About me

Dr Jill Williams
I've had a 20years+ career in psychology, including a doctorate specialising in human emotion and motivation.
Following my PhD, I worked as a university psychology lecturer at one of the top psychology departments in the UK. This included a significant amount of time supporting students and a role as a careers advisor. Ironically, having chosen a career field which revolved around people, I was becoming disillusioned with the amount of time spent time alone with paperwork and sought a more rewarding way to use my knowledge and skills.
I then trained in counselling and initially worked within the NHS. Most commonly I have worked with issues of stress (including work stress & burnout), anxiety and excessive worrying, depression/ low mood, low self-esteem/ low self-confidence, destructive self-criticism, relationship issues, trauma and OCD.
Working in a private practice was a new venture for 2018. Working with a private therapist means that the number and length of sessions can be better tailored to your needs.
With a substantial background in psychology, I take an up-to-date, evidence-based approach to my work. Until 2019 I still taught mental health and neurobiology part-time with The Open University and I have a great deal of experience teaching in online environments. Although I now focus exclusively on my private practice, I am still committed to my own lifelong learning.
In 2023 I am extending my face to face practice to include a hybrid transformational course for career professionals. This online course includes self directed learning plus one to one support and is designed to help professionals to ditch workplace worry,avoid burnout and build confidence, thereby achieving their potential.
I am a Chartered Psychologist and member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and also a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I therefore work to the BPS and BACP codes of ethics and I am committed to working safely, ethically and confidentially.
Key qualifications & training
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BSc (Hons) Psychology (2001)
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MSc Psychology (2003)
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Doctorate (PhD) in Psychology (2010)
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Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling (2016)
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Diploma in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (2017-9)
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Level 6 Forensic Counselling and Psychology (2018)
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Theory and Practice of Compassion-focussed Therapy (2020) - Introductory and Advanced
CFT promotes well-being by focusing on the self-criticism (inner critic) and related behaviours (people pleasing, perfectionism, over-working) that underlies many mental health problems. For people experiencing severe self-criticism or imposter syndrome, this can be a more appropriate and effective therapy than Cognitive Behaviour Therapy alone.
As a former academic I have the learning bug, so I'm constantly updating my knowledge and skills.
This involves significant training in
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Trauma-focussed CBT, for trauma and PTSD
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CBT for General Anxiety, Social Anxiety, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
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CBT for depression and unhelpful rumination and low self esteem
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CBT for non clinical everyday issues in the workplace, such as Imposter Syndrome, Procrastination, and Perfectionism.
In addition to my experience in teaching online, I have also carried out considerable extra training in delivering psychological services online.