Our Team
Founder & CEO
Dr Bev Marais
Dr Bev Marais is a Chartered Counselling Psychologist, Chartered Scientist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS). She is a Registered Psychotherapist with UKCP, a member of FDAP (Federation of Drug and Alcohol Professionals) and AED (Academy for Eating Disorders), a member of the BPS Faculty of Addictions and a member of the Division of Counselling Psychology. As a psychologist, she holds a practising certificate with the British Psychological Society and is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Experience
Dr Bev Marais initially read a BA in Fine Arts degree with Psychology as an additional major before completing undergraduate psychology training in South Africa. This was followed by specialist post-graduate psychology and psychotherapy training in the UK. She has spent a total of 9 years training in counselling and psychological therapy and has worked with a large team of counselling and clinical psychologists in the field of addictions and eating disorders at the world-renowned South London & Maudsley NHS Trust in London.
Her extensive experience in clinical areas such as eating disorders, addictions, and forensic and mental health settings has lasted 14 years. She has provided psychological therapy in both NHS and Independent organisations, including outpatient, residential and inpatient settings. Dr Marais has developed and delivered group-based psychological teaching/training programmes on advanced counselling skills and working with eating disorders. In addition, she has led training sessions on the Clinical Psychology Doctorate at Canterbury University and examined the work of MSc students on training courses provided by Kings College University. She has also coordinated and led an online NHS CBT programme for people experiencing eating difficulties.
Dr Marais has also trained in virtual clinical treatment approaches and believes that an online therapy platform can help integrate eating disorder treatment in real-life settings, thereby maintaining engagement in recovery.
