Practice Board

Professor (Emeritus) Tony Lavender M.Phil, PhD, CPsychol, FBPsS is an HCPC registered clinical psychologist who worked for over twenty years in the NHS as a practicing psychologist and as Director of the Salomons Clinical Psychology Programme, in what is now, Salomons Institute of Applied Psychology, Canterbury Christ Church University.

He transferred into University employment in 1996 and went on to become Dean and Pro-Vice Chancellor. As PVC he held corporate responsibility for Research and Equality & Diversity and for periods, Sustainability and Internationalisation. He led the University’s successful 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) submission. He retired from this role at the end of 2016.

He has been an active member of the BPS for over forty years and chaired a number of Society Committees and Working Groups. He chaired the Committee on Training in Clinical Psychology and, in that role, facilitated the introduction of Clinical Psychology Doctorates. He has represented the Society on workforce development nationally with the Department of Health, NHS Digital and the Home Office. He Jointly Chaired the BPS/Department of Health group looking at ‘New Ways of Working for Applied Psychologists' (2005-7). He is currently the DCP Workforce and Training Lead, a member of the DCP Exec and is actively involved in workforce planning nationally with NHSE/I and HEE.

He has published extensively on services and therapies for people with psychosis and personality disorder, workforce planning, the history of clinical psychology and more recently anorexia. He continues to be involved in research, doctoral supervision, mentoring and organisational consultancy.

James McTaggart trained as an educational psychologist at Dundee University in 2004-6 having previously had a variety of roles including teaching and farm management.

He works as an early years specialist in the Highlands across health, education and third sector services to help improve outcomes for children and families through the application of psychology. Particular interests are in developmental approaches to learning, trauma-informed practice and developing supports for families around attachment and child development.

He provides advice to various Scottish Government agencies including in early years and public health and currently sits on a NICE guidance committee looking at Babies, Children and Young People's Experiences of Healthcare. Pro bono work includes providing advice on the development of children's services and education in Southeast Asia. He is doing a part time PhD on the ontological aspects of deep disagreements about children.

He has mostly been a 'detached' member of the BPS and his interest in joining the Practice Board included a desire to help seek out and include less often heard perspectives, including those of children and young people, and assist in using these to ensure the continued relevance of psychological practice for all.

Gita is a clinical psychologist who trained in Glasgow.  Clinically, Gita has specialised in working with adults and older adults.

Her current clinical work is in a specialist Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Service in Lancashire.

She recently contributed as a co-investigator on a NIHR RfPB funded research project on Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Psychosis with further research development underway.   

From 2006 to 2023, Gita was the Director for Psychological Professions at Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Trust, with professional responsibility for psychological professions staff across the lifespan and a range of settings.

Alongside this role within the Trust, Gita also implemented a supervision system for all staff, developed the staff wellbeing portfolio and during Covid, set up the county wide staff wellbeing service/resilience hub.

Gita was a founding member of the Psychological Professions Network (PPN) which started in the North West in 2013.

From 2018 – 2023, she undertook a range of projects and roles with Health Education England including National Psychological Professions Development Lead.

She continues to co-chair the PPN in the North West.  In the North West, Gita has been part of an innovative new roles project seeking to improve psychological professions workforce supply.

Gita has contributed to and chaired committees for the National Institute of Health & Care Excellence (NICE) and was also a member of the Guideline Development Group for the PTSD Guidelines update.

In addition, she has been a member of a number of BPS Division of Clinical Psychology Faculties and Groups over the past 25 years.  

Alison Cole is a Chartered Coaching Psychologist and an HCPC registered Occupational Psychologist.

She is the Chief Assessor for the BPS Division of Coaching Psychology, a committee member of the Division of Coaching Psychology and DoCP Peer Practice Lead.

Like many, Alison didn’t have a clear idea of what direction she wanted to take in her career when she left school and discovered her passion for psychology after establishing her career first in the public sector working in finance and then moving into the private sector, working within multinationals in a variety of senior roles.

Whilst working full time, Alison retrained as a psychologist and developed a portfolio career leading to combining independent practice and academia.

As a practicing psychologist with over 25 years’ professional experience, her work incorporates her training and experience across the disciplines of occupational psychology, coaching, management and human resources.

Today, Alison combines her roles with the BPS alongside running a small independent practice and supporting practitioners through supervision in both the fields of occupational psychology and coaching psychology.  

A passionate advocate for the development and recognition of coaching psychology , Alison is a member of the editorial board for the International Coaching Psychology Review and in her BPS roles, continues to be active in encouraging collaboration and shared learning between different domains of psychology.

