Meet Our Team

MA (Oxon), DPhil (Oxon), MBBS, MRCPsych, MA (Lon)

Vicky initially trained in Psychology completing an Honours degree in Experimental Psychology and a Doctorate in Clinical Neuropsychology at St Hugh’s College, Oxford University. She then went on to study medicine as a Graduate student at Trinity College, Oxford and Imperial College, London, graduating with her MBBS in 2002. She then specialised in Psychiatry through training rotations at the Maudsley and St Mary’s Hospitals in London.

She has held Consultant posts in Canterbury, Kent, and at the Priory inpatient unit in Ticehurst, and for 4 years was the Clinical Director for CAMHs services in Devon.

Vicky has interests in Adolescent Community Psychiatry and alternatives to hospital admission, including working with young people with Eating Disorders and unexplained physical health presentations, and those that struggle with regulating their emotions. Vicky also has a Masters degree in Ethics and Law from Kings College London.

Vicky is our Data Protection Officer.

MA (Oxon), MBChB, MRCPCH, MScTLHP

Karen trained in medicine at Christ Church and Green College, Oxford University, qualifying in 1994. She then specialised in Paediatrics and Child Health and has been a Paediatric Consultant in Exeter since 2007. In addition to practising in all areas of general paediatrics from 0-18 years Karen has been working on NHS projects across paediatrics and adult services to develop pathways for older teenagers and young adults up to 25 years of age.

Karen has developed specialty interests in eating disorders, persistent physical symptoms, and the overlap between physical and mental health but is happy to see a full breadth of Paediatric presentations.

Karen believes passionately in always considering the whole person when assessing and supporting any health presentations, and in working in a joined up way with multi professional colleagues. Karen also has a Masters degree in Medical Education from Bristol University.

Karen is our Safeguarding lead.

Tracy qualified as a Mental Health Nurse in 1997, undertaking a further BA(hons) in Specialist Community Mental Health Practice in 2004.

She began her career supporting working age adults who were experiencing a range of complex mental health issues, both in a hospital and community setting. Very quickly she realised she had a passion for working with children and young people and moved to specialist child and adolescent services supporting young people with a range of mental health presentations.  Tracy's special interest is in working with young people who have experienced a range of adverse childhood experiences and trauma.  She's qualified in a wide range of assessment and treatment interventions that are targeted at supporting children who experience emotional and behavioural difficulties as a result of interrupted relations with their primary caregivers.

In addition to a strong clinical background, she has worked as a Senior Manager within NHS provider and Commissioner services locally and regionally, undertaking a Postgraduate Certificate in Healthcare Leadership in 2012.  Tracy’s passion for transforming services has resulted in various leadership roles including operational leadership of specialist services, development of “alternative to hospital provision” for children experiencing acute mental health crisis and professional leadership posts supporting a wide range of allied health professionals and nurses.

BSc (Hons), CGMA, ACMA

PhD MSc MA CertMRCSLT

Val has worked in a number of specialist roles supporting children and young people with social, emotional and mental health needs (SEMH). Many of these children and young people have a history of early trauma. In 2010, Val established the Speech and Language Therapy service within Devon Youth Justice Service, assessing the communication skills of young people presenting with a wide range of attachment, communication, and mental health needs. In 2017, Val received a national award from the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) in recognition of this work. Val wrote and teaches the Masters Module on language development and complex trauma at Plymouth Marjon University. She has additional external teaching roles at Exeter University and Plymouth Marjon University. Val is a supporting author of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists’ Mind Your Words e-learning training on SEMH needs. She also wrote the SEMH Modules for Plymouth Marjon University’s e-learning programme to special schools. Val is a Visiting Fellow at Plymouth Marjon University. Val is currently Devon’s Strategic Lead for children and young people with SEMH needs.

Rachel completed her undergraduate degree in Clinical Psychology at Worcester University and is currently studying her masters degree in Social and Organisational Psychology at Exeter University.  Rachel holds a diploma in Therapeutic Counselling and is a qualified counsellor and member of BACP who has worked for several years with both adults and children supporting their mental health.

