ABOUT
WHO ARE WE?
Dr Rukshana Ali (BSc (Hons), MSc, PgDip, DClinPsy) qualified with her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Royal Holloway, University of London and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Dr Ali is Health and Care Professions Council registered. She has 20 years worth of clinical experience.
She works using a range of therapeutic models including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Systemic and Narrative approaches and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR; with children and adults), to treat a vast range of difficulties with particular focus on hair and skin conditions (including eczema, psoriasis, acne, alopecia and genetic skin conditions), weight management as well as other health related or surgical issues.
In her NHS role, Dr Ali is a senior psychologist working as part of the world renowned St John’s Institute of Dermatology, at Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, within the Paediatric Dermatology team. She is also the co-chair of Psychodermatology UK (sub-specialty group of the British Association of Dermatologists) and part of the British Society of Paediatric and Adolescent Dermatology (BSPAD) Psychology Taskforce developing guidelines around mental health monitoring and support for children and young people. She has also contributed to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Skin (APPGS) Mental Health and Skin Disease Report (2020) (http://www.appgs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Mental_Health_and_Skin_Disease2020.pdf).
Dr Ali has jointly established a specialist paediatric psychodermatology service with a Consultant Dermatologist. This service was recently awarded the Quality in Care in Dermatology award for 2021, as an example of how psychological support for people living with skin disease can be achieved.
Dr Ali has supported skin charities including the Ichthyosis Support Group (ISG; https://www.ichthyosis.org.uk/) and The British Porphyria Association (BPA; http://porphyria.org.uk/).
Dr Ali is the psychology lead for the Evelina Trauma Service covering all medical and inpatient (including paediatric intensive care) specialties within the Evelina Children’s Hospital. This role focuses on supporting children, young people and families with managing post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and medical trauma.
Dr Ali has extensive experience working with various health conditions including skin diseases, diabetes, endocrine disorders, renal/urology conditions, sexual health, weight management, bariatric (weight loss) and plastic surgery with adults and children/young people in an individual or group format. She was also part of the psychological therapy team established following the Grenfell fire disaster in London.
Alongside her NHS role, Dr Ali has broad private practice based experiences, ranging from innovative digital health initiatives to Harley Street, London. Dr Ali also has provided trauma-informed consultations to charitable projects and groups across the UK and the globe. She is dedicated to delivering tailored, evidence based interventions.
Dr Ali has contributed to book chapters, publications and conference presentations in the role of psychology in dermatology, weight management, surgery and bariatric surgery.
Dr Ali also offers bespoke workshops, please do contact her to discuss.