News
10 March 2011:
Cygnet Hospital Derby appoint Ward Manager and Clinical Psychologist for new Personality Disorder service
Cygnet Hospital Derby are pleased to announce the appointment of Jo Roberts as Ward Manager and Dr Nichola Christiansen as Clinical Psychologist for the new female Personality Disorder service which opens on the hospital's Alvaston Ward next month.
Jo has been a qualified nurse for twelve years. Her background is in community and acute nursing, where there is an ever growing number of service users with Personality Disorder. Since being a student Jo has maintained a keen interest in this diagnosis, including work in this area in both her degree and post graduate diploma.
Her aim for Alvaston Ward is to provide a strengths based recovery model, underpinned by DBT and Schema based psychological therapy. The focus will be on hope and recovery and on needs not problems. Jo has said that:
"In order to work effectively with women who have Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder, there will be a strong emphasis on Alvaston Ward staff to increase their own emotional intelligence, develop mindfulness and recognize their own emotional needs. This, combined with exceptional leadership, formal supervision and excellent training will provide the foundation to provide a first class service."
Nichola is a Clinical Psychologist with a long-standing interest in working with women in secure settings. She has been fortunate enough to work in a variety of settings prior to qualifying. These include HMP Cornton Vale, the 218 Project in Glasgow and the National High Secure Healthcare Service for Women.
As part of her doctoral research Nichola carried out a qualitative study looking at the experiences of women patients in the NHSHSW.
Nichola has a specific interest in working with women with issues related to complex trauma and who's difficulties have been understood in relation to personality disorder.
It has always been Nicholas's aim to specialise in this particular clinical area and she is extremely excited about joining the team at Cygnet Hospital Derby. In particular, Nichola believes that through using a dual focus of DBT and Schema Therapy that women referred to the service will be enabled to, "learn to cope with their distress, to make sense of their lives and experience and to develop positive plans for the future."
For more information about Cygnet Hospital Derby click here.