Dr Jessica Killilea is a Principal Clinical Psychologist who has over a decade of experience working with children and young people, and their families across different child and adolescent mental health services. Jessica uses several therapy modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Trauma Focussed CBT (TF-CBT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Suicide Prevention (CBSP), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP). Alongside this, she draws on principles from Family Therapy and systemic practice as well as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Jessica is passionate about ensuring psychological therapy is inclusive and culturally and religiously sensitive for everyone. She has worked extensively with young people from the LGBTQIA+ community as well as their families, to help support them to navigate the difficulties imposed on them such as social stigma, health inequalities, and mental health difficulties so that young people can have a better quality of life. Jessica also works holistically and adapts interventions to meet the needs of young people with physical health issues, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and learning disabilities. Additionally, she has worked with children, young people, and their families from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. She maintains the young person's beliefs and their family's values at the centre of her practice.
Jessica's current role within the NHS involves providing psychological assessment, formulation, consultation and therapeutic interventions for looked after children. She has extensive skills and experience working with the whole network around the young person, to develop a child-centred plan of care and treatment. This has included working with social care and educational professionals alongside family members, including extended family members and foster carers as well as birth parents. She has extensive skills and experience working with children and young people who have experienced significant trauma and adversity, including children who have attachment difficulties, developmental trauma, and Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD). She has also developed and delivered training packages to support residential care home staff, social workers, foster carers, and educational professionals to develop their knowledge of and skills in trauma-informed care for young people.
Jessica is a registered psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (PYL37555).