Falkirk Team

About

Sarah Gallacher is the Clinical Director of the Purple House Clinic, Falkirk and the Purple House Clinic, Edinburgh. She is an HCPC registered practitioner and forensic psychologist and an associate fellow of the British Psychological Society.

Sarah has over 20 years of experience working in public services in Scotland and in private practice. She is experienced in working with both adults and adolescents / families. She has extensive experience in working with individuals experiencing a range of social, emotional, psychological and mental health related difficulties. She draws from a range of psychotherapeutic approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Sarah has developed a specific interest in neurodevelopmental conditions, specifically Autism and ADHD, as both she and her children are neurodivergent. She has experienced, first-hand, many of the associated challenges involved in navigating access to services, access to appropriate support and accommodations in an education and work context and the associated impact on mental health and wellbeing. Due to this she is focused on ensuring services delivered are accessible, inclusive, collaborative and neurodivergent affirming.

Qualifications

2022 – Master of Business Administration, University of Strathclyde.
2019 – Postgraduate Certificate in Health Research, University of Lancaster.
2005 – Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy, University of Dundee.
2000 – Master of Science in Forensic Psychology, University of Kent.
1999 – Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Psychology, University of Lincolnshire and Humberside.

Professional Registrations & Memberships

• British Psychological Society (BPS): 097760
• Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC): PYL19096
• EMDR UK Association: Full member

Expertise and Experience
Dr. Sharon Brown is an Associate Psychologist at Purple House Edinburgh (and Falkirk). She is a Registered and Chartered Educational Psychologist with over 20 years’ experience working as a Chartered Educational Psychologist and educator.

Dr. Brown has extensive experience working across the range of educational settings at local authority and in the independent sectors. Her practice is grounded in child-centred and relational approaches, working successfully with young people and their families to understand and help them move forward. All her work is informed by current statutory and legislative requirements with a deep understanding of education and teaching practices. She also undertakes training with external agencies and offers professional qualification assessment and supervision.

Dr. Brown has extensive skills working therapeutically with young people and children experiencing a variety of challenges including: mental health such as low mood, high arousal and activity levels, anxiety, trauma and stress. She has experience working with challenging
behaviours, developmental needs and communication difficulties. Dr. Brown uses a range of evidence-informed psychological models and approaches successfully with children, young people and families including: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Solution Oriented Practice, Eye
Movement and Desensitisation and Reprocessing and Positive Behaviour Support (integrated Applied Behavioural Analysis with person-centred approaches).

Across her practice, Dr. Brown uses a variety of rich assessment evidence. She has an interest in executive functions including working memory and attention, and is able to carry out psychological assessment of learning difficulties.

With current working experience in the
education sector at local and national levels, she brings a unique breadth and depth of skills and experiences that enable children and young people to move forward and achieve their personal best.

Qualifications
2017- Doctorate in Educational Psychology University of Strathclyde
2009- Master of Science in Educational Psychology University of Strathclyde
2002- Post Graduate Certificate Primary Education (Dist) University of Edinburgh
2001- Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Psychology University of Stirling

Professional Registrations and Memberships
Health Cand Care Professions Council: PYL26724
British Psychological Society: 41292
General Teaching Council for Scotland: 023128

Specialisms

• Mental health
  Trauma
• Bereavement and loss
• Severe and complex needs: particular specialisms in visual impairment and
  challenging behaviours
• Specific learning difficulties
• Games-based learning approaches and executive functions
  Main Therapeutic Approaches
• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
• Solution Oriented Practice
• Eye Movement and Desensitisation and Reprocessing
• Positive Behaviour Support (integrated Applied Behavioural Analysis with person-
  centred approaches).

Expertise and Experience

Dr Cabrera is an Associate Psychologist at the Purple House Falkirk (and Edinburgh) and a registered Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience working with clients across the lifespan, from young children through to older adults. He has supported individuals with a wide range of mental health needs, including stress, anxiety, depression, specific phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (single-event and complex trauma), interpersonal difficulties, psychosis, and eating-related mental health concerns.

In addition, Dr Cabrera has specialist experience in supporting clients with gender identity and gender diversity–related mental health difficulties, offering sensitive, inclusive, and affirming psychological care tailored to the unique experiences of each individual.

His core expertise includes conducting comprehensive psychological assessments, collaboratively developing problem-focused formulations, and delivering evidence-based, person-centred interventions. He is skilled in drawing upon specific therapeutic models as well as integrating approaches to meet the diverse needs of his clients.

Dr Cabrera is trained in the assessment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) across the lifespan (including assessment of attentional capacity and executive function), as well as the assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) across the lifespan — from children to adults and late adulthood (ADOS, ADI-R, ACIA). He also has considerable experience administering a range of cognitive assessments.

His therapeutic approach is collaborative, non-judgemental, values-driven (compassionate, kind, and respectful), inclusive, trauma-informed, and neuro-affirmative.

Dr Cabrera has worked in the NHS for over a decade across both community and inpatient services. His clinical experience spans Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Adult Mental Health, Mental Health Services for Older People, and specialist services.

Qualifications

2021 – Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy), Newcastle University.

