Dr Cara James

Dr Cara James is a registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC Registration Number: PYL043126).

Dr James completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology (BSc) at the University of Exeter before undertaking a Master’s degree in Early Intervention in Psychosis at King's College London. She then completed her Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of East London.

Dr James specialises in working with children, young people, and their families within mental health and neurodevelopmental services, including supporting autism and ADHD assessments. In addition, she has worked within an NHS Parent Wellbeing Service, providing emotional support to parents of children with additional needs. She is passionate about supporting parental wellbeing and promoting early, effective intervention for children and families.

Dr James has also specialised in working with trauma and delivering trauma-focused therapeutic interventions within NHS community mental health services. She adopts a trauma-informed and neuro-affirmative approach across all areas of her clinical work, recognising and valuing neurodiversity while working collaboratively with children, young people, and families to understand individual strengths, differences, and support needs. Dr James works integratively, drawing upon a range of therapeutic models including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mentalisation-Based approaches, compassion-focused techniques, and systemic ideas.

Dr James seeks to understand the wider systemic and sociocultural context of the individuals and families she works with, including relationship dynamics and environmental factors that may influence presentation and wellbeing. She is particularly passionate about supporting neurodivergent children and their families and recognises the importance of compassionate, accessible, and evidence-based support.

Dr James is trained in administering the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2), the Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised (ADI-R), and the ADHD Clinical Evaluation (ACE).