Meet the Team

Our team is led by a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and brings together experienced professionals who provide neuro-affirming, evidence-based support. With decades of experience across CAMHS, the private sector and the third sector, our work is grounded in best practice and aligned with NICE guidelines. Some members of our team are neurodivergent or have neurodivergent children, bringing both professional expertise and valuable lived experience to the support we offer.

Dr. Krissie Ivings

I’m Krissie, a Consultant Chartered Clinical Psychologist and Clinic Director of Aspire. I have spent many years working within the NHS in senior clinical and leadership roles, supporting children, young people, adults, and families with complex mental health, attachment/trauma and neurodevelopmental needs.

My previous roles include Consultant Lead for Stockport CAMHS, Consultant Lead for Learning Disability Services, DBT Lead for Pennine South, Head of Looked After Children’s Services, and Head of Psychological Therapies across five NHS trusts. I have also worked at a regional and national level, including as Clinical Lead for the Greater Manchester & East Cheshire Service Improvement Group for NHS England, where I led the development and rollout of the Greater Manchester Adolescent Crisis Care Pathway.

Alongside my clinical work, I am an author and regularly write and speak about psychological wellbeing, neurodiversity, and compassionate, evidence-based care. My approach is collaborative and evidence based. I am passionate about providing clear, holistic assessments and interventions to help all children thrive.

Brandon McLaughlin

I’m Brandon, a Youth Intensive Psychological Practitioner (YIPP), a role developed by NHS England, working with children and young people with complex needs in complex settings. I have taken part in a multi-site research trial as a researcher-clinician, which received very positive evaluations and feedback. I work in a collaborative approach, am able to explain complex information clearly, and aim to build strong, trusting relationships with young people. I am known for going the extra mile (or ten!) to ensure the highest standard of care.

I have four years’ experience in my current role with Aspire, where I work closely with looked-after children, adoptive families, and other young people with complex emotional and psychological needs. My previous experience includes working within the Offender Personality Disorder Service for HMPPS Probation Service and North Staffordshire Combined NHS Trust, as a CAMHS Support Worker within an Adolescent PICU, and as a Therapeutic Support Worker with adults with learning disabilities, autism, and forensic needs.

I have extensive experience in psychological assessment, formulation, and the delivery of evidence-based psychological interventions, as well as providing therapeutic consultation to professionals and families. I am currently undertaking my Doctorate in Counselling Psychology and remain deeply committed to compassionate, thoughtful, and high-quality clinical practice.

Beckie Rose

I’m Beckie, a Family Intensive Practitioner, with a PG Cert in Clinical Applications of Psychology. I am currently undertaking an MSc in Integrative Psychotherapy. I bring over 10 years’ experience of working with vulnerable children, young people, and families across mental health, domestic abuse, sexual violence, and addiction services.

I offer specialist support to adoptive and care-experienced families, as well as families impacted by trauma and/or neurodivergence. My work is grounded in person-centred, DDP-informed, and DBT-informed approaches, and I have extensive experience supporting individuals and families affected by neurodivergence and attachment trauma.

I am neurodivergent myself and work in strongly neuro-affirming ways. I value both lived experience and professional expertise, and I believe that neurodivergent practitioners can bring important additional perspectives when supporting neurodivergent individuals and families. My approach is compassionate, respectful, and tailored to the unique needs of each family I work with. I advocate strongly for families, helping them navigate complex systems and supporting people to access services and have their needs understood and met.

Sara Barnes

I’m Sara, Co-Founder and Deputy Director of Aspire. I am an ADOS-trained Clinical Nurse Specialist and previously held the role of Director of Operations at Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust. I have specialist expertise in neurodevelopmental differences, including autism, learning disability, ADHD, FASD, sensory processing differences, and demand sensitivity. I am particularly experienced in working with children whose neurodevelopmental profiles add complexity to presentations that are also shaped by developmental trauma and attachment difficulties.

Coral Lovatt

I’m Coral, an Assistant Psychologist, with a First Class Honours Degree in Psychology and Counselling. I am currently undertaking an MA in Clinical Counselling and have over 10 years’ experience delivering one-to-one therapy to both adults and children, facilitating staff consultation and training, alongside multi-disciplinary working.

