Our People

Prof Wilcox has a BA and MA in Psychology from the State University of New York and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Surrey.  Prof Wilcox has held a practice certificate and been Chartered with the British Psychological Society since 1991.  He is a Fellow of the Society and is a member of The British Psychological Society's Faculty for Children, Young People and Families, as well as their Special Interest Group for People with Learning Disabilities.  Prof Wilcox is on the BPS' Expert Witness Advisory Board and the National Advisory Committee responsible for approving EuroPsy membership for BPS applicants.

Dr Wilcox is an 'Honorary Professor' of Forensic Psychology through appointment to the School of Social Sciences at Nottingham Trent University.  Prof Wilcox has been awarded the title of registered EuroPsy Psychologist and is qualified to practice throughout the European Union.  He is a Chartered Scientist and is also a former Assessor with the BPS for their Qualification in Forensic Psychology.  Prof Wilcox is a Registered Clinical and Forensic Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council.  He held the title of Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham, School of Medicine (Division of Psychiatry) from 2011 to 2019.  He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and the National Organisation for the Treatment of Abuse.

Prof Wilcox provided specialist consultancy to the National Probation Service for over two decades and has been a member of the International Advisory Board for the Journal of Sexual Aggression and on the Editorial Boards of the Child Abuse Review and the European Polygraph Journal.  He has regularly presented at national and international conferences and has some 80 publications in areas associated with the treatment, assessment and management of risk.

Dr Gray is a registered forensic psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council. She has a doctorate in Forensic Psychology; an MSc in Applied Forensic Psychology; a 1st class BSc in Psychology and Criminology; a 1st class BA in Community and Criminal Justice; a Level 4 NVQ in Working with Offending Behaviour; and a diploma in posttraumatic stress disorder.

Prior to working at WPA Limited, Dr Gray worked as a psychological therapist and project manager in a primary care mental health service. She is also a qualified probation officer and is on the executive committee for the Midlands branch of the National Organisation for the Treatment of Abuse (NOTA). Dr Gray has presented on a range of topics relating to the assessment and treatment of forensic clients, including interpersonal violence, domestic abuse, physical child abuse and sexual offending. She has also published in relation to sexual harm issues, including co-editing the 2017 publication, "Working with individuals who have committed sexual offences: A guide for practitioners" (Abingdon: Routledge).

Dr Rosalind M. Berry has a BSc in Psychology from the University of Liverpool, and has completed the Forensic Psychology Practice Doctorate (ForenPsyD) Programme at the University of Birmingham, graduating in July 2020.  Her doctoral research focused upon improving outcomes for individuals with acute and long-term mental health challenges.

Dr Berry has worked within medium-secure forensic inpatient hospitals, on acute and rehabilitation wards.  She has conducted risk and care planning assessments and undertaken individual and group therapies.  She is experienced in completing cognitive and capacity assessments and has contributed to court reports in Care and Family Proceedings since taking up employment at WPA in 2009.

Dr Berry has experience of working with a range of clients, including children and adults, in both community and inpatient settings, and has published in the area of psychological assessments in family and care proceedings.
 

Dr Kessedjian has over 30 years clinical experience and particular expertise in CBT, DBT, Schema Therapy and EMDR. Whilst much of his work is in adult mental health, he has substantial experience working with adolescents in both outpatient and inpatient settings.

Besides working as a WPA Consultant, Dr Kessedjian also currently holds practising privileges with Opus Performance LTD and continues to work on a part time basis as an NHS Consultant Clinical Psychologist. He is currently Co-Clinical Lead for the Sanctuary Project (formerly the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme) based within the Community Engagement Team, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust.

Dr Kessedjian has previously held NHS Consultant Clinical Psychology Posts for Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust as Clinical Lead for Urgent Care Pathway Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Teams and North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust as both Clinical Lead for the Community DBT Service and Clinical Lead for Acute Psychological Services based at Harplands Hospital. Dr Kessedjian has additionally held Consultant Clinical Psychology positions at St Andrews Hospital, and for Tranquil House Psychology Services alongside other substantive posts for Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust and Woodbourne Priory Hospital (Adolescent Unit).

Dr Kessedjian is widely considered to be a leading expert in the field of trauma assessment and treatment and holds expertise in the transcultural application of CBT. He was instrumental helping to set up, teach and develop the CBT post graduate training programme at University of Birmingham between 2003 and 2008 and was involved with helping to establish the first ever Palestinian Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies (PABCT) following extensive experience delivering mental health training programmes in the West Bank, Palestine.

As an honorary lecturer, Dr Kessedjian continues to teach on the Oxford and Liverpool Clinical Psychology Doctorate Programmes and has also taught on the Clinical Psychology Doctorate Programmes for the Universities of Birmingham, Coventry and Warwick and Staffordshire. 

Dr Kessedjian is regarded by many as a leading figure in the British Psychological Society, driving and supporting initiatives to reduce health inequalities. He is the former Co-Chair of the Human Rights Advisory Group, a former Chair of the Division of Clinical Psychology Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism Task Finish Group and a former Regional Chair of the West Midlands Branch of the Division of Clinical Psychology (DCP). He has also been as elected Trustee / Board Director of the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP).

Dr Horton gained a BSc (Hons) in Psychology from the University of Birmingham and an MSc in Forensic Psychology at Birmingham City University.  Dr Horton completed her Doctorate in Forensic Psychology Practice with the University of Nottingham in 2022.  Dr Horton has Graduate Member status with the Health and Care Professions Council and is on the Management Committee for the West Midlands branch of the National Organisation for the Treatment of Abuse.  Dr Horton has been employed by WPA since 2014 and has also co-edited two publications relating to working with children.  Dr Horton delivers bespoke, integrated interventions such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) to adults and young people to enhance psychological stability and coping strategies, and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) based interventions for regulating emotions and dealing with distress as well as developing the use of Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) principles within her therapeutic work with families.

Dr Hannah Dawson has a BSc (Hons) in Forensic Psychology and Criminal Justice from Liverpool John Moores University, an MSc in Forensic Psychology from Birmingham City University and a Doctorate in Forensic Psychology Practice, from the University of Nottingham.

Dr Dawson is a member of the British Psychological Society and the Division of Forensic Psychology.  She is also a member of, and Branch Secretary/Treasurer for, the National Organisation for the Treatment of Abuse (NOTA) Midlands branch and a member of Mersey Care NHS Mental Health Trust.  She has experience of working with a range of clients, both in the community and in secure inpatient settings.  Dr Dawson's research focuses upon non-offending partners, personality assessment, and adverse childhood experiences.  She has published in relation to both offenders and victims, and whilst studying for her first degree, she gained criminological experience working as an Appropriate Adult for Youth Support Services and attending HMP Altcourse with the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB).  She began working full time at Wilcox Psychological Associates following her graduation in 2014, and since continued her training and research. 

Dr Dawson now works part-time for WPA, undertaking both assessments and individual therapies, with CBT and DBT informed approaches.  She spends the remainder of her time working in a medium secure forensic inpatient service, delivering therapeutic interventions to males presenting with mental health challenges. 

Miss Grove gained a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and Criminology from the University of Salford and an MSc with Distinction in Forensic and Investigative Psychology from the University of Wolverhampton.  She has been employed by WPA full-time since 2020 and regularly contributes to assessments of adults and children with a range of needs, intellectual abilities and cultural backgrounds.  She is specialised in the assessment and risk assessment of children and adolescents in crisis.  

As Clinical Services Coordinator, Miss Grove provides direct support to all areas of WPA's team, including administrative staff, associates, and assistant psychologists. 

Miss Grove also has a keen interest in the research endeavours of WPA and is currently involved in papers relating to clerical assessments, having recently authored a paper alongside Prof Wilcox and Dr Berry in relation to the views of Catholic Safeguarding Officers about the utility of the polygraph in secular forensic psychological risk assessments.  Miss Grove is also on the executive committee of the Midlands branch of the National Organisation for the Treatment of Abuse (NOTA).

Miss Best gained a BSc in Mathematics with First-Class Honours from the University of Bristol, and an MSc with Distinction in Psychology from the University of Nottingham.  She has been employed full-time by WPA since 2023 and contributes to assessments of adults and children with a range of needs, intellectual abilities, and cultural backgrounds.   

Miss Best has previously worked as a Support Worker for children in residential placements, providing trauma-informed, therapeutic care to young people with complex emotional, behavioural and learning needs.  She was also involved in supporting their personal development through the provision of tailored interventions, as well as conducting risk assessments. 

Miss Best is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness, mindfulness and wellbeing, having previously provided psychoeducation and guided self-help support for adults with social challenges and mental health conditions.

Helen Wilcox is a Co-Director of WPA Ltd. She received an MBE for her contributions to social care in the UK. Mrs Wilcox has qualifications in social work and teaching with key local, regional, and national involvement to drive up standards in supporting our citizens through the widest range of life challenges. Mrs Wilcox is the Chair of the Black Country Partnership for Care and Former Vice Chair of the National Organisation, Skills for Care.