About us

Dr Fiona Starr and Dr Karen Ciclitira have worked closely together as colleagues in the university and private sector for fifteen years. Fiona trained as a clinical psychologist and has extensive experience of working with families and children, mainly in the NHS; Karen worked as a Senior Manager in business before researching for a PhD and training as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist.

In 2012 they set up the Harley Street Psychology Practice to combine their different skills and trainings. Clare Lewis was subsequently invited to work as an associate at HSPP. Fiona and Karen have referred families to her for therapy for many years, and Clare’s ability to work successfully with families and young children’s behavioural and emotional issues in different settings (including in clients’ homes) has proved an invaluable addition to the Practice.

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Dr KAREN CICLITIRAPhD., C.Psychol., AFBPsS., PGCertHE. Director of Clinical and Training Services Karen's biography Click to expand

karen_ciclitira

Dr Karen Ciclitira
Email: karen.ciclitira@hspp.uk
Tel:      020 7586 1447

Karen is an Associate Professor in Psychology and a Chartered Psychologist. A psychotherapist with wide experience, Karen is client-focussed and works with adults of all ages. She specialises in working with women and men with anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, sexual issues, including violence and abuse, and problems connected to physical illness.

Her academic activities include publications in scientific and psychology journals, supervision of doctoral students, and teaching and training within both the university and private sectors. She also sees clients for therapy in Belsize Park, London, NW3.

Karen is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist with accreditation from the British Psychological Society (BPS), the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), and the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC). She has over twenty years clinical experience within the NHS, private and voluntary sectors. She has qualifications in Business Management and in Higher Education and has been a university teacher for over a decade.

After obtaining a BSc in Psychology and Counselling from Surrey University, Karen was awarded a PhD in Psychology (with funding from the Economic and Scientific Research Council) from Manchester Metropolitan University. She trained with the British Association of Psychotherapists, is an associate fellow of the British Psychological Society, a registered Chartered Psychologist, and was elected Chair of the Psychology of Women’s Section of the British Psychological Society from 2007 to 2009.

Prior to working as an academic and a psychotherapist, Karen held various consultancy and managerial roles in London and in Sydney, Australia. As Associate Professor at Middlesex University in the Psychology Department she teaches mental health and research methods to psychology undergraduates and postgraduates. She is a supervisor to doctoral students at Middlesex University and City University, London, and she also supervises counsellors and psychotherapists.

Karen’s research has been published in a variety of scientific and psychology journals. Topics of her research include women’s mental health, sexuality, self-harm, the evaluation of counselling services, eating disorders, and culture and diversity in clinical trainings. She regularly presents at national and international conferences and sits on a range of advisory boards and committees. She is a member of the following Professional Bodies and Learned Societies:

  • Association for Psychosocial Studies
  • British Psychological Society (BPS), Associate Fellow
  • British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
  • British Psychotherapy Foundation
  • British Psychoanalytic Council
  • BPS Psychotherapy Section
  • BPS Psychology of Women’s Section
  • BPS Qualitative methods Section
  • Institute of Psychoanalysis
  • Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care


Dr Karen Ciclitira’s publications


Ciclitira, K., Starr, F., Payne, N., & Clarke, L. (2017). A sanctuary of tranquillity in a ruptured world: Evaluating long-term counselling at a women’s community health centre. Feminism & Psychology, 27, 4, 530-552.

Powell, C., Marzano, L. & Ciclitira, K. (2017). Mother-infant separations in prison. A systematic attachment-focused review of the academic and grey literature. The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 28, 6, 790-810.

Marzano, L., Ciclitira, K., & Adler, J. (2016). Non-suicidal self-harm amongst incarcerated men: A qualitative study. Journal of Criminal Psychology, 6, 4, 157-172.

Powell, C., Ciclitira, K., & Marzano, L. (2020). Overwhelmed and powerless: Staff perspectives on mother-infant separations in English prison, Journal of Criminal Psychology, 10, 4, 311-328.

Powell, C., Marzano, L., & Ciclitira, K. (2016). Mother-infant separations in prison. A systematic attachment-focused policy review. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry, and Psychology, 28, 2, 274-289.

Starr, F. & Ciclitira, K. (2015). Who does what, where and how? A portrait of UK psychologists in the Independent sector. Clinical Psychology Forum, 273, 15-23.

