Charlotte is the managing director of SafeHaven. Charlotte trained as an integrative psychotherapist; in addition to her psychotherapy qualifications she has a number of specialisms, with her first Master’s degree in Therapeutic Practice for Psychological Trauma and her second in the Psychology of Coercive Control. Charlotte is also trained in a range of advanced techniques for early intervention crisis care. 

At SafeHaven, in addition to her M.D. role, Charlotte leads as the Critical Incident Stress Management Team Coordinator and is our lead consultant, providing advice and guidance to our organisational members on preparedness and responsive measures ahead of and during major incidents.

Clinical Expertise

Clinically, her experience includes working with a range of mental health conditions including, complex trauma, personality disorders and those adjusting to life-changing injury. Her expertise most typically has included supporting combat veterans; hostages; victims of torture; victims of terrorism; asylum seekers; suicide attempts and survivors of suicide; catastrophic injury; those dealing with or having exited coercively controlling circumstances, and people diagnosed with terminal illness.

Organisational Expertise

Charlotte has consulted on national and international projects and has extensive experience supporting organisations whose personnel work in complex and extreme environments. Charlotte typically consults on psychological welfare policy and SOP development, provides specialist and psychosocial support training, and she is still involved in our provision of on-the-ground mental health care in response to crises and disasters.

Sector experience includes Government; OEM’s; INGO’s; international research and humanitarian aid projects; national retail chains; forensic science; emergency services; yachting & maritime; education; media, TV and film production; construction.

Ollie has a special interest in psychological trauma and has presented on trauma care and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM). He has worked with victims of road crashes, sea disasters and victims of terrorist’s attacks.  He has also supported victims of a wide range of other traumatic incidents including murders, hostages, sexual assaults, fatal incidents, bullying and harassments.

Ollie has a keen interest in CISM training and is a qualified Authorised Instructor for the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF). He has conducted training for the Defence Forces, Fire Service, Coast Guard, Gardai, Irish Rail, Chaplains to Sea Fears, HSE, Hospitals, Mountain Rescue Ireland, Air Traffic Controllers in Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Ghana, NHS and Police in Scotland and PSNI among others.

In 2009 he was presented with the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation Co-founders award for “Excellence in Crisis and Disaster Response”.

In July 2009, two Irish Aid workers working in Darfur were taken as hostages by a rebel group. Ollie was appointed as the Senior Military Officer to the Irish Government Negotiation Team based in Sudan.

In May 2019, he was presented by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation at the World Congress in Baltimore Maryland with a “Lifetime Achievement Award”.

As well as being the SafeHaven CISM Team Director, Ollie is also part of the CISM response and training teams.

Dawn’s psychotherapy and critical incident skills have been called upon both nationally and internationally. She has attended a wide range of incidents, including debriefing ground staff caught up in the 2016 Brussels Airport terrorist attacks. Her style of working is congruent, light-hearted and professional, she is able to put people at their ease while supporting them through a difficult and emotional time in their lives.

Her studies in psychological trauma and work with trauma survivors began in 2006 and she has continued to specialise by studying an MSc in ‘Therapeutic Practice in Psychological Trauma’, and becoming an ICISF practitioner and accredited Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapist. With this knowledge and experience Dawn assists in the prevention of psychological trauma from becoming debilitating.

Dawn is one of our Tele-Health team, CISM team leaders and Certified SafeHaven trainer.

Rachel provides trauma-informed psychotherapy and somatic experiencing therapy. Before becoming a psychotherapist Rachel was an acupuncturist.

Rachel has lectured at the Northern College of Acupuncture. To further her development as a lecturer, Rachel gained a Certificate in Higher Education from UCLan which afforded her associate membership of the Higher Education Academy.

After finding great personal benefit from practicing mindfulness meditation, she also studied to become a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Teacher at the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care and Society which is part of the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Sharon is an experienced counsellor. Her work has often included supporting vulnerable individuals, who can be at high risk and require immediate assessment and intervention.

Her specialist trauma training has included ‘Trauma in the Workplace’ as well as ‘Group Crisis Intervention’.

Her calming influence and genuine interest in helping people was nurtured during her earlier career within the travel industry. During this time, it was her recognised ability to support, assist and empathise that led her towards a career in counselling.

Within her career she has also specialised in child safeguarding, which has followed on from previous work with ChildLine and Place2Be, a leading children’s mental health charity.  In addition to this, her roles have included that of NHS staff support counsellor, and voluntary work within the Trafford Bereavement Service.

Sharon is a mum to two teenage boys, who keep her busy and up to date with the latest trends. When she’s not working she is a regular gym enthusiast.

Sharon is a registered member the BACP (British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists).

Sharon is one of our Tele-Health team, CISM Team Leader, and a Certified SafeHaven Trainer..

Winston delivers face to face and telephone counselling, working in an integrative manner incorporating solution focused therapy from a person centred foundation. He is also a supervisor for other therapists and uses the Hawkins and Shohet’s seven-eyed model, working with both individuals and group. Winston also mentors students attending local universities and has previously tutored a counselling course.

After serving in the armed forced for 27 years, Winston has a vast of amount of experience in a range of situations and issues. He enjoys teaching and working with others to assist, encourage and help them to develop and achieve their personal and professional goals.

Winston has experience working with bereavement, stress, anxiety, anger, depression, eating disorders, self-harm, bullying, self-esteem, work stress etc. In his won words ‘I truly believe that being able to help others to feel better cannot be underestimated and is a privilege that is not to be undervalued.’

Winston is one of our Tele-Health Team.

Shelly is an experienced trauma-informed counsellor and has provided CISM support throughout the UK and Europe.

