Tamatha Weisser

I completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Children and Young People's Psychological Wellbeing Practice at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (King's College London) with a therapeutic placement within the Family Mental Health Team at the Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust.

My role in the TOPIC Research Group is to facilitate the MY-CATS (Minimising Young Children's Anxiety Through Schools) large-scale randomised controlled trial, liaising with families accessing a specially-designed online intervention programme. This aims to test a new way of identifying and supporting infant school-aged children who possess one or more risk factors for being particularly vulnerable to worries and fears by assisting parents/carers to help them build confidence, increase independence and develop coping skills, hopefully reducing the likelihood of serious anxiety problems developing as they get older.

I have a prior background in education and youth work, and am passionate about improving the life experiences and chances of disadvantaged children, young people and families including those with neurodevelopmental conditions and physical disabilities, social, emotional and behavioural challenges and socio-economic hardship.

One of my areas of particular interest ls in exploring the benefits of Mindfulness in promoting children's emotional wellbeing. I trained to teach a structured, evidence-based Mindfulness programme in primary school, as well as to facilitate a holistic wellbeing programme for adolescents.