About Dr Hiskey
Clinical work
I am registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council, as well as being an Associate Fellow, Chartered Clinical Psychologist, Chartered Scientist and Expert Witness with the British Psychological Society. I am a member of the Division of Clinical Psychology, Division of Neuropsychology and Faculty of the Psychology of Older People (British Psychological Society).
I have been an Accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist with the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists and have extensive further training in Compassion Focused Therapy (via the Compassionate Mind Foundation).
I have also completed training in Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing therapy (Richmond EMDR).
Research interests
My research interests are varied and include post-traumatic stress disorder (and post-traumatic growth phenomena), compassion in a therapeutic context, psychological responses to trauma across the lifespan, sexual compulsivity, the therapeutic relationship, CBT for anxiety among people with dementia, audit and care planning.
Lecturing/presenting
I am an Honorary Senior Lecturer in the Department of Health and Social Care at the University of Essex. I regularly lecture on trauma and psychological treatments following traumatic experiences, as well as on aspects of neuropsychology and also Compassion Focused Therapy to trainee clinical psychologists (Essex-Tavistock Course, University of Essex).
Awards
2009-2012
NHS East of England Clinical Academic Post Doctoral Fellow Research award for three years (.2 WTE) to study ‘Barriers to older adult participation in clinical research – the case of reactivated traumatic distress’
1999 -
Winner of the Department of Psychology (University of Surrey) Prize for best dissertation (Cross cultural colour cognition: !Xóõ and English compared) and the Russell Wicks Memorial Prize for best student performance in examinations and coursework.
Clinical outcomes
Outcome data is routinely gathered as part of Syd’s clinical practice. He uses the CORE questionnaire as standard and other difficulty-specific measures as needed. Clients on average attend for 17 sessions (typical range 5 to 60). Based on self-reported CORE data taken at assessment and again at the end of therapy, a small group (6%) of clients report modest improvements (average 17% reduction) in overall CORE score*, a larger group (28%) report moderate improvements (average 52% reduction) and the largest group (66%) reporting substantial improvements (average 83% reduction).
*Overall CORE score can be thought of in terms of enhanced life-functioning and subjective well-being and decreased problems/symptoms and risk
Academic Qualifications
BSc. (Joint Hons) Applied Psychology and Sociology (1st Class)
University of Surrey 1999Ph.D. in Psychology University of Essex 2003
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology University College London 2006
Additional training
Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Clinical Neuropsychology
(Merit) Institute of Psychiatry 2007Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy
(Merit) Royal Holloway (University of London) 2011Clinical Skills in Compassion Focused Therapy
Compassionate Mind Foundation 2011Advanced Clinical Skills in Compassion Focused Therapy
Compassionate Mind Foundation 2012Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing Therapy
Richmond EMDR (EMDRIA and EMDR-Europe) 2014Expert Witness Training
The British Psychological Society 2014 (Essential knowledge of being an Expert Witness)
The Expert Witness Institute 2014 (Medico-legal report writing in Civil Claims)
Breath-Body-Mind training
The Minded Institute (Drs Brown & Gerbarg) 2020
Imagery Coaching for Behaviour Change Level 1 training
Imagery Coaching 2022