The Team
Who We Are
Bernie Wright
Founder & Director
Bernie is the co-founder of NEDDE TRAINING and a BACP (Accredited) Counsellor/Psychotherapist and Clinical Supervisor. She qualified in 2004. In 2007, she trained as a Master Practitioner in Eating Disorders and Obesity at The National Centre for Eating Disorders (NCFED). Subsequently, she went on to become their supervisor, mentor, senior lecturer and clinical lead.
She launched NEDDE TRAINING with Lisa Smith after identifying the lack of support readily available for the extensive number of neurodivergent individuals suffering with eating disorders and disordered eating.
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Bernie has been running her own company, Healing Minds, working as a private therapist, advisor and trainer, for many years.
Lisa Smith
Founder & Director
Lisa is a co-founder of NEDDE Training and a BANT Registered Nutritionist ,specialising in functional nutrition. Her focus is upon the presenting client and not any diagnosis or label they may have been given.
Lisa always believes in going beyond the basic dietary guidelines. Consideration is given to a client’s internal and external environment, their genetic predisposition and lifestyle, in order to identify factors which may be
impacting upon physical or mental wellbeing.
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Having worked with Bernie for over a decade, Lisa has a wealth of experience encompassing all eating behaviours, as well as an understanding of the influence neurodivergence can play in these.
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Lisa is a senior lecturer at the renowned College of Naturopathic Medicine, and has also worked closely with a cognitive neuroscientist, studying and understanding the interaction between hormones & neurotransmitters and their influences over behaviour.
Frances Button
Trainer
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Frances brings extensive experience in mental health and crisis intervention to her role.
As a former Clinical Lead Manager for an NHS provider in South Kent Coast, Frances has led safeguarding initiatives and managed services at the forefront of mental health care. She has also coordinated Kent Counselling Services and contributed her expertise to a residential unit assessing adolescents with challenging behaviors from London's inner cities. Frances is skilled in supervising and counseling in Victim Support Homicide settings and is a qualified Critical Incident Stress Debriefer (CISD).
Alex Sejdia
Manager
Alex operates diligently in the background, ensuring seamless operations at NEDDE headquarters.
Her multifaceted background includes roles as a creative entrepreneur, designer, and artist, with a passion for bolstering small businesses and diverse charities.
In recognition of her exceptional work, Alex clinched the 'Business of the Year' award from Not On The High Street in 2015 and was honoured by Folksy with the 'Best Product of the Year' in 2014. Her achievements have frequently captured media attention.
Always approachable, Alex welcomes any queries or concerns you might have and is committed to assisting you.
Mark Fielding
Trainer
Mark is a Psychotherapist, Relationship Counsellor, and Clinical Supervisor. He is trained in psychodynamic, systemic, mindfulness, and positive psychology approaches, and specialises in ADHD, ASD, PDA, Tourette Syndrome, and HSP. Mark offers long-term therapy, ADHD coaching, and couples therapy, focusing on effective communication and conflict resolution.
He also works with clients with eating disorders, particularly Binge Eating Disorder, and provides support for bariatric patients. Mark hosts the podcast #psychotherapyunfogged, featuring interviews with mental health professionals and individuals with lived experiences.
Kim Rutherford
Trainer
Kim is an NCS Accredited Psychotherapist and Hypnotherapist supporting bariatric patients, both pre-surgery and post-surgery.
She is the founder of 8Wise™, a unique model for improving mental health and wellbeing and Weight Wise WLS, an online support group for bariatric patients.
Kim has published five books and is the host of the Live The 8 Wise Way podcast, teaching people the 8Wise™ methodology and how to implement it into their lives for better mental health and wellbeing.
Mel Ciavucco
Trainer
Mel is an Integrative Counsellor, writer, trainer and group facilitator. She is interested in all kinds of eating distress and disordered eating, body image and weight stigma, especially advocating for people in larger bodies. Mel also works for a domestic abuse charity, working with perpetrators. She was published in Therapy Today with an article about fatphobia (June 2021 edition) and she writes about disordered eating, weight stigma, class, and more on her website
Denise Corby
Trainer
Deni, an NCPS registered integrative therapist, strongly believes in creating a safe and ethical therapeutic space for self-exploration.
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With qualifications in various therapeutic approaches and specialised training in eating disorders, she actively contributes to raising awareness topics like child sexual abuse through the radio show The Continued Silence.
