Dr Victoria Bell
With over 20 years of clinical and academic experience, Dr Bell holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Oxford University, complemented by advanced training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Schema Therapy. She holds a PhD in Developmental Psychology. She is a HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologist and BABCP Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, with a distinguished record of teaching, research, and published work.
Some lives are not contained within a single space. They move across countries, time zones, and responsibilities - often at pace, with little opportunity to step back from day-to-day life. The clients Dr Bell works with are managing complexity and performance under scrutiny, making decisions with consequence, carrying forms of responsibility that are not easily shared, and navigating relationships that can feel more difficult than hoped.
Her practice is grounded in the highest ethical standards, with trust, discretion, and professional integrity at its core. For many clients, privacy is a necessity rather than a preference, and the work is structured accordingly, with close attention to confidentiality and boundaries.
Qualifications:
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, 2013, University of Oxford, UK
PhD Developmental Psychology, 2007, Queen’s University Belfast, UK
BSc Psychology, 2003, Queen’s University Belfast, UK
Approach & practice.
Dr Bell listens closely to how a person is organising their experience - what is being prioritised, avoided, or managed. Sessions are both containing and appropriately challenging, providing a confidential space in which difficult experiences can be spoken about with openness and care.
The work is highly individualised, shaped by careful clinical judgement, psychological theory, and extensive clinical experience, with particular understanding of the nuances of roles involving high responsibility, performance, and visibility. Patterns that sit just outside immediate awareness can be recognised, alongside established ways of coping or relating that are no longer helpful, or situations that are difficult to make sense of from within.
A research-led formulation develops over time, expressed as a structured ‘map’ of relevant patterns and processes, holding different aspects of experience in relation to one another rather than reducing them into a single explanation. This supports clearer understanding and a more workable way of moving through complex situations over time.
Memberships & clinical experience.
Practitioner Psychologist, Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Chartered Clinical Psychologist, British Psychological Society (BPS)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP)
Dr Bell has extensive expertise working with clients navigating intricate and demanding circumstances, including those who have previously found therapy ineffective. From 2007 to 2020, she worked in the NHS, holding senior positions at internationally renowned London specialist services. There, she collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to support complex presentations (such as psychosis, bipolar disorder, and PTSD) and led the development of innovative, evidence-based interventions tailored to these cases. She established her private practice in 2019.
During her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Oxford University, Dr Bell worked with Prof. Daniel Freeman to develop a novel CBT trial addressing clients’ worries about rejection and social scrutiny. Her PhD in Developmental Psychology focused on childhood neurodevelopmental disorders, including ADHD, dyslexia, and developmental coordination disorder. This research experience informs Dr Bell’s practice, providing her with an advanced, research-led perspective when conceptualising both professional pressures and personal challenges.
Academic appointments.
Invited Peer Reviewer, The British Journal of Psychiatry Open / Psychological Medicine
Dr Bell reviews research submissions, advising editors on their relevance, scientific rigour, and overall quality. She provides feedback to enhance clarity, methodological strength, and the robustness of articles, contributing to the advancement of research.
Previous Roles
Honorary Clinical Lecturer, King’s College London.
Research Clinical Psychologist, King’s College London.
MSc Research Supervisor, King’s College London.
Publications.
While clinical practice remains Dr Bell’s primary focus, she is deeply committed to research and the translation of scientific evidence into therapy. She values multidisciplinary collaboration and is privileged to work with esteemed colleagues both in the UK and internationally.
Dr Bell has a strong record of published research in leading international journals within the field of adult mental health:
