dr_lizzie_fitz

Dr Lizzie Fitzmaurice

B.Sc. (Hons.), Foren.Psy.D.

Dr Fitzmaurice is a Registered Forensic Psychologist, specialising in adolescent mental health and youth violence. She has extensive experience working with challenging young people and is passionate about making positive changes for disadvantaged  people.

Lizzie often works in a consultation and advisory role for organisations and governing bodies designing policies and practices for those who are marginalised and disadvantaged

She currently works in the NHS as the Psychology Lead in Secure CAMHS and a Category B Prison. She is a director of DLF Psychology and has a number of Associate Consultant Psychologist roles with community organisations. Lizzie has extensive experience working with the NHS, prison service, voluntary sector, education, youth work and social care. 

Lizzie is renowned for her impactful consultation and training and dedicates her time outside of clinical work to supporting  organisations better understand key issues and skills related to young people, mental health, inequalities and youth violence.

Dr Fitzmaurice works as an expert witness in both criminal and family court settings, completing assessments to inform risk management decisions and plans. 

Lizzie is qualified in a range of therapies, including EMDR, DBT and DBT and delivers a range of certified interventions and risk reduction programmes.

Consultation

Dr Fitzmaurice is experienced at supporting organisations and policy makers. Whilst her areas of expertise are vast, she is most often sought to advise and consult on:

• youth violence 
• issues that effect disadvantaged young people (e.g. county lines, sexual abuse, mental health, self-harm, race equity)
• developing trauma-informed environments
• developing workplace models of care
• developing services that are responsive to mental health need

Dr Fitzmaurice also provides supervision to teams and individuals 

Expert Witness &

Psychological Assessment 

Dr Fitzmaurice provides evidence to the courts in criminal, civil and family cases.

She is experienced at completing assessments necessary for such cases (psychometric, personality and SPJ Risk Assessments) and regularly works with the HMPPS via the psychology framework to complete risk assessment reports and provide oral evidence at hearings. 

Dr Fitzmaurice is also experienced at completing psychological/psychometric assessments and formulations for the purpose enhancing the understanding of an individuals psychological functioning. These are commonly commissioned privately by individuals/families and by professionals wanting to better understand the psychological needs of an individual to inform treatment options. 

Therapy 

Dr Fitzmaurice has extensive experience delivering 1:1 and group therapy to young people and adults. She  provides therapy both face-to-face and online. 

She is experienced in a range of evidence-based interventions including CBT, EMDR and DBT for a breadth of mental health and risk reduction needs. 

“We commissioned Lizzie to support us to design and embed trauma-informed care within our new service model. We cannot thank her enough for how much passion and hard work she put into the project. When we started the contract we didn't appreciate just how transformative her input would be at all layers of the organisation"

SERVICE MANAGER

“Thank you to Dr Fitzmaurice for another professional and comprehensive assessment report. She was professional, thorough and diligent, whilst maintaining compassion with our client"

COMPANY DIRECTOR

"I can't thank you enough for helping me to find a reason to live. You have always been so kind understanding and validating. By truely caring for me I have learnt to now care for myself. 

YOUNG PERSON

All courses are tailored to an organisations requirements, so please get it touch to discuss your specific needs. The most popular courses include: 

WORKING THERAPEUTICALLY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE WHO SHOW CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR 

This course is suitable for organisations or individuals who work directly with young people who present with challenging and/or high risk behaviours. We have an adapted course specifically tailored for a) care homes b) social care c) education

Key Learning Outcomes

• Understand theories of attachment and trauma and how these apply to challenging behaviour in young people 
• Understand why young people with difficult attachment and trauma histories may present with challenging behaviour 
• Understand the therapeutic nature of professional relationships and how these are pivotal for supporting positive change
• Develop confidence in using therapeutic strategies that support crisis management and de-escalation 

UNDERSTANDING MENTAL HEALTH, TRAUMA AND VIOLENCE IN YOUTH SETTINGS 

This course is suitable for organisations or individuals who work directly with young people. The course is best delivered over 2 days.

