About Us - Meet the Training Team

Freda McManus BSc. (Hons), D. Clin. Psy, PGDip CBT, HCPC Registered, AFBPsS, BABCP Accred., BABCP Fellow.

Freda is the Head of the Psychological Therapies Training Centre (PTTC) and joined the PTTC in September 2023.  She is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and a BABCP accredited CBT therapist, supervisor and trainer. She has been a Course Director and Clinical Research Fellow for the University of Oxford. Prior to joining the PTTC, she was the Chief Accreditation Officer and Registrar for the British Association of Cognitive and Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists. Freda has worked clinically for over 25 years and has a range of experience in developing and evaluating psychological interventions, as well as in training healthcare professionals to deliver such interventions. She has published widely both clinical and academic texts and works internationally as a trainer, supervisor, and consultant for psychological therapies training programmes and research projects.

 

Yvonne Slater – RMN, ENB 650, PgDip CT, Accredited BABCP Therapist, Trainer & Supervisor:

Yvonne is the Director of Adult Programmes at the Greater Manchester Mental Health Psychological Therapies Training Centre, having been in the Leadership Team since it started in 2000. She has a background in Mental Health Nursing and trained as a Behavioural Therapist with Brighton University in 1995 before going on to complete her Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Therapy in Newcastle. Her clinical interests have been in the anxiety disorders, and particularly obsessive-compulsive disorder and worry. She is highly expert in CBT, CBT training and supervision, and provides an oversight of the quality of our CBT training provision across the Training Centre, as well as managing the range of adult programmes, and providing academic input into them. She has a passion for ensuring the quality of therapy, in the interests of service users.

 

Samantha Heywood – BSc (Hons), MSc, CPsychol, AFBPsS, Accredited IPT-A Therapist, Supervisor & Trainer

Samantha is the Director of the Children and Young People’s (CYP) High Intensity Psychological Training at the Centre. She trained as a Counselling Psychologist at The University of Wolverhampton, qualifying in 2002, and has worked with children, young people and their families ever since. She had 20 years’ experience working clinically in North Staffordshire, during which time, she completed her PGCert in Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Adolescents with Depression (IPT-A) here at the Centre. Sam has been involved with the IPT-A training since 2018, as a Tutor and then as Programme Lead.

 

Martin Carey – BSc (Hons), DClinPsy, Dip CT:

Martin is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and is the Director of Children and Young People’s (CYP) Low Intensity Psychological Therapies training at the Centre. He trained as a Clinical Psychologist at the University of East London, and subsequently trained in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Children and families at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Kings College London. Martin’s clinical roles have included 15 years working in a CAMHS led early intervention service in Manchester, delivering a range of evidence-based interventions in Sure Start Children Centres, notably Video Interaction Guidance and Evidence based Parenting Programmes. Martin has a longstanding interest in the relationship between Parent and child mental health, as well as measuring outcomes. Martin has been involved in the dissemination of Video Interaction Guidance for over 10 years and has extensive experience of teaching training and supervision.

 

Mary Shinner – BSc. (Hons), MSc., DPhil., DipCT, CPsychol, HCPC Registered

Mary is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and was the Director of the Greater Manchester Mental Health Psychological Therapies Training Centre from its start in 2000 as the Salford Cognitive Therapy Training Centre until September 2023. She trained as a clinical psychologist at the Institute of Psychiatry in London, went on to complete a DPhil in Oxford looking at the role of imagery in anxiety, and trained in Cognitive Therapy in Newcastle. Mary’s clinical roles have included 10 years working on a Community Mental Health Team, predominantly with people with complex, severe and enduring mental health difficulties, five years on an acute inpatient unit, and has worked for periods of time in primary care services. She has conducted research around personality disorders and has written about supervision in CMHTs. Mary has extensive experience in developing, delivering and managing postgraduate supervision and training in psychological therapies. Following retirement, she has returned into a part time consultant role, leading on specific projects related to quality improvement in academic and operational processes within the Training Centre.

 

Louise Connolly – BA (Hons) Business & Human Resource Management

Louise joined the Leadership Team in 2021, to lead on business and operational areas across the Psychological Therapies Training Centre, with oversight of systems and processes which support service development across finance, IT, staffing and programme administration and operational support. She studied Business at Manchester Metropolitan University and Business and Human Resource Management at Sheffield Hallam University and has over 20 years’ experience in operational and business management, including leadership roles in Primary Care and Education. 

Alison Yates – Bsc (Hons), RMN, RGN, Dip CT, BABCP Accredited as a Therapist, Trainer & Supervisor:

Alison is joint Programme Lead for the Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive and Behaviour Therapies: NHS Talking Therapies (Anxiety and Depression) Pathway.  Alison has been a clinical tutor and supervisor at the Greater Manchester Mental Health Psychological Therapies Training Centre since 2004. Alison has a background in mental health nursing and has previously worked for several years as a CPN in a CMHT working with a variety of people with mild to enduring mental health problems. Alison completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Therapy at Newcastle (1999).

 

Dr Anne Moloney – BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Addictive Behaviours, PhD, Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, PgDip in CBT (CYP), HCPC Registered

Anne is the Programme Lead for the Children and Young People’s Wellbeing Practitioner Training Course, having joined the training centre in August 2023.  Anne has worked in CAMHS settings in Greater Manchester since qualifying as a Clinical Psychologist in 2010.

Anne specialises in working with children and young people who have experienced trauma. She completed the Postgraduate Diploma in CBT for CYP in 2018 and is also a qualified EMDR practitioner. Anne has substantial experience of supervising Trainee Clinical Psychologists and CYP Psychological Training Trainees.  Prior to training as a Clinical Psychologist Anne worked as a research assistant in the fields of forensic mental health, substance misuse and suicide prevention. She completed her PhD investigating suicidal behaviour in female prisoners in 2008.

 

Beatriz Aquino-Petkos

Beatriz is the Programme Lead for the CYP Psychological Trainings Postgraduate Diploma Parent Training (PT) pathway.

 

Caroline Browne – BSc (Hons) Psychology, Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, PgCert Supervisory Skills (CBT), BABCP Accredited CBT Practitioner, HCPC Registered

Caroline is the Programme Lead for the Education Mental Health Practitioner Training Course, having joined the training centre in October 2023.  Caroline qualified as a Clinical Psychologist in 2003 and has over 20 years of experience working within CAMHS settings. She worked for 14 years in Central Manchester outpatient CAMHS team, where she specialised as the CBT lead and within paediatric liaison, alongside being a member of the Family Therapy and Parenting teams.  In 2017, Caroline moved to Priory Hospital Altrincham where she spent the next 6 years as the lead Clinical Psychologist working on an inpatient unit for young people with eating disorders.

Caroline has extensive clinical experience with children and families in both high and low intensity settings.  She also has substantial experience of supervising Trainee Clinical Psychologists and CYP Psychological Trainings CBT Trainees.  Caroline enjoyed completing the Postgraduate Certificate in CBT Supervision at the PTTC in 2016 and has maintained links with the training centre since this time through her clinical practice.

 

Carolyn Quinn

Carolyn is joint Programme Lead for the Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive and Behaviour Therapies: NHS Talking Therapies (Anxiety and Depression) Pathway and has been working for the training centre in various roles since 2002.

 

Chris Moss – BSc (Hons) Psychology, PgDip APIMH in Primary Care, PgDip CBT, IPTUK Accredited Therapist, BABCP Accredited Therapist

Chris is the Programme Lead for the Foundation in CBT and Clinical Tutor on the Postgraduate Diploma in CBT pathway.  Chris completed his PG Diploma in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy at the PTTC in 2012 and joined the training centre team in 2018.  Within his clinical role in primary care, Chris primarily utilises CBT, but has also trained in Compassion Focused Therapy and Interpersonal Psychotherapy.

 

Elaine Farrer – MSc Systemic and Family Therapy; UKCP registered Systemic Psychotherapist; PGCert Systemic Supervision; BN(Hons); RMN; RHV; RGN

Elaine is the Programme Lead for the CYP Psychological Trainings Post Graduate Diploma in Systemic Family Therapy (SFP) pathway. She worked in mental health nursing and health visiting before joining CAMHS in 2000. She has been a qualified, registered systemic and family therapist since 2005, working in a variety of split posts in CAMHS alongside practising as a family therapist including paediatric liaison, emergency response and leadership roles. She has extensive clinical supervision and teaching experience, and her practice is influenced by feminist systemic theories. Elaine has worked with the SFP team since 2015 and programme lead since 2021. She has published articles on the use of self and on teaching outcome measures but also has special interests in the systemics of organisations and the use of writing in therapy.

 

Ian Rushton – BSc (Hons), DClinPsy, PgCerts

Ian is the Programme Lead for Supervisor Training, overseeing the different therapeutic strands of the PG Cert in Supervision Skills. Since qualifying as a Clinical Psychologist in 2010 Ian has worked in CAMHS and is currently Clinical Lead within the Wigan service. As part of this role, he has been the borough’s CYP Psychological Trainings Lead since 2016, linking with the PTTC to support his colleagues through the various training programmes. Ian has undertaken the Centre’s Post-Graduate Certificates in Service Leadership and Supervision Skills, gaining great first-hand experience of being a trainee. He continues to have strong links with North-West DClinPsy training programmes offering supervised placements, teaching, marking and research opportunities.

