About Dr Liz Kirkland
My Background
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Welcome — I’m Dr Liz Kirkland, a Clinical Psychologist with over 30 years’ experience helping adults, young people, couples, and families understand and overcome psychological, emotional, and relationship difficulties.
Having worked as a Consultant Clinical Psychologist in the NHS before moving into private practice, I now offer online and phone consultations to clients in the UK.
My approach is thoughtful, compassionate, and grounded in evidence-based practice — helping you gain understanding, find relief, and move towards a more fulfilling and authentic life.
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I worked in the NHS as a Clinical Psychologist from 1991 to 2013, attaining Consultant level in 2002 and later continuing in private practice until 2017. Over the years I’ve developed extensive experience supporting children, young people, and their families, as well as adults experiencing a wide range of emotional and relational difficulties.
After taking early retirement and several reflective years in France, I returned to clinical work in 2020 — offering consultations online and by phone.
I now provide assessment, consultation, and therapy for individuals, couples, and families, across the age range.
Credentials and qualifications
Qualifications
BSc (Hons) Psychology University of Lancaster 1991
Clin Psy D University of Manchester 1995
Certificate in Systemic Practice (therapeutic work with families and groups) University of Birmingham 1997
RD1st and Culture at Work
Accreditation in Coaching
2023
I am registered with the Health care and professions council (HCPC)
I hold a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and I have over 30 years of experience working within the NHS and independent practice as a Clinical Psychologist in the North West of England.
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I have worked online from my home in France with adults, children and families since late 2020 following a career break.
What I can help you with
Psychological, emotional, behavioural and relationship difficulties
As a psychologist I do not reduce difficulties into generic diagnoses because, although they can provide us with a helpful shorthand, everybody is different. Problems may look the same from the outside but we need to understand the fine detail to move forward. However when feelings overwhelm, when thoughts over-run, when our strategies for survival are no longer working for us, this is when we often decide to look for help. This applies to individual adult work, and to child, family and relationship work equally.
Specifics
How I can help
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How I Can Help
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Psychological, emotional, behavioural, and relationship difficulties affect all of us at times.
While diagnostic labels can be useful shorthand, my work begins with understanding you as an individual — your experiences, your relationships, and your context. -
Below are some of the areas I commonly work with:
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Adults
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Low mood, sadness, and depression
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Anxiety, phobias, panic, and habits
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Relationship problems, loss of direction, or difficulty managing emotions
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Adjustment to life events, change, or illness
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Sleep difficulties
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Self-critical thinking, burnout, or perfectionism
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Young People (18–25)
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This age brings major transitions — independence, study, work, identity, relationships.
I have a particular interest and NHS background in supporting this group with: -
Anxiety, panic, and low mood
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Relationship and family tensions
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Identity and self-esteem
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Adjustment to university or work life
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Coping with stress, uncertainty, or change
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Children & Families
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I provide psychological and parenting advice for parents of children and young people up to 16.
While I don’t see very young children individually, I work online with parents — and, where appropriate, with children alongside their parents — to help families find new ways forward. -
Common areas include:
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Behavioural and emotional difficulties
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Sleep problems, feeding issues, toileting
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Anxiety, school refusal, phobias, OCD
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Adjustment to loss, separation, or illness
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Somatic symptoms (e.g. headaches, stomach aches)
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Developmental conditions (autistic spectrum, ADHD)
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I also have a special interest in parental burnout — increasingly common as family life becomes more pressured. Addressing parental wellbeing can have transformative effects for the whole family.
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Couples & Marital Therapy
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Relationships are at the heart of wellbeing.
I work with couples who wish to: -
Improve communication and understanding
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Rebuild trust after conflict or distance
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Manage jealousy, fear of abandonment, or possessiveness
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Navigate life transitions or family stress
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Strengthen emotional connection
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My approach is systemic and relational — helping both partners understand patterns, communicate more effectively, and find new ways forward.
My Approach
Assessment, formulation, intervention and review all in context.
The basis of the service I provide is a thorough assessment and the development of a psychological formulation. This is often enough to create change and usually takes between one and three sessions over a period of a month.
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All appointments are either by phone, Zoom or WhatsApp. I am finding that this enables comfort, and confidence and appears to fast track our developing an honest and meaningful therapeutic relationship and interaction; to my surprise my clients are finding this as effective as attending clinic, indeed, for some, perhaps less stressful. However, if we think that you would be best helped within a face to face clinic setting or home visit, then we will discuss this. Ensuring that you have a private space free from interruptions is important for you to be able to get the best out of our time together.
How this works
Help and change
Working together with you, the aim is to reach a shared understanding of the root causes of your difficulties, and the current context which may be preventing change and maintaining the problems. This, alongside gathering information about your strengths and ways forward provides the basis for change and personal growth for you.
Often this assessment and formulation process is all that is needed to set you off on your own voyage; newly equipped. If you need further help then any interventions that are undertaken are based on our shared formulation within your unique social context, family, work and social relationships. Of course, perhaps now more than ever before, current cultural context and events must also be taken into account when understanding difficulties. My therapeutic approach is integrative, drawing on behavioural therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, systemic/relationship therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy and practice. I have a lifelong interest in philosophy and its practical applications in alleviating distress and enabling a fulfilling and authentic life; the two main areas to this end are especially Existential Psychotherapy and Mindfulness/awareness and I continue to study and deepen my knowledge in these specific areas.
If on-going work/sessions are required then this can be with me, or I can advise on the most relevant service during the Consultation and Advice/Formulation stage.
Fees are payable in advance of appointments by direct bank transfer or paypal.
Fees are £120
A session lasts between 50 minutes to an hour and is either by phone, Zoom or WhatsApp.
Please email me with any questions or to request an appointment or alternatively complete the form below.
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