My previous role included completing psychological assessments (including risk assessments) and working therapeutically with adults in a medium-secure psychiatric hospital. I have supported individuals with a wide range of complex needs including psychosis, substance misuse, PTSD, challenging behaviour and adverse childhood experiences.

I have five year’s experience in my current role with Aspire which includes delivering therapeutic support for children in residential care and adoptive families. I also provide consultation and staff training to care workers and provide ongoing consultation to school staff supporting young people with complex needs. My approach to consultation aims to promote deeper, more empathic understanding amongst healthcare professionals and encourage more psychologically-informed ways of working.

I am extremely passionate about trauma informed care and wholeheartedly adopt an ethos of compassion, empathy and commitment. I am dedicated to providing therapeutic care which helps others to feel heard, understood and empowered.

Victoria Hicks

I’m Vicky, an Assistant Psychologist with a degree in Psychosocial Analysis of Offending Behaviour and a Master’s in Psychology. I’ve been part of the Aspire team for the past three years and I'm passionate about supporting children, young people, and families to feel understood, safe, and empowered in their experiences.

Before joining Aspire, I worked in a residential mental health service for four years where I started as a support worker for children/young adults. During this time, I supported individuals with a wide range of needs, including emotionally unstable personality disorder, complex PTSD, eating disorders, psychosis, suicidal ideation, attachment difficulties, and behaviours that challenge. This experience had a big impact on how I approach my work, and really strengthened my understanding of the importance of consistency, compassion, and building trusting relationships.

In my current role, I provide therapeutic support to looked after children living in residential settings, as well as working closely with adoptive families and education providers. I aim to create a safe, supportive space where young people can begin to make sense of their experiences and develop healthier ways of coping. Alongside this, I deliver training to residential staff and offer ongoing consultation, supporting them to better understand and respond to children with complex needs.

I’m particularly passionate about trauma-informed care and DBT informed practice and the impact it can have when the people around a child feel confident, supported, and equipped with the right understanding to support. I really value working collaboratively with carers, staff, and families to create environments where young people can feel secure, build resilience, and thrive.

Katie Ivings

I’m Katie, an Assistant Psychologist with a BSc in Psychology. I have experience supporting children, young people and individuals experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties across educational and community settings. My background includes mentoring, youth work, and supporting individuals with anxiety, low mood, and dysregulation, where I draw on psychological approaches to offer compassionate, person-centred support.

My work is informed by evidence-based practice, including CBT-informed and DBT-informed approaches, and I have experience using psychometric tools and supporting assessment processes. I have basic and enhanced training by DBT Isles in DBT for children, strengthening my ability to support emotional regulation and resilience.

I value creating safe, non-judgemental spaces where individuals feel heard and understood. I aim to work collaboratively, using empathy, curiosity, and validation to support people in making sense of their experiences and developing practical coping strategies. I am passionate about continuing to develop my clinical skills and contributing to a supportive, reflective team environment.

Nicole Johnson

I’m Nicole, an Assistant Psychologist with a First-Class Honours degree in Psychology. I have completed enhanced training in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), which informs my work in supporting emotional regulation and distress tolerance. My practice is evidence-based, and I have experience delivering one-to-one therapeutic sessions with looked-after and neurodivergent children, alongside contributing to staff consultation and training within a multidisciplinary team.

Prior to joining Aspire, I worked as a Therapeutic Support Worker in a children’s residential home. In this role, I supported young people who had experienced a range of adverse childhood experiences and presented with complex emotional and behavioural needs. This experience strengthened my understanding of the importance of providing safe, consistent care and developing trusting, attuned relationships.

In my current role at Aspire, I provide therapeutic support to looked-after children, adoptive families, and other young people with complex needs. I aim to create a safe environment where young people feel able to explore and make sense of their emotions and experiences, while developing strategies to manage them. Alongside this, I support staff through consultation and training, helping to build shared understanding and promote the best possible outcomes for each young person.