Special Group for Independent Practitioners

The Special Group of Independent Practitioners (SGIP) provides support to members to develop their practices in a variety of ways that would not breach Competition Law, such as "how to manage and price your time and market your services".

This included a special Peer Hub meeting in November 2022 and there will be another one in Spring 2023.

Please make sure you are aware of competition law and how this could potentially be an issue when discussing charging practices.

Below is the text provided by Hannah Farndon, Policy Advisor for Professional Practice (who advises the Practice Board), followed by extracts from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

Competition Law

Could you please make sure you are aware of competition law and how this could potentially be an issue when discussing charging practices.

• UK Government - Competing fairly in business: information and guidance
• CMA guidance and a case study describing the action taken against a group of medical consultants and a private health provider who undertook to fix prices for the price of an initial consultation

CMA: Lessons learnt

• never agree to fix prices or share future pricing information with competitors; it can be illegal to agree on pricing even if you don't have to change your prices as a consequence
• never suggest or try to facilitate an arrangement where competitors fix or coordinate prices or share future pricing information
• you can find out what prices are charged by your competitors where this information is publicly available, but you must not discuss with rivals their future prices or pricing intentions
• if 2 or more competitors participate in an anti-competitive arrangement, whether written or verbal, it is illegal - it doesn't matter if not all competitors in the market participate
• if you are approached to join an illegal pricing arrangement – reject the approach immediately and unequivocally, and report the incident to the CMA
• regardless of whether you are a medical practitioner in private practice, a small business or a sole trader - competition law equally applies to you

All types of psychologists need to be mindful of copyright and intellectual property (IP) issues when creating, using, or sharing materials in their practice.

Protecting client information and getting data consent for your psychology private practice is crucial, but it's also important to protect your business and your work

 In this article, I'll explain what intellectual property might include and how you may protect it. We'll also discuss when and how you can legally use copyrighted work in your clinical practice.

What Is Copyright and Intellectual Property?

When we talk about intellectual property we're referring to a range of rights and assets that belong to you/your company. They are legally protected which means you can take legal action against anyone, or any entity, that infringes upon your intellectual property.

The four main areas of intellectual property comprise the following:

1. Copyright

In the UK, copyright is automatically assigned to the creator of the work. Therefore, if you design, write or originate work, it belongs to you and no one can use it without permission. This includes your website content, research, training materials and any other work you produce.

It's worth checking that anything created for your company by someone not employed by your business is still owned by you. For instance, if you outsource your website design your designer's contract should specify who will own the copyright upon completion of the work.

2. Trademarks

Trade marking is an option available to businesses who wish to protect the identity of their brand through registering a symbol, name, slogan or a combination of these, associated with the organisation. Trade marks are classed as badges of origin and are also beneficial for consumers who use trade marks to attribute goods or services to a particular business or brand.

3. Patents

A patent can only be applied to a unique idea, way of doing something or aspect of design. Patents must be applied for and the process can be involved and potentially costly. All of this is worthwhile if your patent is approved and the protection of the idea or design is integral to your business. Patents are mostly applicable to products and other inventions.

4. Design Rights

Design rights protect the visual appearance of products, focusing on aspects like shape, configuration, pattern, and ornamentation. There are two main forms of protection - Unregistered Design Rights (UDR) and Registered Design. UDR arises automatically and protects the shape and configuration of 3D designs for up to 10 or 15 years, against copying.

Registered Design requires formal registration with the UK Intellectual Property Office but offers broader protection for up to 25 years.

Protecting Your Copyright

As a private psychology practice, your reputation is important. Therefore, you will want to protect against anyone, especially competitors, using any materials affiliated with your company (logo, name, branding, etc) to ensure you're not falsely represented.

It's also essential to protect any therapy tools, training materials, assessments, or research you create. As these may need to be shared outside of the practice and could have monetary value, it's wise to take steps to deter unauthorised use.

As previously specified, in the UK, copyright is automatically assigned to the creator of the work. Therefore, you have ownership of your materials without needing to register anything. However, there are opportunities and techniques used to further deter copyright infringements, most of which serve as a reminder that the materials are owned and that the owner is aware of their legal rights over them.