Her ambitions for coaching  psychology include development and growth of the division and supporting  strategies to promote best practice in psychology through initiating and facilitating the production of good practice guidance and discussion in evidence-informed coaching practice leading to a greater understanding of the issues across the profession.

In addition to her commitment to psychology, Alison is also an artist with a flair for portraiture in oils and a keen horticulturalist with an obsession for growing and exhibiting dahlias.

Honorary Professor Dr. Geraldine Akerman C.Psychol AFBPsS C.Sci. EuroPsych is an HCPC registered Chartered Psychologist, Chartered Scientist, Deputy Chair of the Division of Forensic Psychology Executive Committee (2020-2022) and member of Cyber Psychology, Independent Psychologists,  and Defense and Security Psychology member networks.

Geraldine is also an Associate Fellow of the BPS, as well as a member of the Professional Practice Board and Co-founder of Let's talk Forensic Psychology, a You Tube channel promoting Forensic psychology as a profession.

Geraldine is a Consultant Forensic Psychologist working for Oxford Health NHS Trust based at HMP Grendon, having worked for HMPPS since 1999, with men who have committed violent offences. She is also a visiting lecturer at Cardiff Metropolitan University and the University of Birmingham as well as a PhD supervisor and examiner and trainee supervisor.

In addition, Geraldine is a Trustee for the Safer Living Foundation and a TC Specialist for the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and has received an award for her Distinguished Contribution to Forensic Psychology.

Dr Newson has varied experience as a Chartered Psychologist and HCPC Registered Practitioner Psychologist (Health). She is a proud innovator of applied health psychology and promotes behavioural medicine within academia and healthcare practice.

Dr Newson's expertise influences health prevention (overlapping with public health) and is applied directly to the management of long-term conditions. Her previous experience within the NHS, as a clinical practitioner; within Public Health commissioning & management and as an applied researcher through academic-health collaborations, helps her to bridge the 'knowledge-language gap’ and add value between the ambitions and needs of academia and those working within healthcare.

Dr Newson is recognised for her expertise in Long-term conditions, mostly Obesity and Diabetes, two priority health topics which have enormous economic, social and health consequences for society worldwide. With particular expertise within qualitative research methodology, Dr Newson contributes to a range of community projects exploring public and patient experiences of interventions and pathways.

Dr Newson, is the Co-Programme Director of the Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology (2023 onwards) and previously Programme Leader for MSc Health Psychology (2015 -2023) at Liverpool John Moores University, for which both are accredited by the British Psychological Society (Stage 1 professional training), and the Prof Doc is recognised for HCPC registration.

Dr Newson, is a supervisor to MSc, Trainee Health Psychologists and PhD candidates. She is a BPS RAPPS approved supervisor and national assessor. In July 2023 Dr Newson was invited to take the position as Health Psychologist representative on the National Practice Board of The BPS and seeks to promote the work and development of Health Psychologists nationally.

Dr Langman was selected to join the BPS Practice Board in 2023 to represent Psychologists in Independent Practice across all psychological disciplines (clinical, forensic, neuropsychology, educational, occupational, health, sport & exercise, coaching, counselling, academics, and research psychology).

As an experienced and compassionate clinician, researcher and educator, Dr Langman seeks to promote excellence in practice so that everyone can access high quality, evidence-based interventions to enhance their lives, organisations, communities and benefit our wider society.

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

Dr Langman has practiced within community and inpatient settings, in the UK and USA, within the NHS, private and voluntary sectors.

Dr Langman founded Flourish Psychology in 2015 to improve access to evidence based psychological services across the lifespan.

Flourish is now an award-winning dynamic family friendly clinical psychology practice offering assessment, therapy, supervision, training, and consultation internationally.

Dr Langman is on the Register of Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors and an elected Committee Member of the Special Group of Independent Practitioners (SGIP).

Dr Langman has served previously as Chair Elect of the South West of England Branch of the British Psychological Society (2012-2018).

Dr Langman co-facilitates monthly Peer Practice Hubs, a confidential online space for Independent Practitioners across the UK to share expertise and encourage professional development and flourishing.

Charalampos (Babis) Fountoulakis, Ph.D., CPsychol, AFBPsS is an HCPC- registered sport and exercise psychologist who has worked in the applied arena for more than 15 years providing extensive consultancy to athletes, coaches, multidisciplinary teams in multiple sports (e.g. Formula 1/2/3, football, shooting, fencing, table tennis).

