Dr Ellen Wheller

Professional statement

Dr Ellen Wheller is a highly accomplished applied counselling psychologist who specialises in ADHD, autism, trauma, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, and cognitive behavioural therapy. She currently practises at the Brain Health Clinic. 

She has had a diverse and multifaceted career, starting in education and psychology, proceeding with social work, therapy, and reached her goal and is now a chartered counselling psychologist. What attracted Dr Wheller to a career in counselling psychology was its value basis. This embraces everyone’s uniqueness as individuals and different aspects of identity and therefore she tailors interventions to each person’s uniqueness. Dr Wheller targets a range of problems which are highlighted in her therapeutic interventions.

After completing an undergraduate degree in psychology and education, she pursued a master’s degree in social work. Building upon this foundation, Dr Wheller undertook postgraduate training in integrative therapy, motivational interviewing, brief solution-focused therapy, therapeutic life story work, Dyadic Developmental Practice (DDP), and sensory attachment intervention. This training supported a career as a therapeutic consultant social worker, with over 20 years of experience working with children and families.

Advancing her expertise, Dr Wheller developed her portfolio to doctoral level in applied psychology, combining evidence-based approaches such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and systemic therapy, all of which place the person at the center of relational practice. Experience within NHS Secondary CAMHS (Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services) further enriched Dr Wheller’s practice, offering insights into complex diagnoses, including anxiety, depression, self-harm, eating disorders, PTSD, and neurodiversity.

Dr Wheller has also specialised in autism, completing training in the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2). Dr. Wheller has significant experience working with adults in various settings, including forensic environments, substance misuse services, and private residential secure settings. Work in specialized areas, such as sexual abuse with the NSPCC, complements her private practice, where she supports adults managing loss, neurodiversity, anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

Additionally, Dr Wheller handles select insurance cases related to road accident claims. As a trainer, Dr Wheller has delivered programs on attachment and trauma, motivational interviewing, sensory intervention, mindfulness, loss, sand tray therapy, principles of DDP parenting, and therapeutic life story work to diverse audiences, including university students, foster carers, professionals, and residential staff. Integrating a wide range of therapeutic interventions enables her to create bespoke care packages tailored to individual needs.

Recent developments include training in Level 1 Animal-Assisted Play Therapy, incorporating her passion for animals into therapeutic work. Her extensive portfolio also includes management, service development, coaching, supervision, and training. This includes designing intensive family support models, conducting data analysis, and creating cost-reduction tools to secure sustainable funding for social services teams.

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