Dr. Olga Preston

Dr Olga Preston is a Chartered Psychologist with an exceptional breadth of academic and clinical training that spans multiple areas within mental health. Her robust academic background reflects her unwavering commitment to professional development and lifelong learning. In addition to a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology, she holds an MSc in Clinical Psychiatry, an MSc in Forensic Mental Health, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Sexology. Further strengthening her capacity to work with complex psychological presentations, she has completed a Certificate in Traumatic Stress Studies. Currently, Dr Olga is further deepening her knowledge by pursuing an MSc in Pain Management, underscoring her dedication to advancing both her clinical understanding and the support she offers to clients.

Treatment Approach

Dr Olga adopts a pluralistic and integrative approach to therapy, meaning she tailors her work to the individual needs of each client by drawing from a wide range of evidence-based psychological frameworks. Her therapeutic toolbox includes Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), as well as psychodynamic and humanistic approaches. Trained in Ericksonian hypnosis, she also integrates indirect hypnotic techniques into her work when appropriate and with full client consent. This dynamic, multi-modal approach allows her to be both flexible and precise in addressing the varied and often layered psychological challenges her clients present with.

Dr Olga’s clinical experience is wide-ranging, encompassing work with trauma, depression, anxiety, stress, burnout, anger, and self-harm. She also supports clients facing chronic pain conditions, cancer survivorship, low self-esteem, body image concerns, as well as sexual and relationship difficulties. Her client base is diverse and includes adults, many of whom operate in high-pressure professional environments, older adolescents, and couples.

At the heart of Dr Olga’s work is a firm belief in the uniqueness of each individual. She conducts thorough assessments that inform the creation of bespoke treatment plans, always prioritising the development of a strong therapeutic alliance. Her style is collaborative and non-judgmental, helping clients feel safe, understood and empowered to work through their difficulties. Having lived and worked across various European countries and the United States, Dr Olga brings a rich cultural sensitivity to her work, allowing her to engage effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.

Experience

Her professional experience spans across private practice, the NHS, and the criminal justice system, in both in-patient and out-patient settings. This diversity has equipped her with a broad and nuanced understanding of psychological distress in different contexts. Dr Olga is adept in psychological assessment, therapeutic intervention, psychoeducation, and interprofessional collaboration. She also contributes to the development of others in the field as a Registered Supervisor of Applied Psychology Practice and regularly engages in both individual and group supervision herself.

Outside of her clinical roles, Dr Olga is passionate about psychological research, with particular interests in the mind-body connection and the effectiveness of different therapeutic modalities. She is a reflective practitioner who values ongoing intellectual engagement and often shares carefully selected book recommendations, ranging from psychology to general literature, with her clients and colleagues. This speaks not only to her love of learning but also to her belief in the transformative power of knowledge and connection.