Dr Victoria Bell
Dr Bell holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, complemented by further training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapies and Schema Therapy. She also holds a PhD in Developmental Psychology and has an established record in teaching, research, and published work.
Some lives 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, often alongside a mind that remains active beyond immediate demands, making it difficult to fully switch off. Relationships, too, may come to feel more difficult than hoped, particularly where there is limited space to reflect on one’s own experience within them.
Her practice is grounded in the highest ethical standards, with trust, warmth, and discretion 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
PhD Developmental Psychology, 2007, Queen’s University Belfast
BSc Psychology, 2003, Queen’s University Belfast
Approach & practice.
Dr Bell’s work is grounded in the belief that meaningful psychological change begins with being properly understood. The therapeutic relationship is therefore central to her practice: a confidential setting in which experiences can be explored with honesty, discretion and without judgement. She listens closely to what is said, as well as to what may be harder to put into words - the pressures being carried, the patterns that have become established, and the aspects of life that are often managed quietly and alone.
Sessions are neither prescriptive nor formulaic. They provide space to think clearly about what may be happening, with thoughtful challenge where this may be helpful. For those accustomed to responsibility, performance or public visibility, having somewhere entirely private in which to step outside these demands can be particularly valuable.
Her clinical thinking is informed by contemporary psychological research, while remaining responsive to the individual. The work is intended to bring greater clarity without reducing a complex experience to a label, allowing difficulties to be understood in their proper context and approached with thoughtfulness.
Memberships & clinical experience.
HCPC Practitioner Psychologist, Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Chartered Clinical Psychologist, British Psychological Society (BPS)
Special Group for Independent Practitioners, British Psychological Society (BPS)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP)
Since qualifying as a Clinical Psychologist, Dr Bell has specialised in supporting clients navigating intricate and demanding circumstances, including those for whom previous therapy has felt limited or insufficiently attuned to their needs.
Between 2007 and 2020, within NHS services, she worked in national specialist teams supporting complex presentations such as trauma, psychosis, and bipolar disorder, where difficulties had persisted despite prior psychological and pharmacological input. This required an approach informed by emerging research and careful adaptation of established models to individual clinical need - an approach that continues to underpin her current work. She established her private practice in 2019.
During her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, she worked with Prof. Daniel Freeman to develop a novel CBT trial addressing worries about rejection and social scrutiny. Her PhD in Developmental Psychology focused on childhood neurodevelopmental disorders, including ADHD and dyslexia. Her research background supports a research-led perspective, alongside the ability to critically interpret and apply findings on a case-by-case basis across both professional and personal contexts.
Academic appointments.
Invited Peer Reviewer - The British Journal of Psychiatry Open / Psychological Medicine
Reviews research submissions for relevance, methodological rigour, and overall quality, contributing to editorial decisions and the refinement of published work.
Previous Roles
Honorary Lecturer, King’s College London.
Research Psychologist & Clinical Lecturer, 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:
