Dr Abigail Methley, BSc, MRes, PhD, ClinPsyD

“Therapy is new to us and we were quite apprehensive about it. However, we had some concerns over our daughter and felt it was a step we had to take. So glad we did as Abi has worked so hard in helping Clare. She gained a great understanding of Clare and her concerns. Understanding, calm, relaxed, positive, empathetic are all some of the words I would use to described Abi. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend as her help and support to us all has been invaluable.”

Parents of daughter whom Abi helped with her anxiety difficulties (name changed, 2019)

"The change that Abi has made to my son’s happiness is amazing. He is able to think things through and act accordingly even when he is in a temper and not get into trouble. He much more open and loving to his family and in general more contented with who he is. Abi help make his transition into a new school very smooth and due to him being happier he is now performing to a very high educational standard at school. I am pleased to say that he is now in his ‘happy place’. Thank you Abi!"

Parents of son whom Abi supported with managing emotions (2019)

"Abi is the most approachable person I have met. I had been through a tough time after my crash trying to find a therapist i trusted. I never felt judged or ashamed of anything I told Abi. I was offered different types of therapy and was able to gain so much confidence in myself. The thing I would say to prospective clients of yours is take the leap of faith with Abi, she is all of the above and more. I'm now accepting of my mental health and have dealt with my ptsd. I no longer see my mental health as something that defines me and that's thanks to Abi."

Adult client with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (2020)

Dr Abigail Methley is a qualified Clinical Psychologist registered with the HCPC. She is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office and holds professional indemnity insurance. Abi offers remote sessions only.

Memberships:

Health Care & Professions Council

British Psychological Society - Division of Clinical Psychology; Division of Neuropsychology

Skills & Experience:

Dr Methley is experienced in working with children and adults experiencing common mental health difficulties, particularly in relation to physical health conditions and cognitive difficulties (e.g. traumatic brain injury; stroke; dementia).
She is experienced in providing therapy through a range of models including cognitive behaviour therapy, compassion focused therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and solution focused therapy. She is a trained EMDR therapist.
Abi works as a Clinical Psychologist within the NHS alongside her independent practice.

NHS Experience:

Senior Clinical Psychologist, North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust, Feb 2021- present

Senior Clinical Psychologist, Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, May 2019-Jan 2021

Clinical Psychologist, Cambridgeshire Community Services, 2018-May 2019

2017-2018: Clinical Psychologist in Neuropsychology, Salford Royal NHS FT

2014-2017: Trainee Clinical Psychologist, University of Manchester including Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and Learning Disability Team.

2011-2014: Assistant Psychologist, The Walton Centre NHS FT

Voluntary posts with Barnardos Cymru, National Autistic Society, SENSE (deafblindness charity)

Training:

Mentalization-Based Therapy Practitioner Training, Anna Freud Centre, 2020-2021

Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing: part 1, 2 & 3 training, EMDR Academy, 2019- 2020

Module 1 –Schema Therapy Foundations: Theory and Core Skills, Schema Therapy School, 2020

Level 1 EMDR Child, Child Trauma Therapy Centre, 2020

ADHD diagnosis, UK Adult ADHD Network, 2020

Critical Incident Stress Management, KRTS International Ltd, 2020

Autism Diagnostic Observation (ADOS), 2019

Positive Outcomes for Dissociative Survivors online training on child sexual abuse: hope for healing, 2019

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for grief, Contextual Consulting online, 2019

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Physical Health conditions, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, 2019

Schema Informed Time Limited CBT, Schema Therapy School, 2019

Basics in Quality Improvement, AQuA 2018

Supervision skills (3 days), Lancaster University, 2018

Award in Leadership Foundations, NHS Leadership Academy, 2018

Neuropsychology in adult mental health (5 days), Lancaster University, 2016

Working with asylum seekers and torture survivors, Freedom from torture charity, 2016

Incredible years Parent Group Leader Training, University of Manchester, 2015

Working with individuals, families and couples facing childhood illness and death, BPS, 2013

Autism Diagnostic Observation (ADOS), 2010

Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI-R), 2010

Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), 2010

Introduction to Makaton, 2010

Dyslexia Information day, 2010

Abi's BSc and MRes Psychology research theses were completed on the wellbeing of families of children with autism and intellectual disabilities.

Abi's PHD thesis explored access to health care services for people with multiple sclerosis and her ClinPsyD thesis explored psychodynamic approaches to managing chronic pain.

Publications

Academic papers - First author

- Methley, A. M., Chew-Graham, C. A., Cheraghi-Sohi, S., Campbell, S. (2017).A qualitative investigation of General Practitioners’, Practice Nurses’, Specialist Nurses’ and people with Multiple Sclerosis’ perspectives on Multiple Sclerosis care. Health and Social Care in the Community, 25(3),848-857.

