About Dr Joanna Livingstone

I am a friendly, compassionate and intuitive Clinical Psychologist who believes that with some help and guidance, individuals can access their own strength and inner resources. I have always had a strong interest in the mind/body link and how that impacts on overall health, wellbeing and vitality. Through my professional and personal experiences of managing health and wellbeing, I have empowered many people to make positive changes to their lives.

Since completing my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2000, I have extended my skills as an integrative practitioner. Whilst my main focus continues to be Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and Positive Psychology, I use an integrative approach to develop tailor made programmes for individual therapy and workshops.

As well as talking therapy I use art, movement and mindful meditative approaches to help facilitate change where appropriate. I am also very passionate about movement and dance and have recently graduated as a Nia (Neuromuscular Integrative Action) white belt teacher which combines dance arts, martial arts and healing arts to form a mindful movement practice. Moving to Heal is a specialised programme to help individuals with health conditions such as Parkinson's, recovery from cancer, chronic pain and chronic fatigue. Moving to Calm is a programme to help children and adolescents with attention, concentration and developing emotional literacy.

My sixteen years of experience post qualification includes lead roles both in the National Health Service and in the Corporate sector, as well as consulting at the London Clinic, Harley Street. This range of settings has given me the privilege of working with a diverse range of individuals. I also apply my studies of Social Anthropology and wide ranging travelling experiences to help gain an understanding and sensitivity to individual differences from varying cultures and backgrounds.

I strongly believe that you hold the answers within you, and using a collaborative guided discovery approach, I can help you to make changes towards mental and physical wellbeing.

'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step' Lao Tzu

Experience

Education
Work Experience
Private Practice

EDUCATION - Joanna has a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Psychology from Manchester University, graduating in 1995. She then achieved her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsych) at Glasgow University in 2000. She also trained in Life Coaching (BSY Coaching) in 2010, and then trained as a Nia White Belt instructor in 2016.

WORK EXPERIENCE - Joanna has worked in a range of settings, from clinic to hospital settings, and schools with children and adults from diverse backgrounds and cultures. She worked initially as an Assistant Psychologist (1995-1997) at Ayrshire Central Hospital in the department of Neurorehabilitation and Health Psychology; Ayrshire and Arran Health Trust. She then worked as a Trainee Psychologist as part of the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Psychology, based at Gartnavel Royal Hospital (1997-2000). Joanna then worked at Charing Cross Hospital in the Department of Health and Neuropsychology, the West London Trauma Centre and was a key member of the cosmetic surgery panel; West London Mental Health Trust (2001-2004). Joanna then worked in Sussex Partnership Trust from 2004-2014 with adults with a range of mental and physical health problems. Also, she was managing and supervising CBT therapists. She then worked as part of BHEDS (Brighton and Hove Eating Disorders Service) where she was facilitating and leading eating disorders groups. Joanna has also worked in private practice and ran a successful weekly clinic at the London Clinic, Harley Street, as well as clinics in Sussex at John McKeown Associates where she set up innovative CBT programmes for children and adolescents with specific learning difficulties. Joanna was then Head of Psychological Services at AXA PPP Healthcare (2014-2016) where she managed the clinical needs of clients and organisations in a corporate environment and was a leading advisor on aspects of wellbeing at work and psychological first aid for crises situations.

PRIVATE PRACTICE - Joanna aims to enable clients to make positive changes towards mental and physical wellbeing both in individual therapy sessions and on a group basis in workshops. Using her wide range of experience, expertise, compassion and empathy, her aim is to impart her knowledge using clinical, leadership and supervisory techniques as and when is appropriate.

Professional Memberships

Testimonials

Dr Livingstone brings enthusiasm and imagination to your time with her. She is encouraging and positive in helping you to find solutions without losing sight of the reality to your situation. An added bonus is that it is possible to have fun while working through challenges.

T.P. Brighton

Dr Livingstone's mindfulness workshop was fun and interesting, insightful and thought provoking. We were made to feel so comfortable and at ease and I loved the whole experience. It has been the start of a whole new chapter for me.

M.S.W. Glasgow

Dr. Livingstone enabled me to gain the skills of empowerment and be able to integrate this into my working life. The sessions helped me put more boundaries in place for myself in order to enhance my own wellbeing and practice. Her compassionate approach put me at ease straight away.

C.H. Brighton