About Me
About Me
Professional, Compassionate, Collaborative and Responsive

Dr. Claire Gittoes 
D.Clin. Psychol, CPsychol

Chartered & Consultant Clinical Psychologist
I am a Clinical Psychologist and have been practicing for over 15 years. I am a Chartered member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the regulatory body for Clinical Psychologists.

WHO I AM

I am a Consultant Clinical Psychologist, with extensive experience of working within the field of mental health. My particular area of expertise is Child and Adolescent Mental Health with a specialist interest in working with difficulties arising from depression, anxiety, interpersonal difficulties and the effects of trauma. I strongly believe in providing support to the system around the client whether that be professionals, loved ones or external agencies. I am Chartered by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and a registered member of the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC). I work across the age range with specialist training in a number of therapeutic approaches. I offer independent, specialist psychological assessment and therapy to children, adolescents, adults and families who are struggling with a range of emotional and psychological difficulties. 

I have worked and studied in the field of Psychology for over ten years, having undertaken a BSc (Honours) Degree in Psychology at Cardiff University in 2009 and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Edinburgh University in 2014. Throughout my career I have gained broad experience working in a range of services including the NHS, the Charitable Sector and Private Sector.

WHAT I DO

My training in Clinical Psychology has involved working therapeutically with people experiencing psychological difficulties across the lifespan and within a wide range of specialist psychological areas. After qualifying I worked within NHS Child & Adolescent Mental Health outpatient services before gaining a Senior position working in a Child Protection Service. Alongside this NHS post I have held a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and joint Clinical Lead for Adoption UK’s Therapeutic and Educational Support Services in Adoption (TESSA), Scotland. Currently I provide direct therapeutic work and consultations to Fettes College, two days within an NHS Child Protection Service and the remainder of my time in private practice. This includes producing court appointed expert witness reports both in the English and Scottish Family Courts. 

My work as a Clinical Psychologist routinely involves undertaking specialist assessments, formulating treatment plans, offering individual and family therapy and delivering group interventions for young people and parents. I also deliver supervision, consultation, teaching and training in addition to undertaking and supervising research and service development. As part of my NHS role I lecture to students on the MSc in Applied Psychology for Children and Young People course and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Edinburgh, in addition to supervising placements for trainee clinical psychologists. I take an integrated approach in my therapeutic work drawing on my training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), Mentalization, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Schema Therapy, Mindfulness based practice Cognitive Therapy and Compassion Focused Therapy.

I particularly enjoy developing and delivering training packages for different services for example, medical students, School staff, prospective adopters and Social work teams. Outside of work I enjoy travelling, dancing and trying new foods whilst on my quest to find the world's best ice cream!

Client Testimonials

“Without wishing to sound dramatic I feel Claire has given my daughter her life back. Claire most definitely built up so much trust in my daughter and got to know her so well that she was able to work with her and take her from a place where she wasn’t functioning on a day to day basis to being able to participate in school life. Claire worked closely with the school, with my daughter’s guidance teacher, supporting him with what was best for my daughter at any given point of treatment. Claire is a very special person and I will forever be in her debt. Professional and tough but with empathy.”
Arlene S, Parent of an adolescent client
“You have helped me such a lot with everything you have taught me and I have noticed a huge difference in myself the past few months. I have been able to approach university with a completely different mindset than previously. I am altogether less anxious, more positive and much, much happier. I honestly don’t think I’ve have got through my final year without your help and I can’t thank you enough. I now feel I can move forward with my life a much more balanced and optimistic person and have more self belief that I will be able to get through any challenges ahead. This is down to you helping me to be more present, compassionate and grateful and as I result I am enjoying everything so much more again. Thank you again for all your advice, it’s made a world of difference having such a lovely person to talk to.”
Victoria C, University Student

My Publications & Professional/ Conference Presentations

Munro, C., Thomson, V., Corr, J., Randell, L., Davies, J., Gittoes, C., Honeyman, V., & Freeman, C. (2014). A new service model for the treatment of severe anorexia nervosa in the community: the Anorexia Nervosa Intensive Treatment Team. Psychiatric Bulletin, 38 (5), 220-225.
Gittoes, C.L. & Jenkins, C. The impact of staff training on staff knowledge and confidence working with people who attract a diagnosis of Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder and who also have a Learning Disability. Poster presented as part of the 13th Seattle Club Conference Presentation 2013.
Honeyman, V & Gittoes, C. Anorexia Nervosa Intensive Treatment Team (ANITT) service evaluation Poster presented as part of ‘The Therapeutic Relationship in Eating Disorders Conference’, Aberdeen Eating Disorders Conference, 10th & 11th November 2011.
Brown, S. Tinson, D & Gittoes, C. L. Mindfulness Based Group Intervention in Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Pilot Study to Evaluate Acceptability to Participants and Psychological Outcomes. Poster presented as part of the Lothian Research Conference August 2010.
Lemaigre, C., Taylor, E., & Gittoes, C. (2017). The barriers and facilitators to disclosing sexual abuse in childhood and adolescence: a systematic review. Child Abuse & Neglect, 70, 39-52.
Polnay, A & Gittoes, C. A psychoeducation and supportive group for carers of people with eating disorders – evaluation of carer’s experiences and implications for service development. Poster presented as part of ‘The Therapeutic Relationship in Eating Disorders Conference’, Aberdeen Eating Disorders Conference, 10th & 11th November 2011.
Polnay, A et al. A group program for carers – helpful for most, but not for all? Poster presented as part of ‘The Royal College of Psychiatrists Eating Disorders Section Annual Conference, 12th October 2011.
Gittoes, C.L. Testing the Incentive-Motivation Theory: the dissociation between liking and wanting of food. Presented as part of the Wales Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience Annual Conference, July 2009.
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