Dr Leyanne Edwards is a Clinical Psychologist registered with the Health Care and Professions Council (HCPC) and has been working in the field of mental health for over 10 years.

Since qualifying in 2014, Dr Edwards’ initial post was working in services for older adults, which included both community mental health and care home liaison work. This post involved Dr Edwards completing therapeutic assessments and interventions for older people with mental health difficulties and supporting staff within care homes via formulation, assessment and training.

Dr Edwards moved into working within the field of specialist child and adolescent mental health services in 2018, where her true passions lie; since she has worked with children looked after, on the edge of care and asylum seeking children.

Dr Edwards’ work with children looked after, including asylum seeking children, has involved complex psychological assessments of children (including cognitive assessments), psychological therapy for children, working with foster carers and social workers to support their understanding – which has included a range of 1:1 intervention, trauma and attachment groups and training. During this post, Dr Edwards wrote several reports for court related to her work with Asylum Seeking Children.

Dr Edwards began working with families on the edge of care in 2020, supporting an intensive Social Care team, in order to prevent the breakdown of families. This work engages hard to reach young people (aged 10-18) and families, where there are often complex presentations and agency involvement; including mental health (including but not limited to: trauma, attachment difficulties, anxiety, depression), Autism/ADHD, child exploitation issues, safeguarding, youth offending, Police and substance misuse issues. Alongside this, Dr Edwards offers psychological formulation and intervention to a residential home attached to the team.

In 2020, Dr Edwards moved into private practice, alongside her NHS work. This includes working with private fostering agencies and completing capacity and psychological assessments for both adults and children within a family court setting.

Dr Edwards has completed training in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP-Level one), Adaptive Mentalization Based Integrative Therapy (AMBIT) and Basic AIM training (assessments related to harmful sexual behaviour). Dr Edwards is currently undergoing training in Expert Witness Skills through Bond Solon.