Dr. Sara Tarr

Senior Clinical Psychologist, D Clin Psych, C.Psychol., Ps.S.I M12923C

 

Sara is a Clinical Psychologist with over 10 years of experience working with children, adults and families in a range of mental health settings. Her areas of interest include attachment and trauma, supporting young people with neurodiversity, mindfulness and emotion regulation. Sara works from a strengths based systemic approach to mental health difficulties and is trained in multiple models of therapy such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Systemic Family Therapy and Psychodynamic approaches. Sara draws on these models in her work with families, according to the presenting need and evidence base. Sara has worked in child national specialist assessment teams, community centres, inpatient and school settings.

Sara completed her training and qualifications in the UK, she is a chartered member of the psychological society of Ireland and registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) in the UK PYL 33398

Sara completed her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Newcastle University. Her training covered a range of mental health presentations and difficulties from mild to severe across the lifespan. During this time Sara gained significant experience of child and adolescent mental health, working in both in patient and community CAMHS settings and completing a Specialist 9 month Family Systemic Therapy Placement.

Since qualification Sara has worked in highly specialist child and adolescent mental health teams and early intervention services. These have included: The Feeding Eating Disorders Team and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), Paediatric Psychology Support at GOSH and a Clinical Psychology in Schools Team at West London Mental Health Trust. Most recently Sara was a lead psychologist driving forward the establishment of an early intervention mental health support team for Specialist Schools in an area of the UK.

Sara has continually sought to share her learning experiences through publishing findings from both academic and practice based research. Sara has authored a book chapter on parent/ carer’s experiences of Avoidant Food Intake Disorder and is currently reviewing an early intervention mental health service in learning disability schools.

When Sara is not working you will find her out walking her energetic Labrador, at the pool for a swim or trying out some new activity. When not on the go you will find her drinking cups of tea with family or friends.

Qualifications:

 

  • Doctor of Clinical Psychology 2014-2016, Newcastle University UK.
    Syllabus areas included : Psychological Assessment, Psychological Formulation, Psychological Interventions, Evaluation, Research, Personal Professional Development, Communication& Teaching, Service Delivery, Socio Cultural Issues and Professional Ethics. Training in the following therapy models: CBT, Systemic Family Therapy Practice and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. Relevant specialised teachings modules include: Learning and Disability , Neuropsychology, Child and Family Teaching, Attachment, Physical Health and Longterm Conditions.
  • Masters of Science in Psychology and Mental Health (Distinction) 2011-2012, Glasgow Caledonian University.
    Modules included: Clinical Governance and Mental Health Law, Counselling Psychology, Therapy Approaches to Mental Health, Advanced Research Methods and Statistics, Risk and Care Management
  • Bachelor of Science in Psychology 2005-2009, Glasgow Caledonian University. 

Career History​:

 

  • Most recently I have worked as a Senior Clinical Psychologist setting up a Mental Health Support Team for Specialist Schools in Surrey (2022- 2023), working closely with schools to commence mental health support within the schools.
  • Prior to this I was employed as a Specialist Clinical Psychology for a Clinical Psychology in Schools Team where I worked in mainstream settings and a social-emotional specialist school, this was from 2018- 2022.
  • I worked for some time in the National Specialist Feeding and Eating Disorders Team in Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital NHS Trust. Specifically working with young people with ARFID and providing time limited paediatric psychology support a number of children and families (2017- 2018).
  • My first role post qualification was as a Specialist Clinical Psychologist in an adult secondary care, West London Mental Health Trust. I enjoyed supporting young adults and care leavers through 1:1 therapy, helping them to make sense of their experiences and acquire emotional regulation skills (from 2016- 2017).
  • During my doctorate I worked as a Clinical Psychologist in training, including completing placements in child inpatient mental health, CAMHS community, learning disability, adult mental health and older adult mental health (2013-2016.
  • Prior to this I worked as an assistant psychologist in a CAMHS team for NHS Highland and Islands, supporting assessments and prescribed mental health interventions.
  • My first employed role after my foundation degrees was as a transition coordination for young people with Autism, within Cornerstone Charity( 2010-2012)
  • Whilst studying for my Psychology Degree I was an Advocate for Equal Say from 2007-2010, supporting adults with learning disability.

Specialist Training:

 

  • Positive Behaviour Support Training, from the Association of Psychological Therapists (APT): 2022
  • Solution Circles Training, from Inclusive Solutions: 2022
  • Circle of Adults Training, from inclusive Solutions: 2022
  • OCD Masterclass in Assessment and Treatment, from Dr. V. Hallet and Dr. A Jassi National Specialist CAMHS for OCD, BDD and Related Disorders: UK 2022
  • Behavioural Treatment for Tics (CBIT), from Postgraduate Medical Education Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust: UK 2022
  • Developmental Trauma in Children and Families, Training for Professional from Beacon House: 2021
  • Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy Level 1 from Family Futures London: 2020
  • DNA-V: The Youth Model of Acceptance, Mindfulness and Positive Psychology, from Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust: UK 2018
  • Attendance at ‘The Sleepy Teenager- links with neurodisability sleep and mental health’ by Dr . Joseph, Sleep Medicine at the Evelina Children’s Hospital: UK 2018
  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Foundational Training, from British Isles DBT Training: UK 2017
  • Certificate in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Psychosis: Trauma-focused CBT for Psychosis. Presented by Dr. Nadine Keen of the Maudsely Hospital: UK 2017
  • Certificate in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Complex PTSD: Working experientially with trauma. From West London Mental Health Trust: UK 2017

Publications and Practice-Based Research:

 

  • Milne, S., Richardson, S., Dosangh, M. (2016). An evaluation of a CAT-based group intervention with shared lives carers of people who have intellectual disabilities. DCP Bulletin of the FPID. 14 (3), 19-27.
  • Milne, S., Lomax, C., Freeston, M. (2017). ‘Appraisal of situational threat and situational intolerance of uncertainty in anxiety-provoking situations of personal concern: An evidenced based rationale for targeting intolerance of uncertainty’ in treatment?’, 2017 BABCP Annual Conference Symposium Presentation, Manchester, 25th-28th of July 2017.
  • Milne, S., Lomax, C., Freeston., M.H. (2019). A review of the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and threat in anxiety. The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 12(38), 1-18.
  • Higgins, C., Milne, S., Charlesworth, A. (2019). ‘Psycho education parent/ carer group for parents of children with restrictive feeding difficulties: Views from parent/ carers’, 2019 International Conference on Children’s Eating Behaviour (ICCEB), Birmingham, 21st-22nd of March 2019.

  • Higgins, C., Milne, S.,Hirst, A. (2019). ‘Intensive week intervention for restrictive eating difficulties: A review of current practice and the literature for children who present without tube-feeding depended as the prominent maintaining difficulty’, 2019 International Conference on Children’s Eating Behaviour (ICCEB), Birmingham, 21st-22nd of March 2019.

  • Milne, S. (2020). Parent and carer views and experiences, in Bryant-Waugh, R., Higgins, C.,Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder in Childhood and Adolescent (1st Ed).London, Routledge, 13-27.

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