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.
- Chartered Clinical Psychologist.
- ISST Certified Advanced Schema Therapist
Assessment & Diagnostic Training
Alongside my doctoral training, I developed extensive experience in comprehensive psychological assessment. This included advanced training in cognitive assessment (including Wechsler Adult and Children’s scales and the Stanford–Binet), as well as objective and personality assessment measures such as the MMPI, MCMI, and PAI, alongside training in projective approaches including the Rorschach, used within comprehensive diagnostic formulations.
I began applying this training in clinical practice through my work with the Department of Education in the Honolulu District, where I conducted detailed psychological assessments for children and adolescents referred for comprehensive diagnostic clarification, formulation, and personalised, evidence-based treatment recommendations.
This was followed by my APA-accredited clinical internship at Trinitas Regional Medical Center in New Jersey, where I continued to carry out comprehensive psychological assessments with both adults and young people across inpatient, partial hospital, and outpatient settings. Clients were referred by clinicians for comprehensive diagnostic clarification, formulation, and personalised, evidence-based treatment recommendations, particularly in cases where presentations were complex, overlapping, or not easily explained by a single diagnosis.
This foundation in careful, formulation-driven assessment continues to underpin my approach today. In my clinical work in the UK, I increasingly observed how many adults were struggling with undiagnosed or misdiagnosed psychological problems including ADHD, often having received support that did not fully address their underlying difficulties. This led me to return to formal assessment work through advanced postdoctoral training, with a focus on providing thorough, evidence-based assessments that move beyond reductive, checklist-based approaches. My aim is always to offer clarity, accuracy, and meaningful recommendations, grounded in a deep understanding of each individual’s history, strengths, and challenges.
Therapeutic Approach & Clinical Expertise
During my clinical training, I spent three years working 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.
Working within Hawai‘i’s uniquely multicultural context, where Pacific Islander, Asian, Native Hawaiian, North American, European, and Latino cultures intersect, further deepened my understanding of how culture, identity, and relational context influence emotional wellbeing and psychological development.
During my APA-accredited clinical internship at Trinitas Regional Medical Center in New Jersey, I also gained experience across inpatient, partial hospital, and outpatient settings, conducting assessment, delivering therapies and receiving intensive Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) training that formed the foundation of my work 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 Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and Chairwork, and pursuing advanced EMDR training guided by the evolving needs of my clients.
This integration of rigorous academic research, comprehensive assessment training, and over a decade of clinical practice allows me to work with both depth and precision, offering a therapeutic approach that is attuned, formulation-driven, and grounded in a culturally informed understanding of how early experiences and emotional patterns shape the present.
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.