Dr Sara Sopena, BA, PGDip, MSc, DClin.
Dr Sara Sopena is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience of working with families with children with emotional, behavioural and/or learning difficulties. She has worked both doing psychological research and clinical work in different mental health NHS settings and has contributed to the development of well known neuropsychological assessment test batteries such as the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test – Third Edition (RBMT-3), the Behavioural Assessment of the Disexecutive Syndrome for Children (BADS-C) and to the standardisation of the new edition of the Test of Everyday Attention for Children (TEAch II).
Dr Sara Sopena is registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) which is the main organisational body monitoring the profession.
Dr Sopena has experience in carrying out complex assessments to help families understand the difficulties they might be facing and develop evidence base interventions to best suit their needs. She can offer general assessments of common psychological difficulties (e.g., anxiety, depression) as well as more specialist services such as diagnostic (Autism Spectrum Disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and cognitive/learning assessments. She is trained to offer different evidence based therapeutic approaches which are tailor made to the need of the child and family. These include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, Behavioural Therapy and Neurorehabilitation.
Dr Sopena can also offer assessment and therapy to Spanish speaking individuals.
Qualifications
- Bachelor degree in Psychology
- PostGraduate Diploma in Child Neuropsychology
- MSc Cognitive Neuropsychology
- Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
- Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
- Dialectical Behavioural Therapy
- Eye Movement and Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy
Professional Accreditations and Memberships
- Registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC)
- Member of the Association of Child Psychologists in Private Practice (ACHIPPP)
- Member of the EMDR Association UK
Publications
Sopena, S., Silva, J., Miller, C., Hedderly, T., Van Diest, C. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy for Individuals with Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Systematic Review. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research. Volume 17, Number 4, 2023.
Malik, O., Owen, T., Sopena, S., Bailey, A., Grose, C., & Hedderly, T. (2023). Differentiating Functional Tic-Like Movements from Tourette-Related Tics. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 118.
O Malik, Y Deng, T Owen, S Sopena, A Bailey, C Grose, T Hedderly. (2023). Prevalence of Functional and Psychosomatic Symptoms in Children with Tourette Syndrome. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology; DOI: 10.1111/d mcn.15477.
Humphrey, A., Golan, O., Wilson, B.A. &. Sopena, S. (2011). (Chapter 11): Measuring Executive Function in Children with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Clinic Referred Case Study. In: Researching the Autism Spectrum. Roth, I. & Rezaie, P. Cambridge University Press.
Wilson, B.A., Greenfield, E., Clare, L., Baddeley, A., Cockburn, J., Watson, P., Tate, R., Sopena, S. & R. Nannery (2008). The Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test – Third Edition (RBMT – III). Harcourt Assessment.
Wilson, B.A., Rous, R. & Sopena, S. (2008). The current practise of neuropsychological rehabilitation in the United Kingdom. Applied Neuropsychology Journal. 15(4):229-40.
Sopena, S., Dewar, B.K., Nannery, R., Teasdale, T.W. & Wilson, B.A. (2007). The European Brain Injury Questionnaire (EBIQ) as a reliable outcome measure for use with people with Brain Injury. Brain Injury, 21(10): 1063-1068.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
A Formulation Driven Approach to Management of Functional Tics. European Society for the Study of Tourette Syndrome (ESSTS) conference. June 2022.
Feasibility of a Novel Virtual Tic Tool Kit Therapy Group. European Society for the Study of Tourette Syndrome (ESSTS) conference. June 2022.
The Impact of Virtual Parent Psychoeducation Workshops on Quality of Life. European Society for the Study of Tourette Syndrome (ESSTS) conference. June 2022.
A novel psychological therapy intervention for children with PNKD and Sunflower Syndrome. BPNA, 2023 and European Society for the Study of Tourette Syndrome (ESSTS) conference. June 2023.
Sopena, S. (2010). Several presentations at the International Conference in Child Neuropsychology. Equador. South America.
Sopena, S. (2008). Experience of communication about diagnosis and psychological adjustment in children with HIV. Challenges and Dilemmas: Psychosocial Issues for Children Growing Up with HIV. PHP. London. UK.
Sopena, S., Rous, R. & Wilson, B.A. (2007). Neuropsychological Rehabilitation: what is it all about?. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation Conference. San Sebastian. Spain.
Wilson, B.A., Rous, R. & Sopena, S. (2006). The influence of models and theories on the clinical practice of neuropsychologists working in brain injury rehabilitation. Theory, Therapy and Social Outcomes in Holistic Brain Injury Rehabilitation Conference. Oliver Zangwill Centre. Ely. UK.
BOOK REVIEWS
Principles of Neuropsychological Assessment with Hispanics: Theoretical Foundations and Clinical Practice. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation 19(3):478 – 479 (2009).
The Neuropsychology of Autism. Edited by Fein, D.A. (2011). Oxford University Press.