- Methley, A. M.,Campbell, S., Cheraghi-Sohi, S. Chew-Graham, C. A. (2017). Meeting the mental health needs of people with Multiple Sclerosis: A qualitative study. Disability and Rehabilitation, 39(11),1097-1105.

- Methley, A. M.,Mutch, K., Moore, P., Jacob, A. (2017). Development of a conceptual framework for Health-Related Quality of Life in Neuromyelitis Optica: A Qualitative Study. Health Expectations,20(1), 47-58.

- Methley, A. M.,Campbell, S. M., Chew-Graham, C. & Cheraghi-Sohi, S. (2015). Experiences of individuals living with Multiple Sclerosis: A systematic narrative review. Health Expectations, 18(6), 1844-1855.

- Methley, A. M.,Campbell, S., Chew-Graham, C., & Cheraghi-Sohi, S. (2014). PICO, PICOS and SPIDER: a comparison study of specificity and sensitivity in three search tools for qualitative systematic reviews.BMC Health Services Research 14: 579

Additional publications

- dasNair, R, Chappell, H., Clarke, S., Methley, A., Kneebone, I. & Topcu, G. (2018). Everyday Memory Measures in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation.

· Mutch, K., Methley, A. M.,Hamid, S., Moore, P., Jacob, A. (2017). If they are ok we are ok: The lived experiences of spouses of people with NMO. Disability and Rehabilitation,39(13), 1279-1286.

· Moore, P., Jackson, C., Mutch, K., Methley, A.,Hamid, S., Jacob, A. (2016). A patient reported outcome measure for Neuromyelitis optica: pre-testing of preliminary instrument and protocol for further development in accordance with international guidelines. BMJ Open 6:e011142 doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-011142

· Moore, P., Methley, A.,Pollard, C., Mutch, K., Hamid, S., Elsone, L., Jacob, A. (2016). Psychiatric and cognitive comorbidities in neuromyelitis optica. Journal of Neurological Sciences, 360, 4-9.

- Mutch, K., Zhao, S., Hamid, S., Methley, A., Elsone, L., Singh, G., Young, C., Emmanuel, A., Panicker, J., Jacob, A. (2015). Bladder and bowel dysfunction affect quality of life. A cross sectional study of 60 patients with aquaporin-4 antibody positive Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 4(6), 614-618.

- Mutch, K., Methley, A. M.,Moore, P., & Jacob, A. (2013). Life on hold: The experience of living with Neuromyelitis Optica. Disability and Rehabilitation, 36(13), 1100-1107.

Practice based papers

- Teager, A.J., Methley, A., Wilkinson, K., Delaney, M., Haythornthwaite, L., & Montrose, S. (2020). Implementation of an Opt-In Waiting List Initiative for Neuropsychology in Two Community Neurorehabilitation Teams: A Practice-based Example. The Neuropsychologist, 10, 39-46.

- Twigg, T., Methley, A., Leighton, Z., Meehan, R., & Kirkby. A. (2020). Using supervision to improve the wellbeing of administrative staff in a busy Neuropsychology department: A pilot service initiative. Clinical Psychology Forum, 334.

- Methley, A.M., King, L., Chen, C., Dunning, G., Javed, H. & Teager, A.J. (2020). Implementing undergraduate clinical and research internship schemes within a clinical neuropsychology service. Clinical Psychology Forum, 331, 24-30.-

Teager, A.J., Methley, A. , & Tehrani, N. (2018). Early psychological interventions following a major incident: The case of the Manchester Arena attack. Clinical Psychology Forum.

- Methley, A., & Barrett, A. (2018). Incorporating neuropsychological factors in the assessment and formulation of UK military veterans: what should clinical psychologists consider?

· Methley, A., Dawson, B., & Teager, A. (2018). A psychological interpretation of case-mix: Considerations for practitioner wellbeing and service design. Clinical Psychology Forum, 307, 29-33.

· Teager, A., Twigg, J., & Methley, A.(2018). Implementing a paperlite service within a neuropsychology setting: a practice example and clinical considerations. The Neuropsychologist, 5, 53-58.

· Methley, A., Dawson, B., Teager, A. Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome: a literature review and clinical considerations. European Journal of Palliative Care, 24(4),161-165.

· Methley, A. M.,Woodruff, P., Sayer, N., Nevin, J. (2017) Readiness for therapy: A service evaluation of a pre-therapy group for PTSD in an IAPT service. Clinical Psychology Forum, 288, 23-27.

· Methley, A., Cheraghi-Sohi, S., Campbell, S., Chew-Graham, C. (2016). The value of the theoretical framework of candidacy in exploring access and experiences of health care services.Health Psychology Update, 25(1), 3-11.

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