Shelly is one of our Tele-Health team, and a CISM team leader.

Sharon is experienced counsellor, hypnotherapist and coach. She has worked in variety of environments including university, women’s centres and private practice; she has also worked with a wide variety of organisations, offering work place support.

Before training as counsellor and specialising in trauma Sharon worked in public and private sector organisations. She holds high level of security clearance and is accredited and counter fraud specialist trained. Sharon brings her skills and knowledge into her work with organisations, offering a high level of integrity and professionalism.

Sharon is one of our Tele-Health Team and a CISM team member.

Michael is a Positive Psychology coach who teaches positive psychology interventions and resilience.

Michael has delivered training for a wide variety of organisations. He has worked with state and semi-state agencies as well as groups from the private sector and NGOs. Michael has delivered training in Ireland and the UK as well as Africa and Asia; delivering training for over twenty five years in a range of different settings.

Michael has a particular interest in the somato-psychic side of positive psychology and his published research is on the effects of physical activity on well-being. He holds a MSc in Applied Positive Psychology, a BBS and is a certified CISM Peer.

Prior to life as a Positive Psychology Coach, Michael spent twenty years in the Irish Army during which time he had the opportunity to serve on missions in the middle east, Africa and Asia as well as working as part of an EU battlegroup. He completed numerous courses during his military career and was regularly involved in all stages of training from design to delivery as well as the subsequent evaluation.

On a personal note, Michael lives with his wife and two children, a dog and occasionally a cat. He has a wide variety of interests ranging from bee keeping to sea swimming.

Here at SafeHaven, Michael is part of our on-call CISM and Training Teams.

Bilingual French-English, Dr Medeiros’s professional efforts have focused on supporting the holistic recovery of children and adult suffering from extreme stress and survivors of human rights violations.

She is a clinical psychologist and medical anthropologist with 17 years experience of supporting crisis response to supporting individuals suffering from grief and trauma in humanitarian emergencies and crisis in the UK (NHS) and internationally through INGOS and United Nation agencies.

Emilie is an active PSVI [Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative] expert for the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and an Associate Victim Expert for the International Criminal Court (Gender and Children Unit, Office of The Prosecutor). She also has unique expertise in the recovery of ‘child soldiers’ or young people involved in armed groups conflicts, which informs her clinical and academic efforts in developing culturally-appropriate policies and services addressing the long-term effects and healing mechanisms at stake for survivors.

Emilie acts as a consultant clinical psychologist for SafeHaven, bringing her expertise on managing the impact of trauma within differing cultural contexts; she also part of our Training Team.

Languages: English & French

Debbie’s personal and professional experiences with neurodivergence and trauma were the driving force behind her decision to train as a person-centred counsellor. Since completing her Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy, Debbie has worked face-to-face and online with a range of clients in the neurodivergent community, as well as individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, anger issues and trauma.

As a neurodivergent, trauma-informed counsellor, Debbie’s neuro-affirming counselling approach is rooted in empathy, compassion and a deep respect for each person’s unique experiences.

Utilising her extensive knowledge of Autism, ADHD, and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), garnered over the last four years working with a national autism charity, she has supported hundreds of neurodivergent adults, teens and families in crisis. Besides her clinical supervision, Debbie undertakes monthly continuing personal development (CPD) and group supervision with an autism consultancy.

Debbie is a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

Debbie is part of our Tele-Health team here at SafeHaven.

Nisaa is an experienced Trauma Informed Psychotherapist with a strong passion for supporting those from different ethnic backgrounds accessing mental health support. She holds an undergraduate degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy (University of Salford). With previous Childline and Young people experience, Nisaa is skilled in providing specialist advice and consultation to assist in formulation and treatment, whilst incorporating cultural differences and providing a support plan in line with clients cultural and religious beliefs. Nisaa is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of individuals and their families.

The experience Nisaa brings is from a clinical settings/volunteer settings/charity/schools/rehabilitation hospitals/prison, which has given her specialist experience in high-risk institutions and working with a diverse client range within the institutions. She is proficient in a range of therapeutic approaches such as Person-Centered therapy, solution focused, Emotion focused and Transactional Analysis.

Nisaa brings a Trauma Informed approach into her work throughout. In her words ‘I dedicate myself to ongoing professional development. My experience so far has allowed me to work with all ranges of life, from children to young people to elderly. I am diverse and culturally aware with my work I am able to apply.

Nisaa is a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

Languages: English, Urdu, Punjabi.

Nisaa is part of our Tele-Health team here at SafeHaven.

Nikki is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist, Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and registered Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) practitioner. As well as holding a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Nikki also has  a PhD in Psychology.  Nikki is a respected international researcher and has published widely in a number of peer-reviewed journals. She is also a board member of the BPS and Royal College of Psychiatry Accreditation Programme for Psychological Therapies Services (APPTS), and part of the Accreditation Through Partnership team for clinical psychology and psychological well-being practitioner training courses in the UK. She was Programme Lead for the MSc in Therapeutic Practice for Psychological Trauma at the University of Chester and supervisor for PhD and Professional Doctorate students who are specialising in research into psychological trauma.

SafeHaven are glad to welcome Nikki’s particular expertise in psychological trauma, PTSD and complex PTSD. She brings a wealth of experience in working clinically with clients who experience a range of severe and enduring mental health difficulties including personality disorders, DID, and psychosis. Nikki is an experienced Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) practitioner, as well as being qualified in a number of specifically trauma-focused interventions including Trauma Focused CBT, Trauma Informed Mindfulness, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and the Comprehensive Resource Model (CRM).