ABOUT NORTH ESSEX THERAPY SERVICES
NETS was established in 2017 by Dr Makala Balls and Dr Sandy Sachse, both Chartered Clinical Psychologists with extensive experience of working with adults in NHS services locally.
The majority of clinicians at NETS are Clinical Psychologists, one of the things that makes our service unique. Most private therapy practices are predominantly staffed by Counsellors, CBT Therapists or Psychotherapists, whose training is usually much briefer and often in only one type of therapeutic modality. Clinical Psychologists are trained to work with children, adults and older adults and also trained in a range of therapies. Our broad and comprehensive training means that we are able to tailor interventions to suit our clients’ needs, and help them get the most from therapy.
We appreciate that it can be confusing and overwhelming to understand the differences between therapies and therapists (see What We Do and FAQs for more information about this), and we try to ensure our clients are fully informed so that they can make the best possible decisions about their health care. We accept referrals from GPs, insurance companies, self-referrals. In addition to offering assessments and therapy, we are also able to provide autism assessments, training packages for GPs and organisations, and Consultancy services. We are also able to provide supervision for other therapists.
DR MAKALA BALLS
e: MakalaNETS@protonmail.com | t: 07368 277618
DClinPsy, CPsychol, MBPsS, PGCert, Chartered Clinical Psychologist & CBT Psychotherapist
Makala completed her Psychology degree at Queen’s University Belfast and London Metropolitan University, and started her career working in primary care mental health services whilst undertaking further postgraduate training in this field. She went on to complete her doctoral training at the University of Southampton, where she won the Tim Lister Prize for research conducted as part of clinical psychology training in the UK. Makala was also awarded the British Psychological Society's (BPS) Pre-Qualification Award, which recognises outstanding contribution to clinical psychology prior to completion of a doctorate.
Since qualifying as a Clinical Psychologist, Makala has also completed further Post Graduate level training in CBT for complex mental health problems, Family Interventions for Psychosis and in Advanced Skills for working with Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. She is an Accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist with the British Association for Cognitive and Behavioural Psychotherapies (BABCP), the lead organisation for CBT in the UK and Ireland. She is trained in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and is currently in the final stages of completing the two-year Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) practitioner training course.
Makala currently works as a senior Psychologist in the NHS with adults who have severe and enduring mental health difficulties, and has a particular interest in treating personality disorders, anxiety and depressive disorders and trauma, drawing on CBT, DBT and CAT. She has also previously worked in palliative care, eating disorders, and child and DBT services.
CORE TRAINING
Bsc Psychology (Hons), London Metropolitan University
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy), University of Southampton
ADDITIONAL TRAINING
Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Care Mental Health, University of Northampton
Family Interventions for Psychosis, University of Surrey
Behavioural Activation and Graded Exposure for Complex Mental Health Problems, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
CBT for Psychosis, University of Sussex
Advanced Skills for Working with Complex Trauma, University of Reading
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Dr Maggie Stanton & Dr Christine Dunkley
Systems Training for Emotional Predictability & Problem Solving (STEPPS), Dr Renee Harvey
Autism Diagnostic and Observation Schedule (ADOS), BeginningwithA: Autism Consultancy and Training
Clinical Supervision Skills Training (4 days), British Psychological Society
EMDR Training, EMDR Works
DR SANDY SACHSE
e: SandyNETS@protonmail.com | t: 07402 470800
DClinPsy, CPsychol, MBPsS, Chartered Clinical Psychologist & EMDR Therapist
Sandy completed her Psychology degree at the University of East London, where she was awarded the John Radford prize for outstanding academic achievement. She started her career in psychology working initially as a research worker with Goldsmith College and The Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London following which Sandy commenced her career in the NHS as an Assistant Psychologist. Sandy went on to complete her doctoral training at the University of Hertfordshire, also publishing research she had completed as part of her doctoral thesis.
Since qualifying as a Clinical Psychologist, Sandy has completed further accredited and internationally recognised training in Eye Movement, Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, a model for intervention that has a fast growing evidence base for its application to a broad range of difficulties. Sandy has extensive experience in offering Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and is also trained in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).
Sandy currently works as a senior Psychologist in the NHS with adults who have severe and enduring mental health difficulties, and has a particular interest in treating personality disorders, anxiety disorders, depression and trauma drawing on EMDR, CBT, DBT and Mindfulness- based interventions.
CORE TRAINING
BSc Psychology (Hons), University of East London.
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy), University of Hertfordshire
ADDITIONAL TRAINING
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Sandi Richman, London
Mentalization-Based Treatment, Anna Freud Centre, UCL
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Bangor University
Supervisor Training, University of Hertfordshire