Payne, N., Ciclitira, K., Starr, F., Marzano, L., & Brunswick, N. (2015).  Evaluation of long-term counselling at a community health service for women who are on a low income. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 15, 2, 79-87.  Click here to view

Marzano, L., Adler, J., & Ciclitira, K. (2015). Responding to repetitive, non-suicidal self-harm in an English male prison: Staff experiences, reactions and concerns. Legal and Criminological Psychology, 20, 241-254. Click here to view

Starr, F. & Ciclitira, K. (2015). Who does what, where and how? A portrait of UK psychologists in the independent sector. Clinical Psychology Forum, 273, 15-23.

Starr, F. & Ciclitira, K. (2014). Setting up in private practice. Therapy Today, 25, 3, 24-27.

Ciclitira, K. & Foster, N. (2013). Diversity: A helpful first step. New Associations, 12, Summer, 6.

Starr, F., Ciclitira, K., Marzano, L., Brunswick, N. & Costa, A. (2013), Comfort and challenge: A thematic analysis of female clinicians’ experiences of supervision. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 86, 3, 334-351. Theo, Res, Pra.  Click here to view

Ciclitira, K., Starr, F., Marzano, L., Brunswick, N., & Costa, A. (2012). Women counsellors’ experiences of personal therapy: a thematic analysis. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 12, 2, 136-145.  Click here to view

Ciclitira K. & Foster, N. (2012). Attention to Culture and Diversity in Psychoanalytic Trainings. British Journal of Psychotherapy, 28, 3, 353-373. Click here to view

Marzano, L., Ciclitira, K., & Adler, J. (2012). The Impact of staff responses on self harming behaviours: prisoners’ perspectives. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 51, 1, 4-18. Click here to view

Reveley, K. & Ciclitira, K. (2011). Life on the psychiatric ward: a qualitative study. British Journal of Wellbeing, 2, 7, 41-43.

Marzano, L., Capdevila, R., Ciclitira, K., & Lazard, L. (2009). Justice and care: Theorising the ‘new man’ and the ‘caring father’. The Psychology of Women Section Review, 11, 2, 11-20.

Kelly, A., & Ciclitira, K. (2011). Eating and drinking habits of young London-based men: A qualitative study. Journal of Gender Studies, 20, 3, 223-235. Click here to view

DeSouza, P., & Ciclitira, K. (2005). Men and dieting: A qualitative analysis. Journal of Health Psychology, 10, 6, 793-804.  Click here to view

Ciclitira, K., Marzano, L., Brunswick, N., Starr, F., & Berger, S. (2004). Theoretical and ethical issues in conducting research at a women’s health centre.  Psychology of Women Section Review, 6, 1, 60-69.

Ciclitira, K., & Weaver, J. (Eds) (2002). The body.  The Psychologist, 15, 4, 180-198.

Dr FIONA STARRD.Clin.Psy., C.Psychol., AFBPsS., PGCertHE. Director of Clinical and Training Servicess Fiona's biography Click to expand

fiona_starr

Dr Fiona Starr
Email: fiona.starr@hspp.uk
Tel:     020 7586 1447

Dr Fiona Starr is an Associate Professor in Psychology and a Chartered Clinical Psychologist specialising in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for children, adolescents and families.

Fiona is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with chartered status from the British Psychological Society (BPS), and is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). She has a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education, and has taught in the university sector for over a decade. She has had more than twenty years experience working in the NHS, voluntary and private sectors.

After obtaining a BA (Hons) in Psychology from Manchester University, Fiona was awarded a Clinical Doctorate from the University of East London in conjunction with the Camden and Islington NHS Trust. She completed her clinical training in a number of London teaching hospitals, and then undertook further family therapy training at the Tavistock Clinic. She is an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (AFBPsS).

As an Associate Professor at Middlesex University in the Psychology Department, Fiona teaches various aspects of psychology, counselling, therapy and

mental health to undergraduates and postgraduates. She has taught on several clinical and counselling psychology training courses, and she supervises clinical and counselling psychologists. She also sees clients for therapy in Muswell Hill, London N10.

Fiona’s research has been published in a variety of scientific psychology journals and has been reported in the media. Her research interests include the psychology of childbirth, parenting and family life, the evaluation of counselling services, qualitative experiences of counselling and supervision, and student attitudes to psychology. She is a member of the following Professional Bodies and Learned Societies:

  • Association of Family Therapy
  • BPS (Associate Fellow)
  • British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (BABCP)
  • BPS Division of Clinical Psychology
  • BPS Expert Witness Register
  • BPS Faculty for Children and Families
  • BPS Qualitative methods section
  • IARPP (International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy)

Dr Fiona Starr’s publications

Starr, F. & Ciclitira, K. (2014). Setting up in private practice. Therapy Today, 25, 3, 24-27.

