Yvonne Farrell

Pour a cup of something, take a few moments and get to know new UKPTS Board member, Psychological Therapist, Supervisor and Trainer Yvonne Farrell.

What do you currently do?

I am a Psychological Therapist for a specialist trauma service, Veterans First Point within NHS Lothian.  I also have my own practice, The Shire Practice, seeing clients, supervisees and also providing trauma and CBT training at various levels.  I’m an accredited Member of BABCP, and Member & Accredited Trainer with COSCA.

How would you explain that in ten words or fewer?

I help others to find their path through life’s bumps and sinkholes.

Tell us about a typical working day.

At Veterans First Point, it starts with a morning meeting with my team of clinicians, peer support workers and office manager, discussing the day before and the day ahead before seeing clients for individual psychological therapy.

How and why did you end up working in trauma?

During my training as a CBT Therapist, I decided that trauma was the area of therapy I wished to specialise in.  I joined the UKPTS, attending many of the events and CPD with them and completed my Certificate in Psychotraumatology.  I also kept up to date with as much of the emerging research as possible. Of course, in the meantime I did a lot of practice and secured a position in a trauma service.  From there I’ve been able to develop further my skills in working with PTSD and  Complex PTSD and am now hoping to share some of that knowledge with those who want to know and learn more.

What are you currently working on?

I am currently doing some training with PESI UK on Complex Trauma and Dissociation and learning loads, as well as developing my own training events for clinicians and non-clinicians from the trauma informed to trauma skilled levels.

What excites you most about the field of traumatology?

I love that the field is ever evolving.  New research is coming out all the time and we’ve seen a real movement over the last 10 years to encompass the brain and body much more in our understanding of trauma.  I am also excited to learn more about working in a more systemic way with clients and their families to better support their recovery.

Outside work, what’s your secret passion?

Movies and baking.

What are you currently reading?

A Volcano In My Tummy, by Eliane Whitehouse and Warwick Pudney
Just The Way You Are, by Beth Moran
…and I’m dipping in and out of Atlas of The Heart, by Brene Brown

Who, or whose work, do you particularly admire?

Claudia Zayfert, Christine Courtois, Brene Brown, and Bethany Brand

If you didn’t do what you do, what would you have done?

I had a life before becoming a therapist doing a lot of different things but perhaps something involving travel and food.

Where would we typically find you at 3pm on a Saturday?

In a soft play, or the park with my family.

Where would you rather be right now?

Somewhere warm by the sea.

If you’d like feature in, or nominate someone for  five minutes with… please contact admin@ukpts.co.uk