Denise McCartan BSc (Hons) PhD DClinPsy CPsychol CSci AFBPsS

Dr Denise McCartan is a Clinical Psychologist registered with the Health Professions Council.  She is an Associate Fellow of The British Psychological Society (BPS), a Chartered Psychologist and a Chartered Scientist with special interest in working with children and young people. Dr McCartan has particular interest in the assessment and management of acquired brain injury, psychological trauma and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Dr McCartan was awarded a First Class Bachelor of Science Degree in Applied Psychology in 1997.  She won a Foundation Award from Queen’s University, Belfast (QUB) and went on to complete a PhD in Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology in the Faculty of Medicine (QUB).  Dr McCartan was subsequently appointed as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Forensic and Mental Health Sciences at the Institute of Psychiatry (IoP), London and gained clinical experience at the Bethlem Royal Hospital under the supervision of Professor Gisli Gudjonsson.  She then completed a three year Doctorate in Clinical Psychology also at the Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College, London. Dr McCartan trained in a number of services with an international reputation for clinical service and associated research programmes. These include: The Cawley Centre for Personality Disorder, Maudsley Hospital; The Lishman Unit for Conversion Disorders (IoP); Child Trauma Service, The Michael Rutter Centre (IoP); Professor Michael Kopelman’s Memory Clinic, St Thomas’s Hospital, London; Paediatric Neuropsychology services at Guys Hospital London and the Evelina Children’s Hospital, St Thomas’s Hospital, London.   

Subsequently Dr McCartan was appointed Paediatric Clinical Psychologist at Belfast Royal Hospital for Sick Children providing services to children with acquired brain injury, neurological and general paediatric disorders.  This role involved training and supporting parents in the management of child behavioural difficulties; addressing emotional adjustment to illness, injury and loss (child and family) and the treatment of emotional disturbance.  Since 2008 Dr McCartan has been an independent practitioner.

Dr McCartan has published in peer reviewed journals in the area of clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology.  Current research interests include psychological trauma in childhood, ADHD across the lifespan and personality and intellectual functioning in parents involved in cases of child non-accidental injury.  Medico-legal work undertaken: paediatric neuropsychological assessments; trauma and victim impact assessments of children; care proceedings cases - parental and child assessments. 

Dr McCartan is a member of the British Neuropsychological Society (BNS) and the Association of Child Psychologists in Private Practice (AChiPPP).  She provides psychological therapies to private clients and in particular children who have suffered trauma.  She is registered with BUPA, AXA PPP and AVIVA.

Contact Information
Mobile: 0782 8656170
E-Mail: denisemccartan@live.com