Dr Gazal Jones (DClinPsy, MSc, BSc)
ChiPP Clinical Director and Senior Clinical Psychologist
Adult and Child Mental Health, Anxiety Disorders, OCD and Autism Spectrum Condition
Hello, my name is Gazal and I am a Senior Clinical Psychologist based in Greenwich and Peckham Rye, South East London. I believe we all need to nurture our mental health. I know it can be difficult to ask for help when we are struggling but over the years, I have truly come to appreciate that asking for help is a sign of strength and not a weakness. My main aim is to support my clients in using this strength to achieve their goals and overcome difficulties.
I have a particular interest in anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and working with Autism and ADHD. I have over twelve years’ experience of working therapeutically within the NHS with children, adults and families struggling with a range of mental health conditions. Alongside my private practice. I have over 6 years of experience working in national and specialist CAMHS, providing specialist OCD assessment and treatment to young people and families across the UK.
I am experienced in delivering evidence-based treatment, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), narrative therapy and family based therapy for a range of mental health conditions.
I have significant experience in:
Background
I completed my MSc in Mental Health Studies at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London and my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London. I also regularly teach on the UCL, IoPPN and Royal Holloway MSc and Doctoral Psychology courses, and train NHS professionals and school staff in identifying and working with mental health difficulties. I am fluent in Urdu, Hindi and Swedish.
I am fully registered with the Health Care Professional Council as a Registered Clinical Psychologist: PYL32593. I work with Cigna and Aviva insurance providers only.
Research
I am passionate about improving access to mental health services. I have delivered and evaluated community interventions to school staff, children, teenagers and parents, with a long-term aim of developing services that are sensitive to cultural, ethnic and religious needs. I have an interest in providing effective treatment for taboo obsessions such as, race related or sexual obsessions and I am writing on how clinicians approach these obsessions in CBT for OCD.
Publications
Jones, G., & Jassi, A. (2020). Modified Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Severe, Treatment Resistant Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in an Adolescent with Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Importance of Parental Involvement. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 34(4), 319- 335.
Jones, G., Jassi, A. & Mataix-Cols, D. (2019). Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Association of Child and Adolescent Mental Health: London. https://www.acamh.org/topic/ocd/
Jones, G., Wroe A., Jefferys, G., Jezard, L., & Brown, G. (2018). Working with Interpretations in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 11(6).
Lounes, N., Khan, G*., & Tchanturia, K. (2011). Assessment of Cognitive Flexibility in Anorexia Nervosa – Self-report or Experimental Measure? A Brief Report. Journal of International Neuropsychological Society, 17, 1 – 4.
*publication under maiden name
I have a particular interest in anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and working with Autism and ADHD. I have over twelve years’ experience of working therapeutically within the NHS with children, adults and families struggling with a range of mental health conditions. Alongside my private practice. I have over 6 years of experience working in national and specialist CAMHS, providing specialist OCD assessment and treatment to young people and families across the UK.
I am experienced in delivering evidence-based treatment, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), narrative therapy and family based therapy for a range of mental health conditions.
I have significant experience in:
- Anxiety and stress including social anxiety, general anxiety, panic, separation anxiety, social anxiety, fears and phobias
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Anxiety and low mood in the context of Autism Spectrum Condition and ADHD
- Low mood, low self-esteem and depression
- Parenting a child with anxiety
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, narrative therapy and family based therapy
- Specialist assessment of OCD and Body Dysmorphic Disorder
- Specialist treatment of OCD and repetitive behaviours
- Specialist treatment for OCD and anxiety disorders adapted for those with Autism Spectrum Condition
- Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) programme: this programme supports parents in making changes to improve family life and their child’s life when the child is struggling to make these changes themselves.
Background
I completed my MSc in Mental Health Studies at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London and my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London. I also regularly teach on the UCL, IoPPN and Royal Holloway MSc and Doctoral Psychology courses, and train NHS professionals and school staff in identifying and working with mental health difficulties. I am fluent in Urdu, Hindi and Swedish.