Copyright Legends

A copyright legend is a symbol that can be added to any created piece of work to signify ownership. To use a copyright legend you should use the symbol © followed by your name/business name, year of publication and then the words 'All Rights Reserved'. Don't forget to update the year annually.

Copyright legends can be displayed at the foot of your website page, at the end of important documents, on blogs, presentation slides, handouts, client reports, social media posts, etc.

Watermarks

A watermark can help protect copyright by visibly marking a digital or physical work with the creator's name, logo, or other identifying information. This discourages unauthorised use, as the watermark signals ownership and makes it more difficult for others to claim the work as their own. Additionally, if infringement does occur, the watermark can serve as evidence of original ownership, supporting legal action to enforce copyright.

Proof Of Ownership

For important pieces of written content you create, you should send yourself a copy of the work and keep the email - that will give it a 'date stamp', so you can easily prove when you created the work. You might also use software that provides a time stamp.

Use Of Photographs

When using photographs in your work you should be aware that the creator owns the copyright. This means photos belong to the photographer, not the subject. Therefore, if you have headshots taken or use a photographer to capture images for your professional use then you should ensure that copyright is contractually assigned to you in the terms of the supplier agreement.

Another option for sourcing images is to use a stock library. Here you pay a subscription or one-off fee to licence images. They do not belong to you but you have permission to use them. Always check the terms and beware of sharing these images with third parties for their use, since this may be prohibited by the licence agreement.

When using images of others for promotional purposes, you will need to obtain consent from the subjects.

Partnerships And Copyright

In joint projects or research, clear agreements regarding IP ownership should be established from the outset. This includes specifying who owns the copyright to the materials created together and how any profits or credits will be shared.

Using Other People's Content

Whilst protecting your own copyright, you'll also need to ensure you don't unintentionally infringe on anyone else's copyright. Doing so may result in legal action. Therefore, you must never use materials published by someone else without obtaining written permission or licensing the work. However, there are scenarios when using copyrighted work falls under 'fair use'.

Fair Use

You can use a part of someone else's copyrighted material without permission, so long as what is used is not 'substantial'.

Using a significant part of someone else's material would be considered substantial and therefore infringes on their copyright. This is based on quality, not quantity, so even if you're just using a tiny amount be careful. If it's one of the more important parts of the whole work then it could still be regarded as 'substantial'.

However, 'fair use' allows for limited inclusion of copyrighted content without the need to seek permission. This is usually specific to using the work for news reporting, teaching, research, criticism, comment, etc.

For example, if you use a short clip from a film within an original video you upload to YouTube, it can be deemed fair use if you are commenting on the material.

You should still remember to give credit to the original creator even if it appears to fall under 'fair use'.

Selling Content Online

You may wish to sell online courses, training materials and other copyrighted material online. As there is a monetary value here it's essential to ensure your intellectual property is protected.

Psychologists must also carefully navigate the use of any client-related content, ensuring that it does not infringe on client confidentiality. Even with anonymisation, you should obtain explicit consent before using case studies or client-derived content in publications.

There are also other legal considerations for selling content online including having robust terms and conditions in place and ensuring data protection for customers and clients.

To find out more, please see my Legal Guide to Selling Psychology Courses And Workshops.

Resources

Finally, I have a number of free resources and templates available on my website specifically for psychologists.

Please check the psychology specific blogs on the Aubergine Legal website and the free/paid resources in the Aubergine Legal online shop.

Data Protection Guidance Every Independent Psychology Practice Needs to Know

Psychology practices are responsible for the health and well-being of their clients. This is paramount. Yet, part of this means protecting their data, especially since this is likely to be highly personal.

Safeguarding this data is essential to upholding ethical standards, maintaining client trust and complying with legal obligations under GDPR and the UK Data Protection Act 2018.

Private practice psychologists must understand basic principles, such as consent, transparency, and data security whilst considering special factors like the need for heightened confidentiality, appropriate retention periods, and secure handling of therapy notes.

