Meet The Team
Chrissy Dickens
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Founder
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Psychological Therapist
EMDR Europe Accredited Practitioner
Trauma-Informed Schools Supervisor
Clinical Supervisor
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MSc, BSc (HONS), Dip Psych (Conversion for Postgraduates), Dip SW, PCBT (Foundation)
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I have had the pleasure of working in partnership with children, young people and their families since 1998. Since becoming a therapist in 2007, I have had the privilege of working with many families in settings such as the NSPCC and NHS. I was the Trauma Lead within an NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service for 5 years and I continue to play an active role in supporting other clinicians and professionals to develop across the region. I have a vast array of experience in working with the broad spectrum of emotional and mental health difficulties. I have specialised in supporting individuals and families who have experienced adverse life events, trauma or attachment difficulties.​
I am passionate about well-being, which I see as not only functioning well but feeling great as well! I am committed to helping my clients to heal, achieve this sense of well-being and meet their goals.
In 2015, I set up Pathways Therapeutic Services in order to be able to use my skills, knowledge and approach to help more and more people.
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Throughout my career I have supported people in growing, developing, recovering and moving on from the many difficulties that they have experienced. I take a curious and empathic approach to understanding the needs and lives of my clients, whatever their starting point is. Goals may change during the course of therapy as clients become more and more confident that they have the power to change their lives and can achieve their dreams.
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I predominantly use Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy and Dyadic Developmental Practice. However, my practice is also informed by Brief Solution Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, counselling techniques, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, creative therapies and Mindfulness. Together, we will find the right approach for you whether that therapy is delivered by me or another member of my team.
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Outside of work, I love staying active, listening to music, reading, being in nature and connecting with friends and family.
Jen Whalley
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Business Support Officer
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My role here at Pathways Therapeutic services is to provide business and administrative support to Chrissy and the team. This includes liaising with our clients and other agencies, invoicing, diary management, organising and assisting with specific projects.
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My main focus is to help assist the individuals and families that we support here, to enable them to have a positive experience, for them to know that we care and to help them get a lot out of their sessions with us.
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I am passionate about working for a small business that focuses on wellbeing at its heart and it’s something that I try to incorporate into my daily life.
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Outside of work, I love to spend my free time outside, with my young family enjoying long walks, bike rides and having fun days out together.
Audrey Sandilands
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Psychological Therapist
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BSc (HONS), Dip HE
IAPT (NICE & NHS approved talking therapies)
ADOS2 (Autism awareness certified)​
Registered with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy
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My passion for early intervention and working with children and adolescents began whilst on placement as a trainee counsellor. I worked in schools and colleges where my experience included helping young people navigate friendships, communications issues, low self-esteem, finding their place within blended families, difficulties within school settings, self-harming behaviours and more. By empowering young people to make changes in the way that they think, they were able to behave differently and feel better! This helped them grow and feel confident.
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When I qualified, I moved from working within a school setting to working within the NHS. For over 15 years, I was a dedicated CAMHS practitioner (Children and Adolescent Mental Health) working with children from ages 5 to 19 years old. I had roles within management, managing a large team of therapists, however my passion for working directly with people never faltered and I returned to this full time.
​Having qualified as a person-centred therapist over a decade ago, I have gone on to further train in various additional modalities to further enhance my therapeutic practice and be able to offer more integrated and diverse support to those I work with. These include:
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NHS qualification in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT), which is CBT based. This has since been renamed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and is now referred to as a qualification in ‘NHS Talking therapies’.
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Dialectical Behavioural therapy (DBT)
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Brief Solution Focused Therapy
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Goal Based Outcomes (GBO)
My practice now also extends to adults and couples mediation work which I can offer online or face to face. Its wonderful to see adults meeting their goals and moving towards happier and healthier relationships and futures.
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Outside of work I enjoy Yoga and spending time with my family. I also like listening to pod casts and reading.
Speak to us today
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Write to us
Red Hill House
41 Hope Street
Chester
CH4 8BU
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Phone
01244 256864 or 07557 944185
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