Lorna Hobbs, DClinPsy, PhD

Career Highlights 

• Principal Clinical Psychologist in Gender Identity Development at Tavistock and Portman Clinic, London, England
• Tutor in Clinical and Professional Practice at University College London Medical School, London, England
• Freelance workshop facilitator in Gender and Sexuality within the NHS, universities, and social care and third sector organizations
• Published 9 articles in peer-reviewed journals and academic books
• Awarded National Institute for Health Research School for Primary Care Research PhD Scholarship in 2011
• Member of the World Professional Association of Transgender Health
• HCPC registered Clinical Psychologist

Education

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy) from the University of East London, England
• PhD in Psychosexual Difficulties from University College London, England
• Bachelor of Science in Psychological Science from the University of Queensland, Australia

Featured Publications

• “Help-Seeking for Sexual Difficulties and the Potential Role of Interactive Digital Interventions: Findings From the Third British National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles.” The Journal of Sex Research, vol. 56, no. 7, Sep 2019, doi: 10.1080/00224499.2019.1586820
• “Ethnic variations in pathways into early intervention services for psychosis.” British Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 202, no. 4, Apr 2013, doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.111.097865

My Journey in Psychology

I chose to focus on gender identity development in my psychology practice because transgender and non-binary people make up one of the most misunderstood and marginalized groups in society. It is a challenging area to work in, on multiple levels, but I’m very driven to help this community and contribute to change in this area.

My approach to therapy is collaborative and integrative, using evidence-based techniques and elements of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), compassion-focused therapy (CFT), narrative therapy, and systemic therapy. I aim to provide my clients with sensitivity and understanding in a judgment-free environment, while simultaneously helping them build insight around their experience to move towards positive change. By highlighting the relationship between how we think and feel, I guide clients to identify their values, strengths, and skills so they can confront their issues head-on. 

In private practice and within the NHS, I work mainly with adolescents and adults struggling with anxiety and depression. Another specialty of mine is in helping people with problems surrounding their sexuality, gender identity, and sexual and reproductive health. Additionally, I offer clinical supervision in gender identity work. 

I’m excited to have the chance to collaborate with Flo. Publishing in academic journals is an important aspect of my work, but it’s not the most accessible way to share ideas and experiences with the public. I enjoy contributing to the inclusivity of Flo’s content and supporting the mental well-being of our users around the globe.

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