His consultancy includes – but is not limited to – individual sessions, group workshops, psychophysiological training, coach education and customized psychometric, psychomotor and psychophysiological assessment.

He is specialized in technology-based sport psychological testing and training as well as biofeedback-based support to performers. His niche is heart rate variability training which is a pioneering strategy that results in optimal emotional control and cognitive functioning.

Since March 2020, Dr. Fountoulakis has been working as the Director of Academic Affairs in the College for Humanistic Sciences- ICPS, which is the biggest school of psychology in Greece, providing four undergraduate and fifteen postgraduate degrees, with all of them being in psychology and/ or psychotherapy, in collaboration with the University of Central Lancashire.

He is also a member of the EuroPsy UK National Awarding Committee, a Practice Lead in the DSEP and a member of the executive board in the Association of Greek Psychologists.

Dilys, a dedicated professional with a genuine passion for psychology and mental health, possesses a diverse academic background and valuable experience in the field.

Starting with a BSc in Criminology and Criminal Psychology from the University of Greenwich, Dilys continued their education with an MSc in Psychology from the same institution.

Further enhancing their expertise, Dilys pursued a PGDip in Mental Health Practice in Education Settings from the University of Exeter, focusing on mental health support in educational environments.

Dilys’ academic journey was complemented by roles as an A-Level Psychology lecturer and an EMHP delivering LI-CBT to children and young people, reflecting their dedication to enhancing mental well-being across different age groups.

Currently, Dilys serves as an assistant psychologist in a specialist community forensic team, actively contributing to the assessment and treatment of mental health for individuals within the forensic setting.

Outside of their professional role, Dilys has volunteered for Citizens Advice Witness service, Mindline as a call handler and currently volunteers for a pregnancy sickness support charity, providing essential mental health assistance to women facing challenges with Hyperemesis Gravidarum.

As an aspiring clinical psychologist, Dilys shares their insights and expertise through writing blogs for aspiring clinical psychologists, aiming to inspire and support others on their professional journeys.

With a desire to contribute to the field of psychology at a broader level, Dilys aspires to volunteer for the BPS Working Practice Board to actively engage in shaping and improving psychological practice standards.

Their diverse background, practical experience, and dedication to mental health advocacy position them to promote excellence in psychological practice.

Ivor is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Honorary Senior Lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast.  Following his Doctoral qualification in Clinical Psychology Ivor spent the first part of his career specialising in the assessment and treatment of Complex Childhood Trauma before Joining the Southern Heath & Social Care Trust in 2006. 

Ivor then worked for the next 10 years as the Consultant in charge of the Acquired Brain Injury Rehabilitation Team and as the Specialist lead for Neurodisability before moving full-time to the position of Clinical Director of Psychology Services for the Trust in 2016.  

Ivor also has roles as an active committee member of the Northern Ireland branch of the British Psychological Sociality, the Division of Clinical Psychology, and as a National Assessor.

I did my first degree in Manchester then did a master’s at Queen's University Belfast and qualified as a Clinical Psychologist.

I was seconded to the course by the Western Health Board and went to work for them, initially for a District and following promotion provided a service to the whole Health Board.

I followed this up by being the first Clinical Psychologist employed by the Government of Botswana.

Returning to the UK I worked in the third sector then returned to the NHS before moving to Scotland in 1989.

While working in Scotland I have held a number of leadership and management roles and completed an MBA. I went part-time before retiring from the NHS in 2023.

I have been a member of BPS and DCP since being an undergraduate (I have the 4 digit membership number to prove it!).

I was briefly DCP Chair in Northern Ireland, was Chair in Scotland and continue to be a DCP-S Committee member.

I am a Chartered and Registered Forensic psychologist with over 20 years’ experience in the Criminal Justice System.

I have worked in prisons, secure hospitals, and community settings. Conducting assessment and intervention with high-risk sexual and violent offenders.

I have considerable experience of consultancy during critical incidents, supervision of psychologists, probation officers and prison officers and training in psychological principles within CJS settings.

I am currently a Reader in Forensic Psychology on the Post Graduate Diploma in Practitioner Forensic Psychology and the Forensic Psychology Doctorate. In this role, I supervise trainee psychologists towards qualification and supervise postgraduate research.

I continue to work part time for HM Prison and Probation Service. My main area of research interest is understanding the effects of positive intimate relationships on offending behaviour and preventing dating violence. I have a number of publications in this area.