Dr Antonesei works as a full-time clinical psychologist in private practice with adults with (chronic and severe) mental health issues (mainly) related to trauma and neurodivergence. She runs clinical mental health assessments, and prepare letters and reports for other private services and the NHS. As part of the clients’ mental healthcare plan, she is responsible for their clinical diagnoses and personalized psychotherapeutic interventions.
Previously, Dr Antonesei worked as a clinical psychologist mainly in the secondary and tertiary NHS care in clinical and forensic settings. She looked after caseloads of patients with PTSD, personality disorders, psychoses, addictions, and patients with enduring medical conditions (AIDS, cancers, neurological conditions, chronic pain, COVID). A significant number of these patients had a dual diagnosis of learning disability and autism/ADHD. She ran specialist assessments (i.e., psychological, cognitive/learning disabilities, neuropsychological/memory, ASD/ADHD) and provided individual and group therapy using therapeutic protocols based on CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), schema therapy, DBT (dialectical behavioural therapy), mindfulness, compassion focused therapy, acceptance focused therapy and narrative exposure therapy.
Areas Of Specialism
Dr Antonesei runs comprehensive psychological, cognitive, neuropsychological, risk and sexual risk assessments for family, criminal and immigration proceedings. She is able to provide an opinion on the following topics:
- neurodevelopmental conditions (e.g., autism, ADHD, learning disabilities);
- mental health conditions (e.g., PTSD, personality disorders, alcohol and substance misuse, suicidal ideation and self-harm, OCD, depression, anxieties);
- (complex) trauma, associated disorders and attachment styles;
- risk for violence;
- risk for sexual violence towards adults, children, and the general public;
- mental capacity;
- vulnerability and suggestibility;
- deception;
- capacity to cope in a custodial environment;
- recommendations for intermediaries/advocates.
