Psicon Group
15 New Dover Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 3AS
01227 379099
enquiries@psicon.co.uk

Meet the Team

  • Mr LJ Conradie

    CPsychol, AFBPsS

    Chairman

    Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Neuropsychologist

    Head of Neurorehabilitation at Psicon (NAP)

    Head of Adult Mental Health Services

    Mr Conradie is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist registered with the British Psychological Society. He is a member of the Division of Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology (DoN-member list of Neuropsychologists), the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists, and the British Association of Business Psychologists..

    • Mr Conradie’s expertise includes occupational psychology, clinical psychology and neuropsychology, and medico-legal assessments, as well as individual client/patient assessments, treatment and rehabilitation. Mr Conradie also offers consultations to organisations and individuals (executive psychological coaching) on various aspects of psychological issues and advises stakeholders on risk issues. Mr Conradie has been registered as an expert witness to the courts since 2001 and regularly prepares reports in the field of clinical and neuropsychology.

      Mr Conradie’s psychological treatment modalities include CBT and Compassion Focused Therapy.

       

      Mr Conradie trained as a Clinical Psychologist in South Africa and registered in the UK in 1988. He worked in a military hospital for two years where he worked with soldiers with mental health problems, and with casualties of war.

      Prior to the establishment of Psicon, Mr Conradie joined the NHS in 1993 and worked as a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Consultant Neuropsychologist. He was head of the East Kent Clinical Neuropsychology service (an NHS Service) for ten years where he was involved in the delivery of neuropsychological services and leading a community-based multi-disciplinary rehabilitation team.

      Mr Conradie has lectured on various academic programmes, including the Salomon's Doctorate in Clinical Psychology Programme and at the University of Kent at Canterbury.

      Mr Conradie qualified as a Clinical Psychologist from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. He is an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and on the British Psychological Societies Specialist Register of Neuropsychologists.

  • Dr Daniel William Simmonds

    D.Clin.Psych, CPsychol

    Managing Director

    Chartered Clinical Psychologist

    Head of Children, Young People and Family Services

    Head of Neurodevelopmental Lifespan Services

    Dr Simmonds is a Health & Care Professions' Council (HCPC) registered Clinical Psychologist who trained at University College London. He is registered with the British Psychological Society and has worked in Psychology for 12 years. He is a Director of the Psicon Group and has developed the Children, Young People and Family Service and Neurodevelopmental Lifespan Service.

    • Dr Simmonds practices CBT, Narrative Therapy and Systemic Therapy with families, adults and children. His main areas of professional expertise are linked to his interest in systemic work, including working with adults with workplace-related mental health problems and with children who have school-related difficulties. In his adult occupational health clinics, Dr Simmonds undertakes specialist assessment and treatment of employees with a range of emotional and mental health difficulties. In the Children, Young People and Family Service he has a lead role working with children and young people with a range of emotional and behavioural issues. He has expertise in cognitive assessment and has trained in the assessment of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism. Dr Simmonds works across Kent and London with clinics in Canterbury and Harley Street. He also provides psychological support within schools.

       

      Dr Simmonds is a keen student of psychotherapy and is always seeking to improve his practice. He is currently studying transdiagnostic approaches to psychological distress and is interested in Method of Levels as an approach to therapy.

      Dr Simmonds has a doctrate in Clinical Psychology from University College London.

  • Louise Simpson

    Director of Operations

    Louise joined Psicon in September 2018. She is an experienced professional with an extensive background within human resources management and private healthcare settings and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. 

     

    Louise is part of the senior management team and responsible for directing the operations functions across the business, which includes; human resources, quality management, business operations and facilities.  She also looks after regulatory and legal matters, ensures compliance with the Health and Social Care Act, Data Protection legislation and is the CQC nominated individual. 

    • Dr Oluwafemi Ogunbona

      MRCPH, MBChB

      Medical Director - Children, Young People & Family Service

      Consultant Community Paediatrician

      • Dr Jo Black

        PhD, MSc, BA (Hons)

        Research & Development Manager

        Working closely with the directors and service leads, Dr Jo Black's role involves the development and implenetation of systems and processes, and analysing of data. She also oversees research projects at Psicon, and works with colleagues to develop and improve our neurodevelopmental services. Dr Black also administers the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) as part of multidisciplinary ASD assessments.

        Dr Black has over 10 years experience working in care and research settings with children and adults with ASD, intellectual disabilities, and mental health difficulties. She completed a PhD in Psychology researching visual attention in Autism at the University of Bath in 2015. Following this, she worked at the University of Kent as a Postdoctoral Research Associate investigating language processing in ASD before joining Psicon in 2018.

        • Sonet Strijdom

          CPsychol, M.Sc. (Clin Psych), M.Sc (Medicine)

          Clinical Lead in Neuropsychology and Medico-Legal Services

          Consultant Clinical Psychologist

          Mrs Strijdom is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist of the British Psychological Society. She is registered with the Health & Care Professions' Council (HCPC). She has worked in psychology for 22 years. Her areas of interest and specialty are Neuropsychology and Adult Mental Health. 