More recently Rachel has worked in private practice working alongside a multi-disciplinary team of professionals.  Rachel is a creative, thoughtful and caring assistant psychologist who takes the time to get to know her clients. Previous work has included counselling, supporting assessments and therapeutic life story work.  Rachel believes that everyone deserves the chance to make a positive change in their lives. 

MBBS, BSc, MRCPsych

Rory trained at University College London, achieving a 1st Class Intercalated BSc in Medical Humanities and a Distinction in Final MBBS. His Child Psychiatry Training was at the world-renowned Tavistock NHS Trust. Here he achieved a Higher Degree in Systemic Therapy (distinction). He completed a “Darzi Fellowship” at Great Ormond Street Hospital and has a Postgraduate Certificate in Healthcare Leadership.

Rory has won a number of National Awards, including Royal College of Psychiatrists Core Trainee of the Year, 2012and Higher Trainee of the Year, 2017. He was The Health Service Journal Rising Star Award Finalist in 2015. He is an elected member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists CAMHS faculty.

Rory is passionate about working therapeutically, combining psychodynamic and systemic principles to his work with young people and their families. His particular interests include depression and anxiety, and the interplay between physical and mental health difficulties. You can hear him talking about his work in a “One to One” Radio 4 interview, selected as Pick of the Week: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b088fch1

Emma is all about creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for everyone who walks through the door. From greeting clients to managing phone calls and appointments, Emma thrives on helping others and creating an organised and efficient work environment.

With a passion for the healthcare sector, Emma has completed a BSc (Hons) in Health and Social Care from the University of Plymouth in 2022, focussing her dissertation on how the pandemic impacted the support children and young people with ASD. Emma wishes to implement her skills and knowledge into the role and expand them further through working at EPIC.

Outside of work Emma is family orientated, loves running and going on long woodland walks.

Yasmin is very warm and approachable, dedicated to providing exceptional customer service and creating a welcoming atmosphere.  With a genuine smile and a friendly demeanour she strives to make every visitor feel valued and comfortable.  Whether it’s answering phone calls, scheduling appointments, or assisting with enquiries, she is here to ensure a smooth and positive experience for all. 

Outside of work you can find Yasmin exploring local coffee shops, indulging in her love for travel or walking her dog Kobe.

Sam qualified from University of Plymouth with a BSC 1st Class Honours Degree in Occupational Therapy. After completing core rotations at Derriford Hospital Plymouth and Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital Sam went on to pursue work with children and young people. Sam has continued to participate in training to support her practice, most recently completing an MSc module in Sensory Integration with Sheffield Hallam University.

Sam is passionate about working collaboratively with children and families to identify the personal, activity or environmental factors that support or inhibit their ability to participate in everyday occupation. With EPIC Solutions Sam offers assessment of priority occupations to explore your child’s strengths and challenges and to identify interventions to help them achieve their goals.

In 2010, Deana graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Dietetics from the University of Plymouth. For the past 12 years she has been working as a paediatric dietitian within the NHS. Deana initially worked supporting children that required nutrition via feeding tubes, as well as within outpatients clinics and the children's ward, seeing children of all ages with varying problems such as poor growth, allergies, inflammatory bowel disease and coaliac disease. She later moved into more specialist areas of dietetic practice, supporting children and young people, and their families to meet the nutritional needs of their child while going through cancer treatment.  While in this role, Deana also developed a specialist service in Exeter, to support the use of the Ketogenic Diet a dietary treatment for some forms of epilepsy.

For the past 4 years Deana has worked with children and young people with eating disorders and disordered eating, supporting young people who are struggling to eat for a wide range of reason. She is really passionate about helping young people and their families to understand how a restricted diet effects physical, mental and social health, taking time to explore fear foods, food rules and rituals that may have developed.

Hannah is a Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist trained to Doctoral and MA level respectively with children and adolescents, and adults. She also has a PGDip in perinatal, child, adolescent and family work: psychoanalytic observational approach. Hannah has 13 years' experience in the NHS and has worked for charities and in independent practice. She is a visiting lecturer for a psychotherapy course at The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. 