Awareness of these responsibilities ensures compliance, minimises legal risk and protects clients' rights. It also assists in providing a safe space for clients where psychologists may fully adhere to their other obligations.

Here are a few of the key principles and practices you should be aware of in regard to data protection and your psychology practice:

Do This First

First and foremost, register with the ICO (Information Commissioner's Office). The ICO is responsible for promoting and upholding data protection compliance for companies in the UK. Most organisations and sole traders processing personal data will be required to register with the ICO and pay an annual fee. This fee funds the ICO's work and also strengthens your professional reputation as a business or individual who takes data protection seriously.

Fees are set depending on your organisation's size and nature but the vast majority will pay between £40 and £60.

General Data Protection Principles

When running a private psychology practice in the UK, adhering to the UK Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is essential to ensure the privacy and protection of client data.

These regulations are vast and complex, so allow me to provide you with the key principles:

• Validity: You must have a reason to collect the data. This includes consent and legitimate interest. For example, data may be deemed necessary to provide services such as therapeutic assessment and treatment. Furthermore, you should only collect and process data that is relevant and limited to what is necessary for the intended purposes.
• Transparency: You must provide information about why information is collected and how it will be used, as well as how it will be stored and protected.
• Accuracy: Data must be kept up-to-date and be accurate. Inaccurate or unnecessary data should be disposed of securely and responsibly.
• Data Retention: There are regulations over how long data can be stored after services have been provided. Generally, you should only need to store data as long as it is deemed necessary to fulfil the intended purposes. More details on this can be found further on in this article. Protection: You must state and adhere to processes for keeping personal data secure, whether this is paperwork or digital files/records. Examples include encryption, secure storage, and access controls.

As well as adhering to these principles, it's essential to demonstrate compliance. This means implementing processes for maintaining consents, creating policies and conducting risk assessments to ensure you're staying consistent and compliant.

Data Protection Documents You Need

To comply with GDPR and the UK Data Protection Act, you must have and make accessible various documents that support the above principles, especially that of transparency.

You will need a Privacy Policy and will need to make this visible on your website. Your Privacy Policy is the document that explains how you adhere to the above principles, including:

Types of data collected and the reason(s) why;

• How data is processed;
• Data retention practices;
• Data sharing practices;
• The right of clients to access their data, amend it and request their data be destroyed;
• How you protect personal data;
• Contact details for queries or complaints

Need help creating a privacy policy? Get in touch for bespoke advice or use my Psychology specific Privacy Policy template, which you can purchase via the Psychology Business School Template Packs.

• You should also keep records of processing activities, especially as an organisation that processes highly sensitive information. Information audits and data mapping exercises can help develop standards and procedures. It's then important to record the steps you take in processing records and ensure that these adhere to data protection regulations. Doing so protects your client's data and may serve as proof that you are complying with the commitments set out in your privacy policy. I have created a Record of Processing Activities template, specifically for psychologists.
• Also, by keeping a detailed record of your data processing activities, you will be able to understand what personal data you hold, where it is stored and how it can be used. This will greatly help you improve your data protection compliance within your psychology practice. It is an internal document that you should keep safe to show the Information Commissioner's Office in case you ever become the subject of an inspection.
• Lastly, it is advisable to conduct a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA). This is a process used to identify and mitigate risks associated with processing personal data. It is particularly important for organisations handling sensitive health information in a psychology practice, where mishandling data could significantly impact individuals' privacy. Again, I have created a template specially for psychologist, which can be purchased as part of the Legal Template packs on the Psychology Business School website.

DPIAs help ensure compliance and are crucial for safeguarding client confidentiality by proactively addressing risks like data breaches or inappropriate access. Furthermore, they demonstrate accountability and can protect the practice from legal or reputational harm.

Data Consents For Psychology Practices

Every organisation collects and processes personal data, which does not need consent if you are collecting it for a legitimate purpose (such as to carry out your services).

As a psychology practice, though, you may collect more than basic information and should be aware that the collection of certain information is considered more sensitive and therefore in need of further protection. Such information will fall under special category data and is only able to be collected if you have explicit consent from the individual.