 

Jeanette (Jen) Kiernan – Dip SW, BA (Hons) Applied Social Studies, PgCert in AMHP in Primary Care, PgDip in CBT, MSc in CBT:

Jen is the Programme Lead for the CT2-3 Cognitive Behavioural Training and a clinical tutor and supervisor on the Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive and Behaviour Therapies: NHS Talking Therapies (Anxiety and Depression) pathway.  Jen is primarily a CBT Therapist in respect of her clinical practice.  However, she also utilises EMDR, and CFT and MCT informed approaches in respect of her clinical work.

 

Jo Bromley B.A. (Hons); Clin.Psy.D; C.Psychol;

Jo is joint Programme Lead for the CYP Psychological TrainingsPostgraduate Certificate in Learning Disability and Autism pathway. Jo is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist who has worked with children with disabilities and their families since qualifying from Manchester University in 1995. Currently, Jo works within CAMHS in Manchester Foundation NHS Trust and is the Service Lead for a multidisciplinary team of psychologists and learning disability nurses who support children with disabilities and/or autism and their families. With colleagues, Christine Mellor and Samantha Todd, Jo has developed Riding the Rapids, a ten week programme for parents of children with additional needs which has been evaluated by York University and shown to be an effective, group intervention for decreasing challenging behaviour at home and supporting parental coping. Jo, Christine and Sam provide training through their social enterprise, Encompass Psychology Ltd and are committed to providing and developing evidence-based interventions for children with disabilities, children and young people with autism and their parents and carers. Jo is one of the authors of ‘Clinical Psychology: Working with People with Intellectual Disabilities’. 

 

Karen Wright – MSc Systemic Psychotherapy, MSc Psychiatric Social Work, Dip SW, RGN, CYP Psychological Trainings Systemic Supervisor

Karen is the Programme Lead for the new MSc in Family & Systemic Psychotherapy. She has previously taught on the CYP Psychological Trainings Systemic Family Practice course for 5 years. She is a registered Systemic Family & Couple Psychotherapist with AFT & UKCP and registered Social Worker with Social Work England. She has over 20 years’ experience in CAMHS, Specialist Eating Disorder Services (Adult & Child) and the voluntary sector. Her areas of interest include adolescent depression & self-harm, couple therapy, eating disorders and attachment.

 

Kirsty McNeilis

Kirsty is the Programme Lead for the Enhanced Evidence Based Practice (EEBP) course for Children and Young People and works as a clinical tutor on the Children and Young Peoples Wellbeing Practitioner course (CYWP).  Kirsty started working for the training centre in April 2021.

 

Lisa Smart

Lisa is the joint Programme Lead for the CYP Psychological Trainings Postgraduate Diploma in Evidence Based Therapies - CBT Pathway.

 

Louise Mozo-Dutton

Louise is the Programme Lead for the Northwest 10-day NHSE-funded programme in CBT for Persistent and Distressing Health Conditions, which offers both CPD and credit-bearing routes. Louise is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist working with people living with, or affected by, cancer and their health care teams. Louise is passionate about Physical Health Psychology and has a broad range of experience working in various healthcare settings, including in-patient and outpatient, and with different physical health concerns. Louise draws on Cognitive Behavioural Therapies, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Narrative Therapy in her practice regarding her work and teaching.

 

Rebecca Linnell - MA Hons, Clin Psy D, Dip CT, BABCP Accredited Therapist

Rebecca is the joint Programme Lead for the CYP Psychological Trainings Postgraduate Diploma in Evidence Based Therapies - CBT Pathway and was involved in setting up the course at its inception in 2012.  She trained as a Clinical Psychologist at The University of Manchester and completed her PG Diploma in Cognitive Therapy at the centre in 2007. Rebecca worked for over 10 years in CAMHS in Manchester and has a long-standing interest in working with children and young people with anxiety. She has extensive experience of teaching, training and supervision.

 

Ruth Clayton

Ruth is the Programme Lead for the CYP Psychological Trainings Postgraduate Diploma Working with 0-5s pathway and the Postgraduate Certificate 0-2s pathway.

 

Samantha Bowe

Samantha is the Joint Programme Lead for the Post Graduate Certificate in Advanced Applications of CBT: Psychosis & Bipolar Disorder pathway (CBTpb) and year 2 of the Postgraduate Diploma in CBT: CBT for Psychosis & Bipolar Disorder (CBTpb) Pathway. She is also the Assistant Clinical Director at the Psychosis Research Unit (PRU), GMMH.