Hannah has experience of working across the age range with a wide variety of mild, moderate and severe presenting problems. Often these problems have their roots in early experiences and they affect the way we come to feel about ourselves and our capacity to relate to others. Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is aimed at increasing self-understanding, which may lead to change if the client is open to this. This can take time.

Some people see Hannah because they're very unhappy, distressed or worried, others come because they want to understand themselves better and they're curious about why they encounter the same patterns. 

Hannah's work is most often with individuals, sometimes she works with parents and at other times she consults with schools or other professionals. Sometimes the work is medium term or brief (Short Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy) and sometimes she will assess the internal world of the child or young person and make recommendations from this perspective. 

Hannah offers fifty-minute therapy sessions, at least once weekly. Sessions are patient, exploratory and we build an understanding of what's occurring over time. Children can use play materials provided by Hannah as a means of understanding the internal world of the child. Young adults may draw or talk and adults usually talk about what they are experiencing.

Sarah studied at Plymouth University and qualified as a Registered Paediatric Nurse in 2001. In 2016 Sarah completed further training at University West of England (UWE) and completed a BA (HONS) in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. In 2014 she completed a masters module and qualified as a Non-Medical Prescriber (NMP).

Sarah has spent 23 years working in the NHS in children's services. Her passion has always been working with children, young people and families and she has worked in a wide variety of services and teams with a focus on mental health, autism and ADHD. As well as being the clinical matron in a CAMHS in-patient and crisis team. Sarah has experience in completing neuro-developmental, mental health assessments and specialist prescribing for children.

Sarah has been a Senior Operational Manager within children's services, completing a Post Graduate Leadership Programme at Exeter University in 2017. She has loved leading and transforming mental health, children's and paediatric services.

Sam trained in Early Years completing both a BSc Open degree with the Open University and her Early Years Teacher status. Sam’s career has been based in the Early Years sector for over 25 years, primarily in senior positions. She is a highly skilled practice manager with a proven track record of driving success across a range of settings.

With strong leadership abilities and a strategic mindset she excels at streamlining operations, optimising workflows and fostering a collaborative team environment.  Whether it’s managing budgets, implementing quality improvement initiatives, or ensuring regulatory compliance, she is dedicated to achieving excellence in every aspect of practice management.

When she is not busy transforming practices, you can find Sam staying active, camping with friends and family as well as enjoying rustling up homemade meals.

Heather graduated from Loughborough University in 2000 with a degree in Sociology and Psychology. Following this, she went on to complete her Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Exeter and began her career as a Social Worker for children and families with special educational needs and disabilities. Heather developed a passion for working therapeutically with children, which inspired her to complete her post graduate training in Play and Creative Arts Therapy with Canterbury University.

Heather has been running her therapeutic company, Coastal Therapies Ltd, for fifteen years while practising as a child and adolescent play and creative arts therapist, clinical supervisor and trainer. She has worked with children and young people aged between 4-25 years who have experienced developmental trauma, a range of mental health issues and neurodivergence.

Heather takes a particular interest in working with the whole child and incorporates play and creativity into neuroscientific evidence-based approaches. Heather believes that often, play and creativity is the child’s natural language and by working with this medium, the child can be helped to access trauma that Is sometimes unconsciously stored in the body and the limbic part of the brain.

Heather is also a lecturer on the Foundation Degree in Integrative Counselling at Iron Mill College and has written and delivered their Post Qualifying Diploma in Counselling Children and Young People (8-18 years). Heather wrote the Diploma in line with the BACP’s core competencies to encompass a holistic understanding and approach in working with children and young people, incorporating play and creativity throughout.

Rachel completed her undergraduate degree in English literature and Sociology at BathSpa University in 2007. She then completed her postgraduate degree in mental health nursing at City University, London in 2010. Following qualifications as a mental health nurse, she worked at a psychiatric intensive care ward in London, supporting young people experiencing severe mental health conditions including OCD, depression, and psychosis. She moved to Devon in 2012, and since then Rachel has worked in community CAMHS, specialising in working with young people with eating disorders, anxiety, self-harm, and low mood.