You can find more information about the consents you require for special category data in my article - Psychology Private Practices - Do I Need To Get Data Consents?

Sharing Client Data

At times, it may be necessary to share client data with third parties. Again, transparency is key. If third parties play a part in data access, storage or processing, data holders should be made aware. It's also essential that third parties comply with your data protection policy and that you can trust them to do so. Read through their data protection policy and be confident that they comply with GDPR, UK data protection and your standards also.

Education is also important. Data protection responsibilities fall under the business owners and yet, everybody in an organisation that processes data must be aware and empowered to adhere to processes that protect client data. Psychology practice owners and managers should be confident that everybody in the organisation understands and respects data protection. Whilst many companies rely on the ability for employees to access the company privacy policy as sufficient, since you're dealing with particularly sensitive information you may wish to go a step further and conduct regular company-wide assessments and workplace training to ensure that all staff are fully aware of processes for data protection.

Data Retention for Psychology Practices

UK GDPR requires data to be kept only as long as necessary, with justification for the retention period. There are special considerations though when it comes to medical information, including therapy notes.

Regulatory guidance is as follows:

• Adults: The NHS and BMA recommend keeping records for 20 years or 10 years after death. The HCPC does not specify a duration but suggests referring to the NHS's Records Management Code of Practice.
• Children: The NHS and BMA recommend retaining records until the client's 25th birthday (or 26th if they were 17 years old when treatment ended) or 8 years after death.
• Record Standards: The HCPC, NHS, BMA, and BPS stress maintaining clear, accurate, and secure records aligned with applicable legislation.

While there's no mandated period for independent practitioners, many follow NHS guidance for children and retain adult records for 7 years. Ultimately though, it's a professional decision and your judgement should be applied, so long as this can be justified.

For more information you can download my free guide on data retention periods found on my website.

Need some more guidance?

Get in touch with Aubergine Legal for more in-depth, personalised advice on how to be data compliant as well as help with creating privacy policies and other documents relating to data privacy.

One of the key benefits of being a member of the Special Group for Independent Practitioners (SGIP) is our dedicated email list. It gives members the ability to be in contact with, ask questions of, seek advice from and just chew the fat with a wide range of independent psychologists from all of the BPS divisions and across the UK.

It is easy to join the list and it enables you to post an enquiry and  receive views, feedback and facts from those who have previous experience or are undergoing similar difficulties or opportunities.

To join the discussion list you will need to be a member of SGIP, opt into receiving email communication from the Society and provide a working email address. You can change your settings by logging into the member portal and then 'Preferences'.

To be added to the discussion group you need to email Member Networks at the BPS to request the address. Please include your membership number and you will need to use the email address linked to your membership record to participate in the discussion.

Most psychologists have experience of offering telephone consultations, and there are many similar considerations in having a video session.

There is good evidence that therapy can be delivered competently via different media, is usually acceptable to the client, and that it is possible to build up therapeutic relationships that are as strong as those formed in face-to-face therapy.

The information presented here is a resource for those planning video consultations and is not intended to replace local guidance.

It is recommended that you also consult any policy and/or guidance documents relevant to your NHS Trust/organisation.

Read our top tips for providing effective therapy via video.

The resources here provide some recommended essentials you should have in place before seeing a client.

• Set Up Safely In Independent Practice - Resources
• Independent Practice - Cashflow Template

Wendy Kendall is a Chartered Occupational Psychologist, Coaching Psychologist and registered coaching psychologist.

She spent the first 7 years of her career working as a military psychologist specialising in training, performance, and organisational development. In 2003, she moved to France and set up her first private practice, specialising in talent and organisational development in global companies.

In 2008, she became an associate partner of a Hamburg-based consultancy, running multinational teams delivering programmes such as assessment and development centres, strategic corporate mentoring programmes and executive coaching for international companies. 

She has since moved across borders twice more, taking her private practice with her each time. In 2013, she started to focus on building her own brand specialising in supporting international companies to move executives around the world. This shift in focus led to colleagues asking her to mentor them to build their own brands and companies.

