I am an HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologist specialising in psychological support within television, documentary and media production.
My work sits at the point where psychology, people and production pressures meet. I support productions with psychological risk assessment, fit-for-inclusion screening, complex case consultation, on-set support and structured aftercare — helping teams make confident, psychologically informed decisions while keeping both contributor welfare and the realities of production firmly in view.
I have particular expertise in working with complex presentations, including neurodivergence, trauma, emotional regulation, anxiety, adjustment and mental health difficulties. I regularly support contributors and crew with ADHD and autism, including where neurodivergence intersects with trauma, identity, masking, burnout, emotional dysregulation or other mental health needs.
Alongside my clinical expertise, I bring lived experience of ADHD, which shapes the way I work. I understand that people do not always present neatly, predictably or in ways that fit traditional expectations — particularly within high-pressure, unfamiliar or highly visible environments.
My wider clinical career has included work within paediatric oncology and health, developmental and relational trauma, complex mental health, and support for individuals and families navigating significant stress, loss and transition. This means I am comfortable working with highly emotive material, uncertainty and situations where there is rarely a simple answer.
For production teams, my role is not simply to identify risk. It is to help make sense of complexity, anticipate where difficulties may emerge, and work collaboratively to find a proportionate and practical way forward.
I am known for being approachable, human and passionate about what I do. My practice is trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming, combining robust clinical thinking with an understanding that productions need advice that is clear, realistic and actually usable.
Dr Rachael Macleod, BSc, MSc, Dip, DClinPsy
Chartered Clinical Psychologist | HCPC Registered
Hi, I’m Dr Rachael
Training and interests
I have special interests in ADHD as an ADHDer myself, neurodivergence, burnout, rejection sensitivity, perfectionism, people pleasing behaviours, and supporting crew.
My therapeutic approaches include EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing), Compassion focused therapy (CFT), Attachment and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which is narrative- and trauma-informed and neuroaffirmative.
Qualifications and Training
HCPC Registered Clinical Psychologist – PYL040113
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy) – South Wales (2018–2021)
MSc Clinical & Developmental Neuropsychology – Bournemouth University (2015–2016)
BSc Psychology – Cardiff University (2012–2015)
Foundation Level in Family Therapy and Systemic Practice
ADHD Assessment & Management
Seasons of Matrescence Educator & Guide
ACT for Grief & Loss
ACT for Perfectionism & People‑Pleasing
EMDR Training Parts 1-4
Yoga Instructor Diploma (Level 3)
Compassion Focused Therapy for Trauma
Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy Level 1
ACT Levels 1–3
Full CV available on request
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