The NWCED Team

Caroline Vermes - Director

M.Ed (Counselling Psychology, Rutgers University, USA), MBACP (Accred.) is a psychotherapist who has specialised in the treatment of eating disorders since 1993. Past positions include Staff Psychotherapist, Eating Disorders Program, University Medical Center at Princeton, New Jersey, USA; and Conference Chair for the American Anorexia/Bulimia Association of New Jersey. She is accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and is a Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society.

Debbie Withers - Assistant Director

M.Sc (Counselling Psychology, University of Wolverhampton) has worked as a counsellor with NWCED since 2003. She is also Associate Lecturer in Psychology for the Open University. She is a graduate Member of the British Psychological Society.

Charlotte Horton - Senior Counsellor

P.G.Dip (Counselling Studies, University of Manchester) has worked as a counsellor and Drop-In coordinator with NWCED since 2005. She is a member of the BACP and is actively working towards BACP accreditation. Charlotte is involved in a variety of NWCED services including supported self-help groups and the Intensive Outpatient Programme.

Marina Skourteli - Senior Counsellor

MA (Counselling Studies, University of Manchester), MBACP, MBPS, HPC Reg. is a Chartered Counselling Psychologist who has worked as a counsellor with NWCED since 2005. She is particularly interested in relational psychotherapy (individual and group) and is currently studying for a Professional Doctorate at Central University of London.

Jenny Ferguson - Senior Counsellor

M.A. (Counselling Studies, University of Manchester), MBACP, has worked as a counsellor with NWCED since 2005. She enjoys working with individuals of all age groups and families.

David Fenton - Senior Counsellor

MBACP (Accred.) is a person-centred counsellor, qualified since 2000, who has worked at Oakwood House since 2002. He is currently studying for his MA in Psychological Therapies. In addition to his work with us he is Staff Counsellor for two NHS Trusts, one in a lead role.

Tayeba Jaleel - Senior Counsellor

P.G.Dip (Counselling, Birkbeck College, London), P.G.Dip (Psychoanalytical Observational Studies, The Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust, London), MBACP (Accred) joined NWCED in 2010. Tayeba is accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and has over seven years post-qualifying experience of working with children, adolescents and adults in individual and group settings. She is bi-lingual, fluent in Urdu and in English.

Karen Buckley - Trainee Counsellor

Dip. (Social Work, University of Manchester), Dip. (Counselling, Manchester College), commenced her training placement with NWCED in 2009. Karen has worked with children and families since 2002 as a social worker and Connexions adviser. She is a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Jane Smith - Trainee Counsellor

M.A. is working towards her MA in Counselling Studies at the University of Manchester. She is a student member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy. Jane's professional interests currently include eating disorders, older people in counselling, and animal-assisted psychotherapy

Alexandra Barnett - Trainee Counsellor

M.Sc (Forensic Psychology, University of Central Lancashire) is a Counselling Psychologist in Training, currently in the second year of her Doctorate at the University of Wolverhampton. She joined Oakwood House in 2009. She previously worked as a Trainee Forensic Psychologist working with individuals with complex and severe mental illnesses in a secure setting. Alexandra is a Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society.

Moya deWet- Dietitian

Moya de Wet is a specialist dietitian registered with the Health Professions Council who, for the past 20 years, has worked with people with eating disorders.

Joanne Blezard - Trainee Dramatherapist

Joanne is a Dramatherapist in Training, currently working towards her M.A. at the University of Derby. Joanne joined Oakwood House in 2009 and has worked on both an individual and group basis. She is currently involved in a number of NWCED services including supported self-help groups and individual Dramatherapy sessions. Her professional interests include eating disorders, adolescent mental health and creative arts therapies.

Rachel Cassells - Office Manager