           

          Mrs Strijdom’s experience includes occupational psychology, clinical psychology and neuropsychology. She focuses on individual psychological and neuropsychological assessments, treatment of adult mental health problems and neurorehabilitation. She also offers consultations to adults in the field of autism spectrum disorder.

          • Dr Ana Mendes

            D.Clin.Psych, CPsychol

            Clinical Lead for Children's Services

            Consultant Clinical Psychologist

            Ana is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist who has worked for many years specialising with children, adolescents and their families in Child and Adolescent teams in the NHS in Kent.  She also works with adult individuals in her private work.

            Ana has taught at a Doctorate level on a Clinical Psychology training programme at Salomons and on the Masters in Developmental Psychology at the University of Kent. She is also an experienced Supervisor of other clinicians. 

            She has experience of working with most emotional  and mental health issues and she uses a range of therapeutic models to inform her clinical work.

            • Ana has a special interest in working with adolescents and young adults and also with children and adults who have experienced trauma.She has trained in EMDR. 

              Ana's approach is open and collaborative resting on the assumption that healing and solutions can be achieved through developing a shared understanding of the difficulties and by maximising and expanding existing resources as well as by learning new skills. She is particularly aware of the importance of developing a trusting relationship with the people she works with and how difficult this may be for people seeking help at a time when they may be feeling particularly vulnerable. Ana's relaxed optimism and warm manner usually work to give her clients a sense of hope which becomes the first step in effecting positive change.

          • Dr Vibhav Shetty

            Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist

            • Dr Sophie Parham

              BSc, D.Clin.Psych

              Clinical Psychologist

              • Tania Allen

                Bsc, MRCSLT

                Consultant Speech and Language Therapist

                Tania has many years of experience working with children and young people with a range of communication difficulties. This includes speech sound disorders such as verbal dyspraxia, and language difficulties such as specific language impairment. She has a strong interest in communication difficulties associated with developmental conditions such as autism and attention deficit disorder.

                • Tania has extensive experience with the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and is part of Psicon’s multidisciplinary team in the assessment and diagnosis of autism.

                  Tania is able to offer Speech and Language Therapy support in a variety of ways depending on the needs of the child and family. For example, this could be face to face therapy, input into the child's school or preschool, or Parent Child Interaction therapy.

                  Tania is a Foster Parent and has a strong interest in the emotional and behavioural aspects of communication. She is able to work emphatically with families and help them to get the most from each interaction they have with their child.

              • Skye Sayce

                CPsychol, MA, BA

                Acting Clinical Lead in Adult Mental Health Services

                Clinical Psychologist

                Skye Sayce is a clinical psychologist and chartered psychologist registered with the HPCSA, HCPC, BABCP and British Psychological Society. She completed her clinical training in South Africa, with her thesis focusing on Adult ADHD. Her previous work experience is in adult mental health and psychiatric rehabilitation, working with a wide range of mental health conditions including psychosis, depression and anxiety. She also has experience working within forensic settings. Skye is client-centred in her approach to therapy and has a special interest in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and CBT. She also has an interest in trauma and is trained in EMDR (level III). Other areas of interest are psychiatric rehabilitation and neuropsychology.  

                • Dr Daniel Salter

                  PhD, DClinPsychol., CPsychol., BABCP Accredited CBT Therapist

                  Consultant Clinical Psychologist

                  Dr Daniel Salter is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist within the Adult Mental Health Service. Dr Salter has a specialist interest in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and often utilises this therapeutic method within his practice.

                  • Dr Claire Collins

                    CPsychol, MA, BSc

                    Chartered Counselling Psychologist

                    Dr Collins is a Chartered Counselling Psychologist working within Psicon’s Talking Therapies NHS IAPT Service providing psychological therapy for adults presenting with a range of issues including depression and anxiety disorders.

                    • Dr Collins has significant experience of working with adults presenting with anxiety disorders, panic attacks, childhood sexual and physical abuse, depression, chronic pain, relationship issues, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), self harm, and substance abuse.

                      She takes an integrative approach to her practice, drawing from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and psychodynamic and person-centred theories, which means she is  able to tailor therapy according to an individual’s presentation and unique experience.

                      Dr Collins works with adults in a one-to-one therapeutic setting and has been involved with running groups such as Resilience in Parenting.

                  • Dr Ash Sinclair

                    DClinPsychol, Bsc (Hons)

                    Chartered Clinical Psychologist

                    Dr Ash Sinclair is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist, registered with the Health Care Professions Council and the British Psychological Society.  She trained at the University of Edinburgh and has worked in psychology for 12 years.  Ash works in a client-centered way integrating different therapeutic approaches, in particular Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Compassion Focused Therapy.  Ash also works part-time for the NHS within a clinical health psychology service.