Rachel completed a post graduate qualification in eating disorder therapy in 2014 and went on to complete her masters in Family Therapy at Exeter University in 2017. Rachel is passionate about meeting young people where they are at, working with them to improve their mental health and develop coping strategies to support themselves post intervention.

Rachel can support young people in a variety of ways including working with them individually and/or working systemically with them and their families.

Caitlin completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Nottingham in June 2024. Caitlin has worked within EPIC as an administrator for several years and is now looking forward to joining the clinical team as an Assistant Psychologist.

Caitlin will also be our Green Sustainability Champion and will be completing a Diploma in Business Sustainability in order to develop our Sustainability Policy.

Jo will greet you with a warm smile and has an infectious passion for delivering excellent customer service and creating a welcoming atmosphere.  Having worked within a school setting for over 16 years Jo decided on a fresh new challenge and joined the EPIC team as an administrator and receptionist.  As an administrator she is responsible for managing and overseeing various tasks and operations including scheduling appointments . 

Outside of work Jo is family orientated and loves travelling, attending music concerts, or simply a long walk with her 3 dogs.

Fran completed her Degree in Occupational Therapy in 1997. She worked in Adult Mental Health Services, and since 2002 has worked in CAMHS as an Occupational Therapist and Senior Mental Health Practitioner. She has worked in both in patient and community settings and with Young Offenders, all of whom have had a range of mental health concerns.

Fran completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Cognitive behaviour Therapy for Children and Young People in 2012 under the University College, London and a Post graduate Diploma in Evidenced Psychological Therapies for Children Young People and Families (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy), at the University of Exeter in 2014. She also has a Post Graduate Certificate of Supervision of Psychological Therapies Practice (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) from the University of Exeter, 2016. She is accredited with the British Association of Behaviour and Cognitive Psychotherapists.

Fran has a Certificate of EMDR accredited training and Level 1 Child and Adolescent Training in EMDR.  

Fran has an interest in eating disorders, particularly bulimia nervosa, and emotion regulation. She also has worked extensively with young people with Autism.  Fran is dedicated in her work with young people and to striving towards the best outcomes for them in their everyday lives.

Charlotte graduated from the University of Plymouth with a BSc Physiotherapy degree in 2009. Having completed core rotations within the NHS as a junior Physiotherapist, Charlotte then pursued her clinical interest working within Paediatrics from 2012.

Charlotte continues to undertake post graduate training to ensure her practice is evidence based. This has included completed modules in MSc Paediatric Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy and MSc Paediatric Neuro-Physiotherapy at University College London.

Charlotte has a wide range of experiences working with children from 0-18 years of age including atypical development, genetic conditions, hypermobility, gait abnormalities, co-ordination difficulties and neurological conditions such as CP and Spina Bifida. More recently Charlotte has focused on 0-5’s physical development working with babies born prematurely and common conditions in the under 5’s such as delay of motor milestones, plagiocephaly and Torticollis. Charlotte is happy to assess your child/ baby and give individualised advice and guidance where appropriate.

BA (Hons) MBChB MRCPsych

Becky completed her Psychology degree at the University of Birmingham in 2019. She then went on to complete a Masters in Clinical Psychology at the University of Bath. Since then, Becky has been gathering experience working in a number of different mental health settings. She has experience working in a CAMHs inpatient unit, and adapting models of care throughout the pandemic.

Becky currently works in adult eating disorder services, providing low-intensity CBT-based interventions, in both 1-1 and group formats. Despite currently working in adult services, Becky has a passion for supporting young people and their families throughout the turbulent period of adolescence, and providing the best assessment and care possible.

Katy is an experienced and enthusiastic paediatric speech and language therapist, qualifying in 2008 with a BSc (Hons) degree in speech and language therapy from the University College of St Mark and St John, Plymouth.

