Hello, I’m Sabina, a BABCP-accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and OCD specialist with over 22 years of clinical experience
It can be hard to know where to start when looking for a therapist, and it’s important to find someone who feels like a good fit. I am skilled in working flexibly and creatively so that I can adapt my approach to meet your individual needs.
My training, experience and approach are summarised below so that you can learn more about me; if you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch to arrange a free 15-minute consultation.
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I am passionate about guiding people to overcome their problems and move forward in their lives because I know it is possible. I have expertise in evidence-based approaches that are proven to be effective.
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I apply these in a warm and compassionate way that truly understands you as an individual, enabling you to make meaningful and lasting change.
My Approach
I am a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and OCD expert with extensive experience treating people aged 16 and above who experience anxiety, depression, and obsessional difficulties. I am fully accredited with the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists (BABCP), a member of the International College of Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Disorders, an expert member of the International OCD Accreditation Taskforce, and insured to work with people across most of the world.
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I offer face-to-face sessions in Barnet, but mainly work online so that people across the UK and internationally can access highly specialist treatment wherever they are based.
My core expertise is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). When working with obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, I use specialist CBT with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the gold-standard psychological treatment for OCD, alongside evidence-based CBT approaches for anxiety and depression.
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I am also trained and experienced in Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which complement CBT very well, but are also effective in their own right. If you are unsure which type of therapy is best for you, we can explore this together during your assessment.
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My approach is understanding, compassionate, and empathic. I will also encourage you to make changes to patterns of thinking and behaviour that have been keeping your difficulties going. I work collaboratively with you to identify approaches that fit your needs, creating a space where you can feel safe, understood, and supported to work towards what matters most to you.
My Experience and Training
Publications
Pampaloni, Marriott et. al. (2022). The Global Assessment of OCD. Comprehensive Psychiatry,118:152342. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2022.152342
Pampaloni, Morris, Tyagi, Pessina, Marriott, et.al. (2024). Clarifying the prevalence of OCD: A response to reader comments. Comprehensive Psychiatry,135:152492.
Qualifications
Post-Graduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, 2008-2009
Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London
Post-Graduate Certificate in Mental Health in Primary Care, 2004-2005
Middlesex University, Archway Campus
Upper Second B.Sc. (Hons.) Psychology,
1998-2001
The University of Manchester
Affiliations
​British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies
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Expert member and author for the International OCD Accreditation Task Force, overseen by the Canadian Institute for
Obsessive Compulsive Disorders
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International College of Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
I established my private practice in 2020 and continued to work in the NHS alongside this in a highly specialist national OCD and BDD service until January 2026. I now work exclusively in private practice, expanding my availability for specialist therapy, consultation, and clinical supervision.
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From 2020 to 2026, I was the Principal Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist for a highly specialist national NHS service providing inpatient care and intensive home-based treatment for people with severe, treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Alongside my leadership responsibilities, I delivered specialist Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with ERP to inpatients and outpatients, supervised clinicians, and provided consultation and training to healthcare professionals across the UK.
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Following my BSc in Psychology and Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Care Mental Health, I began working in the NHS in 2004 providing Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to adults with anxiety and depression. I went on to complete a Postgraduate Diploma in CBT in 2008 and qualified as a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist in January 2010.
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I trained in CBT at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, on one of the most highly regarded CBT diploma courses in the UK, receiving training from internationally recognised clinicians and researchers involved in developing and evaluating evidence-based cognitive behavioural treatments.
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I subsequently worked in a busy inner-London NHS psychology service, providing psychological assessments and therapy to a diverse adult population with anxiety, depression, OCD, and emotional difficulties. In addition to clinical work, I held a team management role, line-managing a large team of clinicians and contributing to service development, which further developed my expertise in working across anxiety disorders and complex presentations.
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I have extensive experience providing clinical supervision and specialist consultation, supporting clinicians and families in navigating complex OCD presentations and treatment pathways within both NHS and private settings.
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