Wendy was struck by the comparative lack of talent development opportunities for psychologists in private practice. So in late 2017, she launched the first iteration of the talent and organisational development programme for psychologists in private practice called The Psychology Practice Accelerator. This programme grew rapidly and in 2020, Wendy co-founded Inspiring Psychology Practices, where she is now the principal coach.

You can connect with Wendy and find out more about her career on LinkedIn.

Dr Zenobia Nadirshaw is a Clinical Psychologist who spent many years in the Learning Disability Psychology Service at Harperbury Hospital in Hertfordshire, rising through the ranks until she became the Head of Service and Leader of its resettlement programme which led to the successful closure of the hospital.

It was during the years of resettlement that Zenobia began to understand the impact of cultural clashes and misunderstandings between services and individuals from black and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds .

Zenobia became a founder and champion of the campaign for recognition of the needs of BAME communities in the BPS and in Local Authority and NHS services.

She was lauded for that work in an article about her contribution to the BPS in The Psychologist  in 2020.

The BPS presented her with an Award for Challenging Inequality of Opportunities in Edinburgh in 1997, and she received an Honorary Life Member Award of the British Psychological Society  in 2016,

She had received the British Medical Association 2001 Book of the Year Award for "Clinical Psychology, 'Race' and Culture: A Training Manual", and she was made a Professor University of West London and Vice Professor at the University of Exeter and has three Honorary Doctorates for her teaching and publications.

Today, Zenobia is the President of the World Zoroastrian Organisation , and she passionately promotes her cultural and religious identity.

The list of Zenobia's achievements and awards is too long to list in full, but they include;-

• The TIAW "World of Difference Award "(2012) which she received alongside Hilary Clinton in Washington DC
• "The Inspiring Woman of the Year Award" (2016)
• 'Key to the City of London' An honour bestowed at the Guildhall, City of London (2017)
• An MBE at Buckingham Palace from Prince William in 2019

Elaine Iljon-Foreman is a highly regarded independent psychologist, owner of Freedom to Fly, a company that specialises in the treatment of fear of flying and other anxiety related problems.

She holds an Honours Degree from Durham University, and a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology from Aberdeen University.

She is Chartered, and an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS), an HCPC Registered Practitioner (Clinical) and is BABCP and UKCP accredited.

Her highly specialised treatment programme is based on over 340 years of clinical experience, and on her ongoing research and development of cognitive behaviour therapy.

Research into the treatment of anxiety has been undertaken at Middlesex Hospital Medical School and invitations to present her findings have taken her to Europe, the Americas, Australia and the Far East.

Lectures and workshops are given both nationally and internationally on an ongoing basis to professional and self help audiences.

Elaine's many interviews on radio and T.V. programmes, along with her research results have been presented on an international platform.

Her professional views are regularly sought by TV and Radio in recognition of her clinical research into anxieties and phobias.

Elaine has published extensively in her specialist field.

Elaine is also a Committee Member of the Leadership and Management Faculty of the BPS and is the BPS Representative for the National Reading Well Books on Prescription Scheme.

Dr Louise Langman is a clinical psychologist, HCPC registered practitioner psychologist, chartered scientist and an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. 

Dr Langman is on the Register of Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors and has served previously as Chair Elect of the South West of England Branch of the British Psychological Society (2012-2018). In 2023, Dr Langman joined the British Psychological Society Practice Board as a representative for Independent Practice. 

As a compassionate clinician, researcher and educator, Dr Langman is aware of the multiple challenges and opportunities for psychology professionals in Independent Practice.

Motivated to improve access to evidence based psychological services across the lifespan, Dr Langman founded Flourish Psychology in 2015. Flourish is now an award-winning dynamic family friendly clinical psychology practice offering assessment, therapy, supervision, training and consultation.

By joining the Special Group of Independent Practitioners, Dr Langman supports and connect psychologists who are engaged in our evolving profession, across specialities and settings, at all stages of their careers, to strengthen our ethical business, practice and leadership skills.