2018 – Postgraduate Certificate in Low Intensity Psychological Interventions, Northumbria University.

2015 – Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology (BSc Hons), Durham University.

Professional Registrations

Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC): Registration no. PYL041934.

Specialisms

Psychological therapy for children, adolescents, adults, and older people (anxiety, depression, complex trauma, PTSD)

ADHD assessment across the lifespan (including assessment of attentional capacity and executive function)

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) assessment across the lifespan — children, adults, and late adulthood (ADOS, ADI-R, ACIA)

Gender identity and gender diversity–related mental health difficulties

Main Therapeutic Approaches

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)
• Systemic Therapy
• Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Expertise and Experience

Anna is an Associate Psychologist at Purple House Falkirk. She is registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and is a member of Association of Clinical Psychologists – UK (ACP-UK). Anna completed the Statement of Equivalence in Clinical Psychology via the British Psychological Society in 2010 and after qualifying she worked with adults for 13 years in NHS Psychology service. She also has experience working in independent sector, supporting adults and delivering therapy as well as and carrying out neurodevelopmental assessments.

Anna’s main area of expertise is working with adult clients who experience distress or long-term difficulties, often within the context of difficult experiences, trauma or neurodivergence. She has experience carrying out psychological assessments and developing joint formulations of the clients’
difficulties, helping them to make sense of their experiences and finding a way forward.

Anna enjoys working collaboratively with clients providing a safe, reflective therapy space and tailoring interventions to suit their individual needs.

Anna draws from a variety of models, particularly third-wave therapy approaches.  She also has experience supervising others and is qualified to deliver neurodevelopmental assessments across lifespan.

Qualifications

• Statement of Equivalence in Clinical Psychology- British Psychological Society (2010)
• MSc Clinical Psychology – University of Gdansk, Poland (2001)

Additional training:

• STAND Attuned: Neurodiversity Affirming Schema Therapy (October 2023)
• Schema Therapy: Beyond the basics – Schema Therapy Scotland (September 2022)
• Schema Therapy: Models, methods and techniques – Schema Therapy Scotland (May 2021)

Professional Registration & Memberships

• Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC): PYL26413

Specialisms

Anna’s main area of interest is supporting neurodivergent adults following a recent diagnosis as well as working with those who have been late diagnosed as adults.

Main Therapeutic Approaches

• Schema Therapy (ST)
• Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Expertise and Experience

Joanne is an associate Occupational Therapist at Purple House Falkirk (and Edinburgh).  She is a registered Occupational Therapist and has extensive clinical experience spanning 26 years in healthcare working with adults, adolescents and children across psychiatry and medical rehabilitation.  She has experience of working in the NHS, private and third sectors.

Joanne’s focus is on improving quality of life, independence, social and emotional participation and enhancing development. She provides comprehensive assessment and therapeutic intervention with a focus on occupational performance and activities of daily living for a range of conditions such as Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (Dyspraxia), Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), anxiety and chronic pain.

Joanne has post-graduate training in developmental co-ordination disorders, assessment of motor and processing skills, and has undertaken further training in assessment and treatment of autism.

Qualifications

2024 – ADOS-2

2024 – Sensory Profile 2

2017 – MSc Occupational Therapy

2015 – Developmental Co-ordination Disorders

2001 – Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS)

1998 – BSc Occupational Therapy

Professional Registration & Memberships

• Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC): OT28552
• Royal College of Occupational Therapists: BT0214578

Specialisms

Developmental co-ordination disorders, autism, anxiety, chronic pain.

Main Therapeutic Approaches

• Occupational Therapy
• Activity Analysis
• Focus on Occupational Performance and Activities of Daily Living
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Expertise and experience

Sally is an Associate Speech & Language Therapist (SLT) with Purple House Clinic Falkirk (and Edinburgh) and is registered with the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists. Sally has almost 20 years experience working as an SLT within the NHS and has a special interest in working with children and young people with Autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions.

For the majority of her career, Sally has worked as part of multidisciplinary teams, carrying out neurodevelopmental assessments and working together with these teams to provide comprehensive, holistic and personally tailored support for each child and young person. Sally is skilled at adapting assessment sessions to meet the needs of each individual and allow assessment to be as stress free and enjoyable as possible.

Sally also has many years of experience in working with children who have language difficulties and speech sound disorders as well as intellectual disabilities, both in clinic and education settings.

Sally is skilled in working with families to help them understand and support their children’s language and communication needs and neurodevelopmental differences. She is passionate about helping children and young people understand their own neurodevelopmental profiles in a positive way with greater acceptance and understanding of themselves.

Qualifications

2017 – ADOS-2

2004 – BSc Hons Speech and Language Sciences, University of Newcastle

Professional Registrations & Memberships

• Health and Care Professions Council   (HCPC) – SL13502.
• The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)  – RC0019994.

Specialisms

Autism including presentations reflective of extreme demand avoidance / Persistant Drive for Autonomy (PDA).

Therapeutic Approaches

A range of therapeutic approaches are used according to the area of difficulty being addressed. All approaches are person centered, neurodivergent affirming and strengths based.