We’ve recently welcomed Chloe, our first Assistant Psychologist across the service. We spoke with Chloe to learn more about her role, how she works within the wider therapeutic team, and the impact that psychological input has on recovery in a supported living mental health setting.
Bringing Psychological Thinking Into Daily Practice
“As an Assistant Psychologist, I help bring psychological and trauma-informed thinking into everyday practice. I work closely alongside the wider therapeutic and clinical team to support the delivery of high-quality, trauma-informed care… I provide emotional support, consultation, and psychologically informed guidance to Support Navigators and other colleagues, helping to embed trauma-informed practice throughout the service. I work collaboratively with Clinicians, support staff, and managers to ensure that psychological thinking is integrated into day-to-day practice and decision-making.
My role is about asking “why?” and helping both staff and service users understand their experiences and needs. By understanding the function of a behaviour, we can develop more consistent, compassionate and effective ways of supporting people… What I enjoy most about my role is its variety and the opportunity to work collaboratively with so many different people. Whether I’m supporting an individual service user, helping staff think through a complex situation, or contributing to wider service improvements, my aim is always to promote understanding, build resilience, and support the delivery of trauma-informed, person-centred care.”
Why Psychological Input Matters in Supported Living
Psychology plays a vital role in recovery beyond hospital settings.
“For me, psychological input is essential in supported living because recovery is not something that ends when a person leaves hospital. Recovery is a continuum, and community settings provide a unique opportunity to support people as they rebuild their lives in a less restrictive environment. Psychological input helps ensure that all support is trauma-informed, compassionate, and based on understanding the person behind the behaviour. It encourages curiosity rather than judgement and helps both staff and service users make sense of difficult experiences, thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.”
It also supports staff wellbeing, an essential part of delivering safe, compassionate care.
“It is equally important for staff wellbeing. Having psychological support available can provide opportunities for reflection, consultation, and learning, helping to reduce burnout and compassion fatigue while enabling staff to feel confident in supporting individuals with complex needs. Ultimately, psychology helps create an environment where people feel understood, supported, and empowered to move forward in their recovery.”
Building Therapeutic Relationships
Developing trust and psychological safety is central to her approach.
“Building a therapeutic relationship starts with taking the time to get to know each person as an individual and working at their pace. I focus on creating a safe, trusting environment by finding common interests, being genuine, and meeting people where they are emotionally. Rather than jumping straight into formal psychological sessions, I often engage through shared activities and everyday conversations, which can help people feel more comfortable and reduce the pressure of discussing difficult experiences or emotions. I believe that trust, consistency, and a compassionate approach are key foundations for developing meaningful therapeutic relationships.”
Positive Changes Seen Over Time
“The positive changes I see are unique to each individual, but a common theme is increased self-understanding and self-compassion. As service users engage in psychological support, they often begin to make sense of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours and understand how their experiences have shaped them. This can reduce self-blame and help them recognise that they are not responsible for the trauma they have experienced. I also see people develop trusting relationships, feel more psychologically safe, and gain confidence in their own strengths and abilities. The most rewarding part of my role is seeing individuals move beyond survival mode and begin to build the life they want for themselves.”
What Drew Her to the Role
“What drew me to the role is the opportunity to work therapeutically with both service users and staff, helping to build understanding, promote trauma-informed approaches, and support positive change. It may sound cliché, but I genuinely want to be part of a team that helps people make meaningful differences in their lives and supports them to recognise their own strengths and potential.
My journey to becoming an Assistant Psychologist began through several years of working as a support worker, where I saw first-hand the impact that compassionate, psychologically informed support can have on someone’s life. That experience sparked my interest in understanding people beyond their behaviours and circumstances.”
Her motivation is rooted in wanting to make a meaningful difference and she advocates for a trauma-informed lens that sees the whole person.
“I am a strong advocate for viewing people through the lens of ‘what has happened to you?’ rather than ‘what is wrong with you?’. I am passionate about moving beyond diagnostic labels and recognising the whole person, including their strengths, resilience, and lived experiences.”
Psychological Support at Maples
As Maples first Assistant Psychologist, her work has helped establish a strong foundation for trauma‑informed, psychologically informed practice across our services. Her role supports individuals to build understanding, develop resilience, and move forward in their recovery, while also strengthening staff wellbeing and shaping service‑wide development.
If you’d like to learn more about The Park or enquire about referrals, please email Referrals@maplescare.co.uk.