Dr Carole Allan, is a Clinical Psychologist, chartered by the British Psychological Society and registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.  

Her career has spanned a variety of clinical leadership, organizational, and academic roles within the NHS in Scotland.  

She has held a variety of roles within the BPS.  This has included Chair of the Special Group of Independent Practitioners, Chair of the Committee for Training in Clinical Psychology, Chair of the Professional Practice Board, and BPS President and Honorary General Secretary for the Society.  

She is a Trustee with a national mental health charity and provides advice on clinical governance.

She now practices as an independent clinical psychologist. Her clinical interests are in the fields of mental health, addictions, trauma, occupational health.  and the governance aspects of clinical practice.

In 2021 was awarded Honorary Life Membership for outstanding service to psychology through the British Psychological Society.

Carole is also a member of the Division of Clinical Psychology, the Leadership and Management Faculty (DCP), Defence and Security Section and Crisis, Disaster and Trauma Section.

Dr Hayley Lewis is an award-winning psychologist with 25 years' experience in the field of organisational and business psychology.

She has been an independent practitioner, with her own consultancy, since 2016. Her specific areas of expertise are leadership and management behaviour and how this can impact team and organisational performance and culture, and she works with organisations and leaders across all sectors with these issues.

In addition to this, Hayley's academic research is focused on female entrepreneurs in the start-up phase of business, in particular the psychological factors that help them succeed. As well as working with leaders, as an executive coach, she also works as a business coach and mentor for female founders of one-person and micro-businesses in HR, Training, and across different domains of psychology.

Prior to starting her own coaching and consultancy business, Hayley's experience included 11 years leading various local government services. Before this, Hayley spent eight years at the BBC where she was an organisational psychologist, supporting leadership development and executive assessment activity.

As well as running her own consultancy, Hayley is also joint programme director for the two-year MRes in Professional Practice in Occupational Psychology, which is the first stage of the Professional Doctorate in Occupational Psychology, at Birkbeck, University of London.

Hayley regularly shares practical evidence-based tools, tips and her very popular one-page sketchnotes via social media. And she is often sought as an expert commentator by the media. She is a Chartered Coaching Psychologist, Registered Occupational Psychologist, Certified Principal Business Psychologist, Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and Fellow of the RSA.

In recent years, Hayley has twice been identified as one of the most influential thinkers in HR, by HR Magazine.

Dr Esther Cole worked in the NHS for 12 years and joined the independent sector in 2017. She is a Visiting Lecturer, Founder and Clinical Director of her Prestige Award-Winning team: Lifespan Psychology - The Diverse Practice®.

As a third-generation British Jamaican Psychologist managing long-term conditions, as a Mum of three, Dr Cole warmly welcomes clients from all walks of life and has a passion for supporting people living alongside mental, physical or neurological difficulties and trauma.

Dr. Cole is co-editor of Psychological Therapy for Paediatric Acquired Brain Injury: Innovations for Children, Young People & Families (Jim, J. & Cole, E. 2019. London: Routledge), and is honoured to be the first Black Psychologist to receive the Early Career Award 2020 from the BPS. She also holds a position on the committee of the BPS

Esther is also a member of the Division of Clinical Psychology Diversity & Inclusion Sub-Committee

Paul-John Griffiths has spent the past few years assisting with the Peer Practice Hubs, and facilitating Cafe Psychologique Networking Events alongside Chirstine Hamilton, Elaine Iljon-Forman, Louise Langham, Clare Mulligan-Foster and Esther Cole.

Paul sits on the Professional Practice Board's HCPC Sub-Group representing Independent Practitioners, and shares the DFP/SGIP Liaison Role with Rachael Wheatley, representing Independent Forensic Practitioner Psychologist on the SGIP Committee.

Paul has been in private practice since October 1999, with a history of working for Statutory Agencies (NPS & NHS), together with Not for Profit, and Charitable Organisations.

As a Forensic Psychologist, Paul balances his psycho-legal work, alongside a small private clinical practice, providing specialist support to Health & Custodial Services, as well individuals & groups seeking psychotherapeutic interventions, for difficulties that may include complex trauma, personality, substance use, and neurodiversity issues.

