Meet The Team
Chrissy Dickens
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Founder
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Psychological Therapist
EMDR Europe Accredited Practitioner
Trauma-Informed Schools Supervisor
Clinical Supervisor
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MSc, BSc (HONS), Dip Psych (Conversion for Postgraduates), Dip SW, PCBT (Foundation)
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I have had the pleasure of working in partnership with children, young people and their families since 1998. Since becoming a therapist in 2007, I have had the privilege of working with many families in settings such as the NSPCC and NHS. I was the Trauma Lead within an NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service for 5 years and I continue to play an active role in supporting other clinicians and professionals to develop across the region. I have a vast array of experience in working with the broad spectrum of emotional and mental health difficulties. I have specialised in supporting individuals and families who have experienced adverse life events, trauma or attachment difficulties.​
I am passionate about well-being, which I see as not only functioning well but feeling great as well! I am committed to helping my clients to heal, achieve this sense of well-being and meet their goals.
In 2015, I set up Pathways Therapeutic Services in order to be able to use my skills, knowledge and approach to help more and more people.
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Throughout my career I have supported people in growing, developing, recovering and moving on from the many difficulties that they have experienced. I take a curious and empathic approach to understanding the needs and lives of my clients, whatever their starting point is. Goals may change during the course of therapy as clients become more and more confident that they have the power to change their lives and can achieve their dreams.
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I predominantly use Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy and Dyadic Developmental Practice. However, my practice is also informed by Brief Solution Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, counselling techniques, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, creative therapies and Mindfulness. Together, we will find the right approach for you whether that therapy is delivered by me or another member of my team.
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Outside of work, I love staying active, listening to music, reading, being in nature and connecting with friends and family.
Jen Whalley
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Business Support Officer
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My role here at Pathways Therapeutic services is to provide business and administrative support to Chrissy and the team. This includes liaising with our clients and other agencies, invoicing, diary management, organising and assisting with specific projects.
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My main focus is to help assist the individuals and families that we support here, to enable them to have a positive experience, for them to know that we care and to help them get a lot out of their sessions with us.
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I am passionate about working for a small business that focuses on wellbeing at its heart and it’s something that I try to incorporate into my daily life.
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Outside of work, I love to spend my free time outside, with my young family enjoying long walks, bike rides and having fun days out together.
Audrey Sandilands
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Psychological Therapist
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BSc (HONS), Dip HE
IAPT (NICE & NHS approved talking therapies)
ADOS2 (Autism awareness certified)​
Registered with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy
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My passion for early intervention and working with children and adolescents began whilst on placement as a trainee counsellor.
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I worked in schools and colleges where my experience included helping young people navigate friendships, communications issues, low self-esteem, finding their place within blended families, difficulties within school settings, self-harming behaviours and more. By empowering young people to make changes in the way that they think, they were able to behave differently and feel better! This helped them grow and feel confident.
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When I qualified, I moved from working within a school setting to working within the NHS. For over 15 years, I was a dedicated CAMHS practitioner (Children and Adolescent Mental Health) working with children from ages 5 to 19 years old. I had roles within management, managing a large team of therapists, however my passion for working directly with people never faltered and I returned to this full time.
​Having qualified as a person-centred therapist over a decade ago, I have gone on to further train in various additional modalities to further enhance my therapeutic practice and be able to offer more integrated and diverse support to those I work with. These include:
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NHS qualification in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT), which is CBT based. This has since been renamed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and is now referred to as a qualification in ‘NHS Talking therapies’.
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Dialectical Behavioural therapy (DBT)
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Brief Solution Focused Therapy
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Goal Based Outcomes (GBO)
My practice now also extends to adults and couples mediation work which I can offer online or face to face. Its wonderful to see adults meeting their goals and moving towards happier and healthier relationships and futures.
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Outside of work I enjoy Yoga and spending time with my family. I also like listening to pod casts and reading.
Katy Fox
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Occupational Therapist
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I am a qualified Occupational Therapist who has worked with infants, children and families for over 20 years.
I am passionate and committed to supporting relationships to enable co-occupation, regulation and great well-being.
I really enjoy helping people move forward, supporting others and working with families and professionals to achieve positive outcomes for children. Empowering them to reach their full potential, independence and self-esteem.
I have had the privilege of working with children and young people across a variety of settings including nurseries, schools, special schools, colleges and in people’s homes.​
I have post graduate training and experience in sensory processing and I am particularly interested in how the environment impacts individuals causing challenges with participation, self esteem, relationships and function.
I am experienced in:
-Working with children with DCD and ASD
-Use of Sensorimotor approaches including sensory diets and sensory profiles to support regulation and participation
-Supporting the development of sensory, motor and functional skills to achieve child centred goals.
-Delivering training to different setting including nurseries, school, colleges and for parents?
I am a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapy, including the Children, Young People and Families Specialist Sections . I am registered with Health and Care Professions Council.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family: my husband , 2 young daughters and a lively whippet called Luna.
Dr Sara Evans
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HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council) Registered Practitioner Psychologist
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I qualified as a Clinical Psychologist in 2008 after completing a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Lancaster University.
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For over 17 years, I have developed a vast array of clinical experience having worked in a variety of roles within NHS services. I have dedicated most of my career to supporting children and families and it has been incredible to see them grow. I have additional post-graduate qualifications in parenting work and led the development of a parenting service for hard-to-reach families.
I don’t believe there is a one-size-fits all, so I have gained qualifications, skills and experience in a number of different modalities to address mental health difficulties, promote wellbeing and bring about change. This includes one-to-one therapeutic work (using lots of different techniques, skills and approaches), family work and group work.
I am passionate about supporting children, young people and families. Sometimes working in partnership with professionals, schools and other agencies is helpful in supporting children and young people. I have had the pleasure of offering consultation, delivering training and providing supervision to many different professionals throughout my working life, including therapists, social workers, schools, health staff and wellbeing workers.
My ethos is that powerful things happen when people are provided with time and a protected space in which to think together and are supported to find ways forward with renewed confidence. It is my privilege to be able to provide people with this space and to contribute my knowledge, ideas and experience to their thinking.
Outside of work, I love getting out and about with my sausage dog and spending time with friends and family.
Speak to us today
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Write to us
Red Hill House
41 Hope Street
Chester
CH4 8BU
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Phone
01244 256864 or 07557 944185
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