Katy commenced her career within the NHS seeing children with delayed and disordered speech and language skills, social communication difficulties and children who stammer. After 8 years, Katy left the NHS working as a specialist speech and language therapist and relocated to Devon to set up in independent practice seeing children with a range of speech, language and communication disorders.

Katy has a particular interest in developmental language disorders and dysfluency. However, she has recently taken on a new role in a special school for students presenting with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs and is enjoying this new challenge.

Katy brings her experience and enthusiasm to the EPIC team and the clients that she works with.

BSc, MRes, DClinPsy

Eva completed her psychology degree at the University of Birmingham in 2007 before working with adults with learning disabilities. She returned to Birmingham to complete a Masters of Research in Psychology in 2009.

Eva held several Assistant Psychologist roles, working with children and adults with learning disabilities and in an adult autism assessment service. She also took some time out to travel, volunteer, and teach English in South America and Europe.

Eva completed her Doctorate of Clinical Psychology at the University of Exeter. This included placements in CAMHS, an eating disorder service, health psychology, older adults, and learning disability services. She conducted research into the impact of nature on wellbeing and gained therapeutic experience in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Compassion Focussed Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Cognitive Analytical Therapy.

Eva is keen to put her skills to good use with EPIC Solutions, ensuring the individual's needs and goals are at the heart of the work.

BA (Hons), BSc (Hons)

Katherine completed her first degree in Paediatric Nursing in 1998, having trained at the Oxford University Hospitals. She then specialised and qualified in Neonatal Nursing working on the Neonatal Intensive Care units in  Taunton and Exeter over a 10 year period. Towards the end of this period Katherine developed her interest in community nursing and the impact that wider issues have on child and family health.

Katherine pursued this interest and undertook a second degree in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting) in 2010. She has since worked as a Health Visitor in Exeter and East Devon. Katherine is passionate about ‘getting it right from the start’ by supporting parents in pregnancy and through the early weeks and months of having a baby.

Katherine is also working with EPIC in contributing to the Specialist Assessments of the Under 5’s.

BSc (Hons)

Janelle qualified from the University of Cardiff, college of medicine in 2000 with a BSc Hons degree in Occupational Therapy. After spending two years completing rotations within different psychiatric inpatient wards Janelle secured a position working as a paediatric occupational therapist at the John Parkes child development centre working with babies and children up to the age of 18. 

Janelle further expanded her clinical skills by taking on the role of lead occupational therapist at Vranch House school in Exeter where she enjoyed working as part of the multidisciplinary team in outpatients, providing assessment and intervention for many young people and providing advice to schools.

Following this Janelle enjoyed working as a neurodevelopmental specialist within the autism assessment service in Torbay and more recently working as the sole occupational therapist at a trauma informed school, a particular area of interest alongside autism, handwriting and developmental co-ordination disorder.

At EPIC solutions Janelle is looking forward to working closely with young people and their families and carers. Her aim is to make sessions fun whilst promoting independence, offering helpful intervention ideas and setting achievable goals.

MBBS, MRCPsych, Cert Med Edu

Dr. Xenofon Sgouros holds a degree in Medicine (MBBS) from the University of Thessaloniki Greece, awarded with merit, and completed his basic training in General Adult Psychiatry in various hospitals in Athens between 1991 and 1998. Following the completion of basic training, Dr. Sgouros immigrated to the UK and continued in higher specialist training, focusing on training in Addiction Psychiatry and Liaison Psychiatry. He was awarded the membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2003 and has been included in the GMC Specialist Register since 1999.

In 2001, he was appointed as a Consultant Psychiatrist in North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust where he worked in various positions until September 2020. He is currently working as a Consultant Psychiatrist in one of the community mental health teams, in Exeter, Devon.

Dr. Sgouros’ special interests have evolved through the years from Addiction Psychiatry to Inpatient Psychiatry, to assessment and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders, e.g. Autism Spectrum disorder and ADHD, and assessment and treatment of psychiatric disorders associated with trauma, He is certified to complete assessments of adults with suspected Autism by the Cambridge Autism research centre and has completed specialist training in assessments of adults with suspected ADHD.