I am fully registered with the Health Care Professional Council as a Registered Clinical Psychologist: PYL32593. I work with Cigna and Aviva insurance providers only.
Research
I am passionate about improving access to mental health services. I have delivered and evaluated community interventions to school staff, children, teenagers and parents, with a long-term aim of developing services that are sensitive to cultural, ethnic and religious needs. I have an interest in providing effective treatment for taboo obsessions such as, race related or sexual obsessions and I am writing on how clinicians approach these obsessions in CBT for OCD.
Publications
Jones, G., & Jassi, A. (2020). Modified Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Severe, Treatment Resistant Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in an Adolescent with Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Importance of Parental Involvement. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 34(4), 319- 335.
Jones, G., Jassi, A. & Mataix-Cols, D. (2019). Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Association of Child and Adolescent Mental Health: London. https://www.acamh.org/topic/ocd/
Jones, G., Wroe A., Jefferys, G., Jezard, L., & Brown, G. (2018). Working with Interpretations in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 11(6).
Lounes, N., Khan, G*., & Tchanturia, K. (2011). Assessment of Cognitive Flexibility in Anorexia Nervosa – Self-report or Experimental Measure? A Brief Report. Journal of International Neuropsychological Society, 17, 1 – 4.
*publication under maiden name
Projects and charity involvement
2021
BBC Radio 4
I recently joined Tuppence Middleton in mythbusting misconceptions around OCD and raising awareness for this debilitating condition.
For a listen, please follow link below or download file
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000v2rw
BBC Radio 4
I recently joined Tuppence Middleton in mythbusting misconceptions around OCD and raising awareness for this debilitating condition.
For a listen, please follow link below or download file
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000v2rw
| onetoone-20210413-ocdtuppencemiddletontalkstogazaljones.mp3 |
OCD is not me
In my work with OCD I have realised that others don't know much about it. I often hear people saying 'I'm a bit OCD' and laughing about it. OCD, however is a very difficult and debilitating condition to live with for both young people and their families. I recently worked on a project as part of my role at South London and Maudsley NHS Trust and supported the development of this video - a video made by parents for parents that we want to made widely available. Please have a look if you would like to learn more about OCD.
In my work with OCD I have realised that others don't know much about it. I often hear people saying 'I'm a bit OCD' and laughing about it. OCD, however is a very difficult and debilitating condition to live with for both young people and their families. I recently worked on a project as part of my role at South London and Maudsley NHS Trust and supported the development of this video - a video made by parents for parents that we want to made widely available. Please have a look if you would like to learn more about OCD.
2019
Association of Child and Adolescent Mental Health - Podcast
What is OCD and how does it affect youth. For more information listen to the full podcast here:
https://soundcloud.com/user-664361280/in-conversation-ocd-with-dr-amita-jassi-dr-gazal-jones
OCD Action Conference - OCD and Diversity Workshop
OCD does not discriminate! It affects children, adults and people from all ethnicities and cultural backgrounds. I delivered a workshop at the OCD Action annual conference encouraging people to understand the diversity that exists in OCD and to think about what changes we need to make to ensure that all those who struggle with OCD have access to good quality treatment.
2018
OCD Q&A
OCD is often misunderstood and I did a Q&A on OCD as part of my role at South London and Maudsley NHS Trust for the Southwark News to raise awareness for OCD. For more information visit:
https://www.southwarknews.co.uk/news/maudlsey-hopes-new-film-on-ocd-will-raise-awareness-of-the-misunderstood-condition/
OCD-UK Conference Parent Workshops
Parents and families often find that OCD takes over their lives and it can be difficult to know how to best support your child through it. I delivered parent workshops with a colleague at the OCD-UK conference focusing on the key areas parents struggle with such as challenging behaviours, how to manage reassurance and giving into compulsions and how to support children and young people to seek therapeutic support.