learn strategies to look after themselves. I understand that eating disorders can arise as a coping strategy in response to feeling overwhelmed and out of control. Therefore, I draw upon many resources to share more healthy, helpful coping strategies to help people better manage these life challenges. I recognise how low mood and anxiety play a role in maintaining their eating and/or body image difficulties and therefore play close attention to this when working together in order to develop a more holistic approach to recovery.
Background and Training
I completed my first degree in Psychology (BSc) at the University of Manchester before going on to complete a Master’s in Clinical Psychology (MSc) at the University of Reading. I then went on to complete the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Southampton. My doctoral therapeutic training focused on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and systemic family therapy. I am registered as a Chartered Clinical Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council.
Since qualifying I have specialised in working with children, adolescents and young adults with eating disorders. Alongside my work with Treating Disorders, I currently work for the NHS in a Child and Young Person’s Community Eating Disorder Service in London. I am clinically experienced in supporting people with diagnoses including Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. The model I predominately draw upon is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy enhanced for Eating Disorders and Family Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa (the evidence-based NICE recommended treatment for young people with Anorexia), as well as utilising approaches from CBT, DBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Compassion Focused therapy.
I am also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR). EMDR is a specialist evidence based treatment for trauma, which helps clients to process any traumatic life events that may have triggered or be maintaining their eating disorder.
Therapeutic Approaches Offered