Furthermore, Dr. Sgouros has an interest in medical education and holds a Certificate in Medical Education awarded by Staffordshire University with distinction, in 2002. Dr Sgouros is currently holding the post of deputy Director of Medical Education, in Devon Partnership Trust, with responsibility in teaching of Psychiatry of medical students from University of Plymouth

In EPIC Solutions, Dr. Sgouros offers assessment and treatment of young adults, 19-25 years old, with suspected Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). These assessments are completed in collaboration with a clinical psychologist, and involve a clinical assessment, and administration of structured and semi-structured diagnostic tools. Following diagnosis, Dr Sgouros develops in collaboration with the young adult, an appropriate treatment plan, which may include medication and/or psychological treatment and other interventions

Dr. Sgouros is a keen advocate of the bio-psychosocial model of psychiatry and his assessments follow a systematic and holistic approach. He is also a keen advocate of the patient’s choice of treatments and of the recovery model. This reflects his belief in the capacity of human beings for healing and personal development. He is familiar with a range of psychological therapy models, mindfulness practices, and he has an up to date knowledge of the most recent developments in psychiatric treatments, including new medications and non-invasive biological treatments.

Sarah qualified as a Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN) with a Mental Health Nursing BA(Hons) from Oxford Brookes University in 2001 and in 2010 completed a diploma in Systemic family therapy at Leeds University.

Sarah has spent 25 years working in the NHS in both adult and children’s mental health.  Her passion has always been working with young people and therefore focused most of her career in CAMHS in-patient and community services working with the most at risk young people.  Most recently working in the CAMHS crisis team in North Devon.  The work with young people and their families has been varied over the years but has included in-depth assessments, solution focused therapy, trauma focused CBT, DBT skills and comprehensive risk management.

In 2016 Sarah completed further training at University West of England (UWE) and qualified as a Non-Medical Prescriber (NMP).  This means that Sarah can complete holistic mental health assessments which can include specialist prescribing in medications that support a young persons mental health.

Donna previously worked for over 20 years in the NHS with nearly 10 years being in the children’s mental health service.  She is an experienced and results-driven business manager with a proven ability to lead teams, streamline operations and achieve strategic objectives.  Skilled in financial analysis and project management she is committed to driving growth, optimising processes and delivering exceptional results.  Donna has a passion for Excel spreadsheets. 

In her private time Donna spends time with her children, enjoys a good book, likes holidays, live music and watching the rugby, in particular the Exeter’s Chiefs. 

Stevie initially trained in Sport and Exercise Science at the undergraduate and masters level at Brighton university. Then she went on to study Occupational Therapy as a mature student at Brunel College, London, graduating in 2020.  Since completing her OT degree Stevie has worked with children within the community in mainstream schools, SEN schools, clinic work and home visits, offering assessments and interventions through RCOT evidence-based practice. Within this Stevie has also held posts within EHCP panels, mentored apprentices and students and developed training/workshop programmes for community therapy teams.  She has held a role within NHS Community OT team in Surrey since 2019 as well as private work in SEN school in Somerset and EHCP assessment work in Devon and Somerset.

Stevie has interests in all children, young people and their families to support their OT needs at home/school and within the community to ensure happy and healthy individuals.  Her special interests fall under fussy eaters/ARFID, premature babies and their transition home. Stevie believes strongly in considering the whole child/family and how best to support them within assessment or intervention. This includes supporting the parents to be as upskilled and knowledgeable in their child's OT needs and how best to encourage and develop their child's independence.

BA

Lisa trained in Early Years, completing a Bachelor of Arts in Early Years with the Open University. Whilst doing her degree Lisa worked for a childcare company completing all the relevant training within the Early Years sector to graduate.

Lisa previously worked for a local CAMHS service specialising in working with young people in the community and providing an alternative to a psychiatric hospital admission. This included working with young people with Eating Disorders and with those that struggle with managing levels of self-harm and regulating their emotions.

Lisa is passionate about supporting young people with their mental health needs and working with them to gain a better understanding of their strengths and struggles to aid choice of appropriate community interventions.