Samantha is a Clinical Psychologist who completed a Doctorate at Leeds University and a PG Diploma in Cognitive Therapy.  She has extensive clinical experience in psychosis and early intervention.  For 10 years she was the clinical lead for the GMMH ‘At-Risk Mental States’ (ARMS) service and set up an ARMS service in a neighbouring Trust.  She was a joint national trainer for the ’CAARMS Train the Trainers’ programme for Early Intervention Services across England.

In 2014, she joined the PTTC and in 2016 jointly set up the CBTpb pathways with Mary Shinner. At PRU, she takes a lead on therapy adherence, CBTpb training, supervision and developing the therapy team.  She has worked on several research trials and has publications in the psychosis field. She provides CBTpb in a research study context.

Samantha is passionate about reducing distress associated with psychosis and improving the quality and availability of evidence-based interventions within the NHS.

 

Samantha Todd - B.A. (Hons); Clin.Psy.D: 

Sam is the joint Programme Lead for the CYP Psychological Trainings Postgraduate Certificate in Learning Disability and Autism pathway. Sam has worked in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services since qualifying as a Clinical Psychologist in 2001. Since 2005 she has worked in specialist roles with children with Autism Spectrum Conditions and/or learning disabilities, and their families. Sam now works for Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust in the Clinical Service for Children with Disabilities (part of Manchester CAMHS), a role which includes direct assessment and intervention as well as supervision, service development and training.  With colleagues, Christine Mellor and Jo Bromley, Sam has developed Riding the Rapids, a programme for parents of children with additional needs which has been evaluated by York University and shown to be an effective, group intervention for decreasing behavioural challenges and promoting parental understanding and positive management of behaviour. Sam is the author of "The Little Book of the Autism Spectrum" (2013) and has presented at several conferences in relation to children and young people with ASC/ learning disabilities.

 

Stephanie Kennedy - BSc (Hons), MSc C.Psych., Dip CT.

Steph is the Programme Lead for the Post Graduate Certificate in Advanced Applications of CBT: Personality Difficulties pathway (CBTpd) and year 2 of the Post Graduate Diploma in CBT: CBT for Personality Difficulties. She qualified as a Clinical Psychologist in 1990 from the University of Newcastle and subsequently completed the PG Diploma in Cognitive Therapy at the Centre. Prior to retiring from her full -time role as the Trust Lead for Psychological Services in GMMH NHS Foundation Trust, Steph worked in services across the adult mental health pathway, but mainly in secondary care community mental health services with people with complex needs. She has had a longstanding interest in improving service provision for people who attract a diagnosis of personality disorder, and returned to the centre part time in 2020, to take a lead on developing the CBTpd pathway of the CBT SMHP Programme. Steph has extensive experience in service management and development and in teaching, training, supervision.

 

Vicky Brooks

Vicky is Joint Programme Lead for Post Graduate Certificate in Advanced Applications of CBT: Psychosis & Bipolar Disorder pathway (CBTpb) and year 2 of the Postgraduate Diploma in CBT: CBT for Psychosis & Bipolar Disorder (CBTpb) Pathway.

Having trained as a mental health nurse in 1996, Vicky worked in acute inpatient settings and as a care coordinator in Community Mental Health and Early Intervention in Psychosis Teams. Vicky completed the postgraduate diploma in CBT in 2008 and has since worked as a therapist with individuals experiencing At Risk Mental State and First Episode Psychosis.

Vicky joined the PTTC in November 2016 as a clinical tutor/supervisor and is passionate about developing evidenced based treatment options for individuals experiencing psychosis. Vicky has worked on several research trials in the past and currently works as a Trial Therapist at the Psychosis Research Unit within GMMH.

Dr Polly Turner – University of Manchester

Dr Alex Boyd – Deputy Director of CYP Programmes, University of Exeter

 

Dr Helen Kennerly – Course Director & Consultant Clinical Psychologist, University of Oxford

 

Hilary Kennedy – CEO AVIGuk , Honorary Senior Lecturer, University College London

 

Dr Jamie Barsky – Consultant Clinical Psychologist

 

Dr Jenny Tozer – Senior Lecturer in Systemic Family Practice and Course Lead, University of Northampton

 

Dr Joanne Singleton – Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Manchester Foundation NHS Trust

 

Dr Laura Pass – EMHP Programme Co-Director; ClinPsyD Clinical Lecturer & Research Tutor, University of East Anglia

 

Michaella Lincoln – Assistant Professor, Northumbria University

 

Rachel Clarke – Deputy Programme Director CBT-ED, University of Sheffield

 

Dr Yvonne Ayo – Independent Systemic Psychotherapist, Supervisor