I have been working as a therapist in the NHS for 13 years, predominantly working in specialist anxiety services. During this time, I have developed a strong awareness of the significant impact that OCD, and related conditions, can have on the lives of the individual and their family. However, I have also had the privilege of working with many young people, adults and their families to see change and recovery happen and to work alongside people to help them reclaim their lives to achieve an OCD free life. I am committed to offering evidence-based practice to support the people I work with to truly achieve recovery from OCD. I work in a compassionate but playful way that enables me to hold hope even in response to the most challenging situations and I am passionate about supporting people to develop the skills they need to achieve meaningful change and recovery in their lives.

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In addition to working with OCD, my background involves research and clinical specialism in emetophobia, a fear of vomit. I have experience of working alongside experts in the field to develop the evidence base and understanding of effectively treating emetophobia, working successfully with many clients and delivering teaching and training packages to clinicians across the country.

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Education and Training

• MSc Social Science Research Methods School of Psychology, Cardiff University (2006-2007)

• PhD Developmental Psychopathology School of Psychology, Cardiff University (2007-2010)

• DClinPsy (Clinical Psychology Doctorate), University of Bath, (2012-2015)

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Selected Publications

Waite, P., Dr, Klampe, M., Walters, S., & Salkovskis, P. M. (2023, April 21). Utilising Patient and Public Involvement to Increase the Acceptability of Brief CBT for OCD in Young People. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/tcqm8

 

Chessell, C., Halldorsson, B., Walters, S., Farrington, A., Harvey, K., & Creswell, C. (2022, August 5). Therapist guided, parent-led, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for preadolescent children with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Retrieved from osf.io/kw34u

 

Creswell, Cathy, Walters, Sasha, Halldorsson, Brynjar and Lawrence, Peter (2021) Anxiety disorders in children and young people. In, Psychology: Oxford Research Encyclopedias. (doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780190236557.013.849).

 

Barton, J. A. L., Salkovskis, P., & Walters, S. (2021). Investigating the diagnostic specificity of attachment and relational needs in hoarding disorder. Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, 30.

 

Walters, S. L., Salkovskis, P. M., Halldorsson, B., & Elgie, S. (2020). A preliminary investigation of excessive reassurance-seeking and attachment-related behaviours in adolescents with OCD. Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, 24, Article 100503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocrd.2019.100503

 

Walters, S., Loades, M. & Russell, A. A Systematic Review of Effective Modifications to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Young People with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Rev J Autism Dev Disord 3, 137–153 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-016-0072-2

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Projects

​OCD-UK Virtual Conference Family Focus Videos: I have spoken at several OCD-UK National Conferences about OCD in children and young people. Videos from one of the virtual conferences can be found here. 

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