Deni's diverse background includes managing refuge services, overseeing mental health services, and working in education. She is now preparing to support young girls in sport psychology and body image work, aiming to prevent eating disorders in the sporting community.
Tigger Pritchard
Trainer
Tigger describes himself as an awesomely neurodivergent and autistic advocate, consultant and trainer based in Cornwall. Tigger has over thirty-five years of professional and personal experience of working alongside, learning from and advocating for neurodivergent individuals.
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His focus is raising understanding of neurodiversity, accepting people for who they are and not trying to fit them into any "neurotypical box". Using experience, knowledge, teaching practice and personal insight, he carries out training and consultancy work both face-to-face and online, supporting individuals, families, corporate organisations & educators.
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He is a regular conference speaker and host of several podcast/vodcasts, as well as a Makaton Regional Tutor.
Tigger has been nominated for National Diversity Award 2023.
Penny Chapman
Trainer
Penny, a resident of Jersey, is a qualified Neurodiversity & Inclusion trainer. As a neurodivergent individual and the mother of two neurodivergent children, including her daughter Lily, who has multiple neurodivergences, she has a personal connection to her work.
Lily's struggle with food restrictions and autism diagnosis drove Penny's deep interest in Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). In 2020, at age 15, Lily was officially diagnosed with ARFID by Gillian Harris.
In response to her experiences, Penny launched an online support group with nearly 1,200 members in August 2022. In February of the following year, she co-founded "AllMatters Neurodiverse Jersey," a charity. These initiatives were born out of her personal experiences as someone misunderstood within the context of autism and the hardships faced while raising her children.
At the Jersey Charity Awards, the charity secured 2nd place in the small charity category and received the Judges Choice Award for the most inspirational charity team.
Penny encourages attendees to join the charity's Facebook group and access materials on their website, promoting collaboration between parents and professionals, who are treated as equal partners and experts on their children's needs.
Debbie Grayson
Trainer
Debbie brings over 25 years experience of working as a highly respected pharmacist to her nutrition practice and is widely regarded as the expert in the field of interactions between the patient, prescribed medication and nutritional supplements and herbs.
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Debbie uses her expansive knowledge of pharmacology and nutrition to teach and support practitioners to understand the impact of medication on the patient and how to work safely alongside.
Cloie Parfitt
Trainer
Cloie Parfitt is a former registered nurse and integrative psychotherapist. Her doctoral research at the University of Edinburgh examines the intersection between autism and psychological trauma and provides indications of best practice for practitioners working in this area. Cloie has worked in the field of mental health for over a decade in a variety of roles, including as a mental health nurse, psychotherapist, peer support worker, development mentor, and support group facilitator.
Cloie now runs a private practice and works almost entirely with neurodivergent youth and adults. She is passionate about making a difference in this area of mental health and considers it a great privilege to work with neurodivergent clients to resolve the effects of trauma and enable them to live freely and authentically. Cloie has also worked as a consultant and trainer across various organisations educating professionals about the impact of trauma on neurodivergent lives and enabling professionals to work competently, ethically, and in a neuro-affirming and trauma-informed way.
Jenny Langley
Trainer
Jenny co-authored the New Maudsley Skills-Based Training Manual with Professor Janet Treasure and Gill Todd in 2018.
In 2006, Jenny wrote of her family’s experiences in the book Boys Get Anorexia Too, and has a special interest in providing support and hope to the many families who are struggling with a male eating disorder in their midst.
Jenny was awarded the Beat Volunteer Recognition Award in 2014 for Outstanding Service to Education and Awareness, as well as the 2016 Royal College of Psychiatrists Award for Carer Contributor of the year in recognition of her ongoing work with carers, eating disorder services and in the wider community with a particular focus on preventative work in schools.
Cathy Houghton
Trainer
Cathy is a Health and Movement Coach. She specialises in coaching and training those with disordered relationships with food, exercise and movement.
Cathy qualified initially in Integrated Nutrition Health Coaching and Weight Loss psychology, and soon saw a need to acquire skills to work with disordered eating. She completed the Master Practitioner training with NCFED, and the Advanced Certificate with Julia Buckroyd, as well as an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Coach.
As a Level 3 Personal Trainer, Cathy helps clients find balanced movement as a source of energy and positivity in their lives. Cathy completed the NEDDE Advanced Diploma in March 2024, after realising how prevalent neurodiversity is in this DE world.
Cathy is also a Menopause wellbeing & movement coach, trainer and writer, and runs an online Wellness Bookclub for women (those identifying as women).
