Expert Witness Journal Dec 24 - Journal - Page 32
standards vary and the methods used by counsellors
rightly vary depending on their training and clients.
Psychotherapist Sue Lieberman highlights that the
real issue lies in inadequate training, which could be
addressed by regulating course providers rather than
individual practitioners.
Conclusion
The regulation of psychotherapists and counsellors remains a complex and nuanced issue. The current voluntary system has both strengths and limitations, with
professional bodies like BACP and UKCP providing
important guidance while also leaving room for debate about comprehensive oversight.
While the PSA’s Accredited Registers programme
ensures that therapists meet high governance standards, it does not prevent unqualified individuals
from using protected titles. Statutory regulation could
provide stronger public protection but would require
careful consideration to implement.
Ultimately, if MPs are to bring in a new framework, it
must ensure robust public protection while also maintaining professional flexibility and addressing the operational and financial challenges of expanding
regulatory capacity.
The introduction of regulation would demand
substantial restructuring of existing bodies, with voluntary organisations like BACP and UKCP possibly
transitioning to professional membership bodies,
while statutory regulators would need to expand their
expertise in therapeutic practices. Moreover, the operational complexities, such as the need for significant
resources, developing comprehensive registration
processes and disciplinary procedures, and managing
costs, would add further strain.
Authors
Shannett Thompson (she/her)
Partner
+44 (0)20 3535 1505
sthompson@kingsleynapley.co.uk
Zoe Beels
Trainee Solicitor
+44 (0)20 3535 1768
ZBeels@kingsleynapley.co.uk
The diversity of therapeutic techniques presents a fundamental challenge to standardisation. Any regulatory
framework should balance public safety with professional flexibility, ensuring it supports a wide range of
therapeutic approaches.
www.kingsleynapley.co.uk
If you require an expert call the Expert Witness
free telephone searchline on 0161 834 0017
Dr Sanya Krljes
Mr Wail Ahmed
MSc PhD DClinPsy AFBPsS
Consultant in Spinal Cord Injuries
Chartered Clinical Psychologist
MBBS, IMRCS, MSc (Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery),
FRCP, FEBPRM
Dr Sanya Krljes is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience in conducting
complex psychological assessments and providing psycho-legal reports in criminal and civil
I am an experienced professional UK-trained specialist
medical doctor, with Certificate of Completion of Training
in Rehabilitation Medicine, who has been working as a
Consultant in Spinal Cord Injuries in the National Spinal
Injuries Centre in the UK since February 2017.
proceedings. Dr Krljes completed a master’s degree in Neuroscience at King’s College London
before obtaining a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience at the Department of Psychological Medicine,
Imperial College London. She subsequently completed a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at
University College London (UCL). She has a breadth of experience working in various NHS
mental health care settings, including low and medium secure services.
Dr Krljes has provided psycho-legal reports to the Crown Prosecution Service and numerous
Clinically, I have a vast experience in Spinal Cord Injuries
Medicine in general including; the holistic management
of the conditions of tetraplegia and paraplegia with the
sequelae of neurogenic pain, neurogenic spasms/spasticity,
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dysfunction, neurogenic respiratory dysfunction, neurogenic
autonomic dysfunction, neuropathic pressure sores etc.
solicitor firms and has extensive experience giving evidence at Crown Courts in relation to many
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and assesses clients at prisons and solicitors’ offices.
Dr Krljes specialises in the following:
• Neuropsychology assessments (cognitive deficits, intellectual functioning, learning disability,
brain injury, dementia, epilepsy and brain tumours)
• Personality assessments (personality disorders and psychopathy)
I have special interest and competence in performing video-urodynamic
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population. This is in addition to other generic skills including botulinum toxin
injections of limb muscles using Ultrasound and EMG Needle Amplifier machine,
intra-articular and triggers point injections.
• Malingering
• Mental health assessments (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, anxiety, substance
abuse, stress, complex needs and dual diagnosis)
• ADHD
• Risk assessment (arson, sexual and/or violent offending), including highly specialised tools
such as PCL-R, HCR-20, RSVP
• Sexual offending assessments
My expertise as an expert witness is mainly around providing medic-legal reports
of condition and prognosis for the conditions of paralysis due to spinal cord injury and
cauda equina syndrome, including police reports, coroners’ reports, initial
medicolegal reports. My most recent case as claimant medical expert was settled out
of court in for £3.25 million with legal costs in December 2023. I have
undertaken specialist Expert Witness training.
• Suggestibility & compliance in relation to police interviews
• Mental capacity assessments
• Work related stress
• Occupational injury
• Employment stress
• Fitness for work assessments
• Assessment of capability and unfair dismissal
Contact: Mr Ahmed
Tel: 01296 482 804 - Mobile: 07826 169 278
Email: wama2410@gmail.com - Alternate Email: wailawad2009@gmail.com
Address:, 35 Gwendoline Buck Drive, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP21 9FN
• Fitness to practice
Email: sanya@londonpsycholegal.com
Area of work Nationwide
EXPERT WITNESS JOURNAL
30
DECEMBER 2024
