Dr Sarah Barker

Dr Sarah Barker (she/her) is an experienced Consultant Clinical Psychologist based in London, who has worked for over 28 years in the NHS and private practice. After initially working in a mental health team, she went on to specialise in working with people with physical health issues and did campaigning and direct work with people with Cystic Fibrosis.  She then worked at Guys and St Thomas’ NHS Trust within the pain service, and for seven years managed and supervised a team of clinicians working on a residential pain management programme. This management experience was supplemented by undertaking a diploma and management consultant training in managing teams and change.  She then worked at Kings College Hospital in the Dental Institute working with patients with facial pain, and simultaneously worked privately with a range of physical and mental health issues.

Sarah has extensive experience of working with individuals, groups and couples in the areas of chronic pain and physical health, depression, anxiety, reactions to stress, OCD, bereavement and PTSD/complex trauma. She has an integrative approach to psychological therapy, and has completed additional training in CBT, ACT and Relational Frame Theory, mindfulness, and systemic therapy. She continues to actively network with colleagues working in the fields of chronic pain and psychiatry. She has undertaken Level 1,2 and 3 training in EMDR and finds this a useful tool in addressing the trauma that can be a factor in having a chronic condition. She has regular supervision for her EMDR work and is working towards accreditation with EMDR UK.  She also has regular peer supervision.

Sarah has published and written book chapters on chronic pain, chronic illness and psychological treatment approaches within dentistry. She has presented at national and international conferences.  She has also undertaken additional training in supervision and has trained IAPT staff and medical professionals.  She is passionate about integrating psychological care into acute health care settings and ensuring that a whole person approach is taken to treatment.