Dr Kamila Irvine
Trainer
Kamila is a Senior Lecturer and Research Psychologist at the School of Psychology, University of Lincoln. Kamila teaches about all things body image and eating disorders to undergraduate and postgraduate students. Her main focus is her specialist 3rd year elective module: "Body Image and Eating Disorders". She also teaches about body image and eating disorders during 2nd year Developmental Psychology module and delivers guest lectures on MSc Developmental Psychology, MSc Research Methods and to trainees on the Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) pathways.
Her research encompasses a number of multidimensional body image themes and interests including a Virtual Reality-body image training (VR-bit) and school-based projects with The Body Happy Org. Kamila is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a multi-award-winning educator.
Nadyne McKie
Trainer
Nadyne is a Mind Body Therapist, qualified in Clinical Yoga Therapy and training in Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counselling.
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She is an accomplished Breath Coach and yoga teacher, specialising in trauma-informed therapeutic yoga for mental health and chronic health conditions.
She works in private practice, and in Acute Mental Health Services at The Priory Hospital.
Zoe Burnett
Trainer
Zoe is an integrative BACP registered counsellor, specialising in eating disorders, neurodiversity and the LBGTQIA+ community. She is also passionate about helping those struggling with eating disorders and body image during the postpartum period. She is an author of an amazon best selling book 'inside my ED' and a multi award winning tedx and public speaker. Zoe also assists in the training of junior doctors and will educate them from a lived experience perspective, on eating disorders and comorbidities. Zoe is an educator in schools and delivers training to staff and other medical professionals on how to spot the signs and symptoms of eating difficulties.
Zoe has her own private practice in Lincoln but also works for a leading eating disorder charity, educating, encouraging and providing hope for all those she works with, she believes recovery is possible but only when we adapt our skills to meet the individuals needs.
Jess Baumber
Trainer
Jess is a Chartered Counselling Psychologist specialising in disordered eating and body image distress. Her MSc dissertation on weight dissatisfaction and restricted eating among female slimming-group users earned her a Distinction. Since qualifying in 2010, Jess has honed her expertise in these areas through CPD courses and seven years with an NHS-funded eating disorders outpatient service. Now an independent practitioner, she is part of the remote MDT clinic "Food & Body Peace." Jess, an integrative practitioner, tailors therapy to individual needs and is particularly interested in working with neurodivergent clients facing disordered eating issues. She is also a qualified supervisor and trainer for other psychological therapists.
Caroline Toshack
Trainer
Caroline is a BACP registered psychotherapist. She runs a private practice in Edinburgh and has a special interest in working with those struggling with eating disorders and exercise addiction. Prior to becoming a therapist she worked in fitness and performance sport for 20 years as a coach, tutor and movement therapist.
Caroline is passionate about raising awareness of the fine line between ‘healthy’ and ‘disordered’ within sport and fitness, and challenging the paradigms in these fields around body size, shape and relationships with food and exercise.
She has been presenting on this and delivering training on eating disorders and exercise addiction to coaches and fitness professionals since 2016.
Gillian Mather
Trainer
Gillian is a Counsellor and Psychotherapist specialising in eating disorders and neurodivergent clients.
Gillian trained as an Integrative Counsellor in 2010 and earned her Master Practitioner Diploma from NCFED in 2016.
She works with young people, adults, and parents, helping clients recover from restrictive and purging eating distress. Gillian uses EFT, Positive Psychology, Motivational Language, Psycho-education, Nutritional Rehabilitation, and Psychotherapy.
Gillian believes in a collaborative recovery approach, working with other professionals. Her lived experience with an eating disorder and extensive training shape her empathetic and compassionate therapy style.
Sarah Parker
Trainer
Sarah Parker is an accredited counsellor and coach, as well as a passionate speaker and educator. Initially trained as a relational counsellor, she has specialised in ACT, Compassion Focused Therapy, and EMDR.
With extensive experience in NHS Mental Health Services, Sarah spent many years in a specialist Community Eating Disorder Service in Leeds, where she also received treatment for Anorexia Nervosa. She now owns Well of Being, a therapy service offering neuro-affirmative, client-led support for individuals struggling with food, weight, and body image.
Sarah is committed to helping clients rediscover their sense of peace and wellbeing, believing in the potential for change within an environment of love and acceptance.
NEDDE TRAINING LTD.
Company number 14193354
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©2022 by NEDDE TRAINING.
