About Dr McPhee
A little about me
I completed my American Psychological Association (APA)-accredited Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology at the Hawai‘i School of Professional Psychology in Honolulu, Hawaii
My clinical expertise is strengthened by an academic foundation rooted in attachment theory, identity, and the psychology of addiction. As part of my APA-accredited Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), my Clinical Research Project explored Adult Attachment Styles and Relationship Satisfaction (Gullu-McPhee, 2013). This work deepened my understanding of how early attachment patterns shape emotional intimacy, relational satisfaction, and identity — insights that continue to guide my attachment-focused and Schema Therapy work today.
Earlier in my doctoral training, my Master of Arts (2010) research examined The Role of Craving in Relapse in Nicotine Dependence and Nicotine Withdrawal, while my Master of Science (2007) focused on cue-induced craving in alcohol dependence. Together, this academic background provided a strong scientific grounding in addiction, emotion regulation, and the psychobiological roots of long-standing behavioural patterns — foundations that continue to inform my integrative clinical approach with adults.
Alongside my academic work, I spent three years training with the Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawai‘i and Hawai‘i’s First Circuit Court, working systemically with adolescents, families, and couples navigating addiction, trauma, and complex relational dynamics. Although I now work exclusively with adults in individual therapy, this systemic training gave me a profound appreciation for the interplay between personal history, family systems, cultural context, and emotional development — an understanding that deeply enriches my formulation-driven practice.
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My clinical development was shaped further by working in Hawai‘i — a uniquely multicultural environment where Pacific Islander, Asian, Native Hawaiian, North American, European, and Latino cultures intersect — and by completing my APA-accredited full-time clinical internship at Trinitas Regional Medical Center in New Jersey. During my internship, I gained experience in inpatient, partial/day hospital, and outpatient settings, receiving intensive Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) training that formed the foundation of my skills in working with emotional dysregulation and relational difficulties. I later continued this professional development through additional DBT training with Behavioral Tech in Princeton, New Jersey.
Since relocating to the UK in 2013, I have built a thriving private practice and continued to refine my expertise, completing Advanced Accreditation in Schema Therapy with the ISST, deepening my work in CFT and Chairwork, and pursuing advanced EMDR training guided by the evolving needs of my clients. This combination of rigorous academic research, rich multicultural experience, and over a decade of clinical practice forms the backbone of my therapeutic approach — allowing me to work with depth, precision, attunement, and a culturally informed understanding of how early experiences and emotional patterns shape the present.
- Chartered Clinical Psychologist.
- ISST Certified Advanced Schema Therapist
I believe in a healthy work–life balance
As a psychologist, I prioritise work–life balance and emotional well-being, both for myself and for the clients I support. Becoming a parent has given me a deeper appreciation of the real challenges of managing family life, professional responsibilities, and personal growth. This lived experience reinforces my belief in the importance of self-care, compassion, and resilience. Outside of my clinical work, I value time spent with my husband, our son, and our dog, and I enjoy tennis, art, and movement as part of our family life.
My life and training across different cultures have taught me how deeply our backgrounds shape who we are. This insight informs my ability to meet clients with empathy, nuance, and emotional clarity, offering a therapeutic relationship where they feel safe, valued, and deeply understood.