                    • Professor Chris Fox

                      MD, MRCPsych, MB, BS, Bsc, Mmmedsci

                      Consultant Psychiatrist

                      Professor Chris Fox is accredited as a specialist in adult and old-age psychiatry, working with individuals over 16 years of age. He is approved under Section 12 of the Mental Health Act, 1983 as having special expertise in the assessment of psychiatric disorders. He has 10 years of Medico-Legal experience in criminal, tribunal, employment, family and medical negligence cases and considerable experience of presenting in court. Professor Fox is Bond Solon trained in report writing, giving evidence in court and holds the Bond Solon Civil Procedure Rules Expert Witness Certificate. He regularly undertakes capacity assessments for legal, research and clinical cases, including testamentary capacity.

                      • Professor Fox is interested in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychiatry of the elderly, psychological problems in trauma, the interface between mental illness, addiction in parenting, anger, depression, anxiety and memory problems. He is interested in and undertakes research in medication and psychological approaches to mental health.

                        Professor Fox is a Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the University of East Anglia. He is Head of Undergraduate Psychiatry at a regional medical school and is engaged in international and national research on the themes of NHS care and patient safety. He has worked for the NHS as a Consultant in Psychiatry since June 2001. Prior to this, Professor Fox worked for the Ministry of Defence for 10 years and was involved in managing and assessing psychological injury patients, as well as undertaking research. He has formally served on Royal College of Psychiatrists committees.

                        Professor Chris Fox's extensive Medico-Legal experience includes:

                        Preparation of psychiatric medico-legal reports for civil and employment cases

                        Fitness to practice assessments for health professionals

                        Criminal fitness to plead and risk assessments for prosecution and defence cases - 50%/50%

                        NHS external and internal investigations into NHS care and provides expert reports defending the NHS in negligence claims and also for patients pursuing damages for poor care

                        Quality assessment of local authority reports into care

                        Production of reports arising from psychiatric injury as a result of medical negligence and/or bullying and harassment

                        Production of civil Medico-Legal reports and reports for employment cases, for the defendant, claimant and joint

                        Production of reports related to immigration

                        Regular Mental Health Review Tribunal attendance and report production

                        Witness experience in Magistrate, County and Coroners' Courts

                        Expert discussion on case outcomes

                        Listed in the Law Society Directory of Expert Witnesses for approximately 9 years

                        Attended Bond Solon training courses in court appearance and report writing (Bond Solon Cert MR-part 1 June 2013)

                        Attendance at seminars in both 'Psychiatric Report Preparation' and 'Courtroom

                        Involvement in guideline setting regionally, nationally and internationally

                         

                        He has further co-written two book chapters and has published more than 70 scientific publications.  He is a peer reviewer for 5 international journals and Cochrane, and edits a speciality journal.

                        MRCPsych (1997)

                        Mmedsci Behavioural Sciences (1999) - distinction in thesis on psychological injuries

                        Certificates of Completion of Secondary Training (CCSTs) in both General Adult Psychiatry and Old Age

                        GMC Specialist Register - General Adult and Old Age Psychiatry

                        Section 12(2) Approved

                    • Dr Yasmine Precious

                      D.Clin.Psych, BSc (Hons)

                      Clinical Lead in Neurorehabilitation at Psicon (NAP)

                      Consultant Clinical Psychologist

                      Dr Yasmine Precious is registered with the Health & Care Professions' Council (HCPC). She has worked in psychology since 2001. Her areas of interest and speciality are Neuropsychology and Adult Mental Health.

                      • Kizzie Mills

                        Occupational Therapist

                        Ms. Kizzie Mills is a registered Occupational Therapist and a member of the British Association of Occupational Therapists (BAOT).  She works as a member of the Neurological Multi-Disciplinary Team at Psicon and has over 10 years’ experience working in Neurological Rehabilitation both in clinical and community settings.

                        • Ms. Mills has over 20 years of experience of working with People with physical and Neurological conditions.  She has worked as part of the Neurological MDT at Strode Park since 2010, providing specialist Neurological input via statutory services and the private sector.  She has a specialist interest in brain injury and working with families and support workers to enable adjustment to and participation in occupation post injury.

                      • Mr Hugh Brunkskill

                        BSc, MCSP

                        Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist

                        Mr Hugh Brunskill has extensive experience working in specialist neurological services in both the NHS and private practice.

                        • Mr Brunskill previously led the neurological rehabilitation team at Strode Park foundation in Kent from 2009–2014. During this time, Mr Brunskill worked in conjunction with commissioning bodies and local CCGs in Kent to develop an outpatient service for the East Kent region. The service provided specialist neurological services to various clients, including statutory services and privately funded clients. Mr Brunskill has worked as a Senior Physiotherapist at rehabilitation centres in the NHS, abroad and in private practice.