Paul also sits on the Advisory Panel for HMP Grendon (GAP), still the UK's only Therapeutic Prison, run entirely as a Therapeutic Community (TC), and continues to maintain an active interest in Offending Behaviours, especially with young people who commit serious and specific offences.

He is an active campaigner for human rights within custodial and correctional environments, that currently includes the facilitation for neurodiverse individuals, to navigate the UK's legal system, from arrest to discharge, and moreover, reintegration with adequate adjustments/accommodations, into mainstream society.

Dr Rachael Wheatley is a British Psychological Society chartered forensic psychologist and Health and Care Professions Council registered (practitioner) psychologist. Dr Wheatley is a full member of the Division of Forensic Psychology, a BPS chartered scientist, associate fellow of the BPS, holds a European Certificate in Psychology, and has an expert witness qualification.

Dr Wheatley has worked for Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Services (UK) Psychology Services Group for 21 years and now oversees forensic psychology professional practice programmes, including the innovative online postgraduate diploma in Forensic Psychology Practice, at the university of Derby.

She is also an independent practitioner, continuing to provide psychological risk assessments, individual interventions, supervision, training, and consultancy, specialising in addressing stalking (and related VAWG offending).

Dr Wheatley was the lead author on the recently published BPS practitioner guide for psychologists working with those who have engaged in stalking and is the co-developer of the Early Awareness Stalking Intervention (EASI), working in partnership with the police and providing therapeutic interventions with people investigated for stalking offences.  

Dr Wheatley has specialised in working with people who have stalked for the last 15 years and completed her Doctor of Psychology degree on what drives men who stalk and how practitioners can best respond to their needs, publishing widely on this topic.

Dr Wheatley is particularly interested in raising awareness of stalking behaviours and in working to improve (early) interventions with those who stalk and is a proud trustee with the Alice Ruggles Trust. She is also a committee member for the BPS Division of Forensic Psychology and being new to working in independent practice, recently joined Paul Griffiths, her DFP Committee Colleague, to share the DFP/SGIP Liaison Role, representing independent Forensic Practitioner Psychologist on the SGIP Committee. 

Dr Wheatley remains research active, is widely published (including peer reviewed journal articles, book chapters and book editing), is an editorial board reviewer for the Journal of Forensic Practice, maintains a large network of industry partnerships, and is often invited as presenter as conferences, or in recording podcasts and interviews on the topic of stalking.  

• The SGIP Discussion List - where IP's share knowledge, tips, ideas, concerns, requests for specialist services with each other (monitored by the Committee to enable topics of concern are quickly addressed and if helpful-escalated to BPS staff, Board of Trustees etc). To join the Member Discussion List please login to your member portal and click on the Preferences tile, where you'll be able to join the discussion list. 
• A series of tailored webinars on IP specific topics such as Marketing, Social Media, Setting Up, Growing and Closing their IP business.
• AND coming soon a one-hour Lunchtime webinar Series
• Day long CPD workshops-heavily subsidised for SGIP members
• Peer Practice Hubs-where IP's can meet virtually- share experiences, personal observations about trends in IP and questions they'd  like to share with others "in the same boat".
• Representation of IP interests at Practice Board
• Brief Updates on matter of specific interest to IP's 

• E-Learning Packages for IP's 
• Develop Independent Practice toolkits for members to use including templates; how to guides; case-studies and sources of information and FAQ's extracted from our webinars.
• Provide updates on key changes which may impact Independent Practitioners or be of prime interest on the website and the members' Newsletter.
• Mentoring for members at key points in their careers
• Attracting IP's from more Divisions and Branches to ensure IP needs are visible and more likely to be met.

The Special Group for Independent Practitioners uses its e-newsletter to inform its members of activities and initiatives that are relevant to their interests and to make requests for engagement on topical issues. 

To receive this you will need to:

1. become a member of the Special Group for Independent Practitioners
2. check your email preferences that you have opted into receiving emails
3. ensure that your email address is correct

You can check your preferences by logging into your member portal.