Welcome to Aspire

Dr Kirk (she/hers) is a Senior Clinical Psychologist with 25 years of experience working in the UK National Health Service, and 20 years as a qualified clinical psychologist. She has a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and Post Graduate Certificate in Social Sciences. After developing an interest in supporting adults with intellectual disabilities through volunteering, she trained with some of the leading Clinical Psychologists in the field. 

Much of Dr Kirk’s career has been in services for adults with intellectual disabilities. She is experienced in a range of assessments, evidence-based therapeutic interventions with individuals, groups, and families), and consultation to staff teams. Dr Kirk has specialist interests in making mainstream services accessible for people with intellectual disabilities as well as reducing and managing risk of harmful sexual behaviour, in sexuality and parenting in people with intellectual disabilities and in Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Her interest in attachment and developmental trauma led to roles in services for children and families where she supported social workers, foster carers and adoptive parents.  

Dr Kirk understands an individual’s emotional and psychological difficulties in the context of their past and current experiences, asking the question ‘what happened to you’, rather than ‘what’s wrong with you?’ Dr Kirk believes that important therapeutic change often happens when relationships between people, and opportunities in the community change. For this reason, she particularly enjoys working with parents and carers, supporting them to support the children or adults in their care. 

Dr Kirk is trained in a range of autism assessment tools for children and adults, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), Mentalisation Based Therapy for reflective fostering (& adoption), Compassion focused approaches to trauma, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, behavioural approaches and narrative therapy.  

Publications: Kirk, J., et. al, (2014). LIFT psychology primary care group for people with intellectual disabilities: can IAPT adapt? Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 8(1), 51-62.