Empathy and professionalism: we are a team and we believe it is important that every member of our team has direct or indirect experience of OCD. 

Therapists
All of our therapists are selected for their qualifications, experience and quite simply, how much they love their work. They know that OCD is a complicated, all-encompassing condition so they are prepared for hard work. They know that OCD can be bizarre and frightening but they will never be shocked or surprised. They don’t consider themselves elite or experts but part of a team. They don’t forget how bad life with OCD can get but always know how good it can be. They never put themselves in a position to judge people. Above all, our therapists are human beings.

India Haylor, (BSc, MSc, Member BABCP)
Founder & Director
email India

The OCD Centre is the result of India’s own experience and work in the field of OCD.

India left University and worked in the financial City of London where she was a graduate investment analyst and completed her SFA and Society of Investment Analysts qualifications. She left the City to run her own Financial Public Relations Company before leaving to pursue a life-long ambition of launching a fashion label. In addition to her knack for picking stress-free occupations, India had to develop coping strategies for periods of struggle with OCD.

After speaking to no less than 10 therapists, none of which could offer specific coping skills for OCD, she came across the Charity, First Steps to Freedom, who were very supportive and showed her techniques to manage anxiety generated by OCD.  Suitably impressed, India volunteered to work on their helpline and noticed that 60% of their annual 17,000 callers were either struggling with OCD themselves or enquiring for family and friends. A lack of awareness and accessible treatment options in the UK health sector meant that people were just not getting the help they so badly needed. It was a natural progression for her to start dealing with OCD-based calls and eventually she led one of their Help Groups specifically for OCD whilst she began research and training as a therapist.

During this time she met Dr Jeffrey Schwartz who was of great support and encouragement. He strongly influenced India’s perspectives on the neurobiology of OCD and his research into the pathology of the condition has impacted clinical opinion worldwide. In the meantime India wrote a programme to manage her OCD and suggested techniques to callers who found them very beneficial.  After training, she  set up a private practice using her programme which has now become the OCD Centre.

India oversees the Clinical Practice at the Centre and every month holds an intensive 5 day course in London, which is usually oversubscribed. She speaks at conferences and workshops and has been featured in the media many times over the last few years, including publications such as the Sunday Times, Marie Claire, Evening Standard and Daily Mail. She has appeared on the Richard & Judy Show for Channel 4, and BBC Breakfast TV. She has been interviewed numerous times on Radio 4 and has answered phone-ins for Radio 5 Live and LBC. She has also acted as a consultant to BBC Science, Channel 5, Channel 4 and the Discovery Channel during the production of mental health documentaries.

India uses integrative techniques and was trained in Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy at Goldsmiths’s College, University of London, under Professor Windy Dryden.

Max Eames (Member, BACP (Accred.), UKRC Reg.)
Therapist
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Max has both direct and indirect experience of OCD. Max's 'coaching' style facilitates deep and long-lasting personal transformations. His concept of the 'Trusty Toolbag'TM uses imaginative techniques that profoundly shift "what you do with what you've got." Max is aware that many of us possess qualities like industriousness and perfectionism. However, he acknowledges the doubt, fear and shame that so often surround a life affected by OCD; never mind the vigilance and the resultant exhaustion. Max's particular approach establishes that while this condition colours our own self-esteem, it often influences that of people around us who we'd like to bring more fully into our lives.

A member of King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Max has also been an NHS Independent Provider since 1997, enabling him to provide psychotherapy and counselling services to any Primary Care Trust or Strategic Health Authority in the United Kingdom.

Cheryl Meikle (BA, MSc, Dip AG, PGCE, Member BACP)
Therapist
email Cheryl
Cheryll Meikle trained in Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy at Goldsmiths College, University of London, under Professor Windy Dryden and practises this model of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to treat a range of anxiety disorders including panic disorder, social phobia and generalised anxiety disorder as well as OCD.

In addition to the work that she does with adults, Cheryll has a particular interest and an extensive knowledge of the emotional and behavioural difficulties which affect children and young people. She has worked successfully with parents and the education system over the last fifteen years to help them find solutions to the difficulties they face with young and teenage children.

Jenny Spiliotopoulou (BSc, MSc, Member BACP)
Therapist
email Jenny
After graduating from London Metropolitan University with an honours degree in Applied Psychology in 2003 Jenny has been solely involved in the field of mental health.

Her clinical work began in a range of settings, providing individual and group therapy for a number of problems. She became based at a GP’s practice  helping people deal with emotional and psychological issues: from OCD and anxiety to depression and relationship issues. 

Additionally she has worked in the public sector therapeutic community with more acute conditions such as schizophrenia and manic-depression.

John McCormack (Member BACP (Accred), UKRC Reg, MCRAH)
Therapist
email John
John holds an Advanced Diploma in Counselling and a Diploma in Therapeutic Hypnosis and Psychotherapy. He is an experienced counsellor working with anxiety related conditions including depression, PTSD, OCD and addictions. His interest in this area of work stems from his own personal experience and that of close relations. He also has considerable experience working in a variety of settings; from youth agencies, addiction programmes, to working with perpetrators and survivors of abuse.

He is currently employed as a full-time Tutor/Lecturer and Course Coordinator for Counselling Courses at a College of Further Education. He also provides clinical supervision to counsellors at Victim Support and runs a private counselling practice.

As an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (MBACP-Accred.) he is bound by its Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Mariana Santos Costas (BSc, MSc (in process))
Therapist
email Mariana

Therapists’ Support
We know that therapy can seem daunting and unfamiliar so we have set up a network of people we call Therapists Support. They are caring people who have been through our treatment and are either in training to be a therapist or strongly considering it. They are volunteers who answer our helpline, assist at workshops and can talk to potential clients about their experiences. Some of them are still working hard on their own OCD. We value them greatly and realise that they are likely to be our future therapists.

Clinton Payne
Team Leader, Therapists’ Support

email Clinton
Clint has suffered from OCD since the age of 5.  He came to the Centre for treatment and now works closely with the therapists at the centre providing support to both therapists and clients during group sessions.  His own experiences of responsibility OCD mean that he can bring a fresh and personal perspective to those determined to succeed in treatment as he has done.  He is an excellent listener andknows all too well the pain OCD can cause to the person and their family. He has appeared on the Trisha Show and the Revelation Channel.

He is responsible for coordinating our network of Therapist Supporters and is  currently in training as a therapist.

Fund Raising

Georgina King
Director of Fundraising
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Georgina is responsible for raising funds and overseeing our trust to help people with OCD who cannot afford treatment. She hopes that by raising money we can help more people and bring awareness of OCD to a wider audience. On a daily basis, she works on initiatives and events to raise resources which will be allocated via a separate committee.

Georgina is a career administrator who has worked with various large UK corporations. She also runs her own online business and in her spare time is involved in animal welfare.

She has OCD, was once housebound, and has great empathy for the situations of those in crisis who need assistance and support.

Administration & Management

Chez Payne-Annetts
Practice Manager
email Chez
Chez joined us in August 2005 after caring for someone with OCD for many years. She was previously in financial investment and is now lending her administrative and management skills to running the Centre. She is responsible for client liaison, coordination.

Chez is a qualified drama coach and in her spare time has made numerous stage appearances in London. Recently she has been using her drama skills in a therapeutic capacity to help people with OCD. She has found that those people who find it difficult
to express their feelings verbally can be shown other means of expression, especially young people. She now adds OCD Drama Workshops to her list of achievements at the Centre.