Payne, N., Ciclitira, K., Starr, F., Marzano, L., & Brunswick, N. (2014). Evaluation of long-term counselling at a community health service for women who are on a low income. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research (in press).  Click here to view

Ciclitira, K., Starr, F., Marzano, L., Brunswick, N., & Costa, A. (2012). Women Counsellors’ experiences of personal therapy: a thematic analysis. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 12, 2, 136-145.  Click here to view

Starr, F., Ciclitira, K., Marzano, L., Brunswick, N. & Costa, A. (2012), Comfort and challenge: A thematic analysis of female clinicians’ experiences of supervision. Psychology and Psychotherapy, 86, 3, 334-351. Theo, Res, Pra.  Click here to view

Ciclitira, K., Marzano, L., Brunswick, N., Starr, F. & Berger, S. (2004). Theoretical and ethical issues in conducting research at a Women’s Health Centre. Psychology of Women Section Review, 6, 1, 60-69.

Furnham, A., Baluch, B., & Starr, F. (2003). Students’ knowledge of abnormal psychology. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 16, 4, 331-336.

Books

Starr, F. & Zucker, J. (2003). Dream themes: A guide to understanding Your Dreams. New York: MQP. Starr, F. (2002). Chapters on: historical overview of mental illness, schizophrenia, eating disorders for Grolier Encyclopaedia of Psychology. Norwich: Grolier.

Reports and Questionnaires

Starr, F. & Ciclitira, K. (2012). Psychologists in independent practice. A contemporary portrait of psychologists in the independent sector. Report for the British Psychological Society.

Starr, F., & Ciclitira, K. (2011). Psychologists working in independent practice. The i-PracQ (a questionnaire) designed in conjunction with the British Psychological Society to examine psychology practitioners’ experience of working within the public and independent sectors.

Ciclitira, K., Payne, N., Starr, F., Marzano, L., & Costa, A. (2010). Executive summary. Evaluation of Women and Health’s counselling service. Report on a longitudinal clinical research project: 2003-2010. Ciclitira, K., Payne, N., Starr, F., Marzano, L., & Costa, A. (2010). Evaluation of Women and Health’s counselling service. Full report on a longitudinal clinical research project: 2003-2010.

Ciclitira, K., & Foster, N. (2010). The BAP trainings and diversity issues. Executive summary report for the British Association of Psychotherapists. The British Association of Psychotherapists Newsletter, 67, 32- 42.

Ciclitira, K., & Foster, N. (2010). Issues of diversity and

ethnicity in BAP training programmes. Report for the British Association of Psychotherapists.

Dr Fiona Starr’s Media Contributions

Family Podcast for the Guardian, April 30th, 2010: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/audio/2010/ apr/30/family-podcast-leaders-wives Toy guns and teacups’, Life and style section, The Guardian. 10.04.2010 Femail.co.uk regular expert, Associated News Media, September 2000 to September 2003

‘It’s more than just physical – the emotional impact of pregnancy’, Practical Parenting’s Complete Guide to Pregnancy. January 2002.

‘Mum’s Love Q & A’, Expecting Our Baby Magazine, IPC, Media. June 2001.

‘Clashes and conflicts – How pregnancy affects work relationships’, Practical Parenting’s Complete Guide to Pregnancy. October 2001.

‘Hypnosis for pregnancy and childbirth’, D.C. Thompson & Co. Ltd for syndication, from February 2001.

‘Baby learning kits pros and cons’, New Baby Magazine, Feb 12th 2001.

CLARE LEWIS Associate, Harley Street Psychology Practice Clare's biography Click to expand

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Clare Lewis
Email: clare.lewis@hspp.uk
Tel:      020 7586 1447

Clare Lewis is a Child Therapist with accreditation from Play Therapy UK, and a Systemic Family Practitioner (Association of Family Therapy). She also trained as an Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) therapist at the Tree House Trust, London.

Clare has been a family and child therapist for over fifteen years. She works with children, carers and families in both home and school settings. Her work focuses on children with behavioural, emotional and relationship problems. She has extensive experience with families of children with behavioural difficulties, including children on the autistic spectrum. Clare undertakes treatment with individual children and families both at home and in school when appropriate. She is also available for therapy and consultation in her clinic in Highgate.

Clare Lewis is the author and illustrator of The House on the Hill (2012), a book for primary school children talking about how to deal with difficult emotions.

Clare’s areas of expertise include:

  • Adoption and looked-after children
  • Children’s anger management
  • Children’s bedtime and homework difficulties
  • Children’s emotional issues
  • Family communication difficulties
  • Parenting skills
  • Supporting children through difficult life events (parental divorce, bereavement etc.)