Key Learning Outcomes

• Understand the national picture and your service-specific picture in the context of mental helth, trauma and violence
• Understand frameworks for conceptualising mental health, trauma and violence
• Understanding the difference between normative adolescent development and behaviours of concern
• Develop key skills in spotting signs of mental health difficulties and emotional wellbeing in young people
• Develop key skills in discussing and responding to mental health difficulties and violence 
• Optional: consultation for your organisation to plan how to become a setting that is proactive in supporting mental health and trauma needs for both young people and staff

UNDERSTANDING GENDER DIVERSITY

This course is designed for people who want to understand gender diversity and provide services that are respectful and inclusive towards those who are gender diverse. This is facilitated as a 1-day course.

Key Learning Outcomes

• Understanding sex, sexuality and gender
• Become competent at using gender sensitive language
• Understand the history and lived experiences of those who are gender diverse
• Understand that laws and legislation that provide protection to those who are gender diverse, including what your organisational/professional requirements are
• Understand best practice for supporting people who are gender diverse

UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORTING PEOPLE WHO ENGAGE IN SELF-HARM AND SUICIDAL BEHAVIOURS

This course is designed for professionals working with people who engage in self-harm and suicidal behaviour, looking for an enhanced understanding of why these behaviours occur and strategies that can be used to support. The course is informed by DBT, which is the most evidence-based approach for self-harm and suicide. It’s best offered as a 2-day course, but can be facilitated as a 1-day course for basic awareness.

Key Learning Outcomes

• Understand the reasons why people engage in suicide and self-harm
• Develop an understanding of the theories that support us to understand and address self-harm and suicide
• Understand and implement strategies that support crisis management and long-term recovery

TRAUMA INFORMED CARE

This course is suitable for organisations or individuals who work directly with young people. The course is best delivered over 2 days.

Key Learning Outcomes

• Understand the concept of trauma, how it develops and the different ways presents itself in young people
• Understand the impact of trauma on the life experiences of young people
• Develop key skills in understanding challenging behaviour through a trauma lens
• Develop key skills in responding to challenging behaviour through a trauma lens
• Understand the impact of trauma on staff and the importance of a trauma-informed workplace
• Develop key skills to creating a working environment that is trauma informed for staff and young people

ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH

This course is suitable for organisations or individuals who work directly with young people. The course can be delivered at varying intensities, and 1 day is usually enough to cover the essential material. 

Key Learning Outcomes

• Understand different ways to conceptualise mental health and associated diagnoses
• Understand the framework for mental health services, including your local resources
• Develop skills and confidence in talking about a range of mental health presentations, including self-harm, suicide and psychosis
• Develop skills to promote positive mental health with young people and colleagues 
• Optional: In depth focus on a key issue (e.g. a specific diagnosis, regulation skills, PSHE material, parent support)

“I found it useful some of the tips on how to manage difficult complex young people and it all felt very relatable. I felt like lizzie really understood what it is like working with complex young people and I felt like she really gets the challenges”

YOUTH WORKER

“the training gave me so many light bulb moments. The way lizzie linked the theories to real-life scenarios we had experienced meant that the team have left with a list of ways we are going to move forward in being more therapeutic and trauma informed"

CARE HOME MANAGER

“lizzie has a unique way of explaining complex theory into easy-to-understand information. I wish I’d had this years ago. I am confident it will improve my practice”

TEACHER

“I have left the training with a completely different view on gender. I feel energised and confident to support service users who are gender diverse. Lizzie has a way of delivering training that is engaging and easy to understand. We have come away with so many new ideas and practical things we can do”

CARE STAFF

“It was really helpful to hear familiar content /models presented in a way which linked them. Lots of real examples to bring the theory to life. All of the content was really relevant”

PSYCHOLOGIST

“I think the breaking down of attachments is the best I've heard. Such an amazing session. I want my company to invest more in your training"

YOUTH WORKER

"I now have a better understanding of the needs that people are trying to meet when the self harm, what can make an impact and a better understanding (finally) of DBT and how I can use this

SUPPORT WORKER