Dr. Matthew Pugh

Finding a therapist can be confusing. Knowing more about your clinician's training and experience can help determine whether they are the right therapist for you.

My approach

As a Principal Clinical Psychologist, I am experienced in providing highly specialised and evidence-based talking therapies for a range of emotional difficulties. Combined with over 10 years' clinical experience, I am able to offer an effective, individualised and tailor-made approach to treatment.

As a therapist, I feel passionately about providing therapies which are proven to work. This has led me to specialise as a fully accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist. My training as an Advanced Schema Therapist enables me to work with complex, longstanding emotional and relationship difficulties, including those which may have not responded to other therapies. I also draw upon other psychotherapies in my work, including the Voice Dialogue approach, Emotion-focused Therapy and Compassion-focused Therapy. Above all, I believe that a safe, trusting, and respectful relationship should form the cornerstone of any treatment.

Alongside my clinical work, I work as a Clinical Researcher and Honorary Lecturer. I published my first book, 'Cognitive Behavioural Chairwork: Distinctive Features', in 2019. I have also written a number of book chapters and psychotherapy research articles. My ongoing research ensures that my clinical work is based upon the latest scientific developments in psychology and psychotherapy.

Please note that I only work with adults (e.g. individuals over 17 years of age). 

Education and Training

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (University College London)
• BSc. Psychology (University of Surrey): First Class Honors
• PGDip in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy (Royal Holloway, University of London)
• Enhanced CBT for Eating Disorders (CREDO, Oxford): 'Basic' and 'Advanced' training 
• Certificate in Advanced Schema Therapy (International Society for Schema Therapy)
• Voice Dialogue, Intensive Facilitator Training (Voice Dialogue UK)
• Emotion-focused Therapy, Levels 1 & 2 (Canterbury University)
• MANTRA training (Kings College London)

Registrations / Accreditations

• Chartered Clinical Psychologist, British Psychological Society
• Associate Fellow, British Psychological Society
• Practitioner Psychologist, Health and Care Professions Council
• Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapist, British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists
• Advanced Schema Therapist, International Society for Schema Therapy
• Research Scientist, Scientific Advisory Board

Key Experience

• Lead Therapist for one of the largest NHS eating disorders services in the UK
• Over 10 years' experience working in NHS mental health settings
• Author, 'Cognitive Behavioural Chairwork: Distinctive Features' (Routledge, UK)
• Honorary Clinical Lecturer, University College London
• Clinical Supervisor and Manager for Psychologists, Psychotherapists and CBT therapists
• Principal Investigator (multiple research studies)
• Research Supervisor (undergraduate and postgraduate levels)
• Sole author and co-author of multiple research articles
• Invited journal peer-reviewer (e.g. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy)
• Personal psychotherapy (cognitive-behavioural, psychodynamic, existential and Voice Dialogue approaches)