Dr Amy Beddows

I started my career in mental healthcare in 2005, working in a residential crisis service in London supporting women who were living with the long-term impacts of sexual violence, domestic abuse, and other traumatic experiences. I qualified as a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (CBT) in 2008 and worked in NHS services, before moving to the USA where I trained in sexual violence victim advocacy work and crisis intervention with the local police force. Working with survivors, police officers, legal professionals and healthcare providers gave me further insight into the social, cultural, and structural nature of sexual and domestic violence against women and children.

On my return to the UK, I worked as a CBT therapist supporting clients through charities, NHS settings, and university counselling services. In these different contexts, I saw the pervasive impacts that sexual and domestic violence can have on clients, as well as the many negative and blaming messages that they receive from friends and family, professionals, and the media. This led me to undertake a six-year PhD research project exploring women’s experiences of victim blame from agencies and professionals, which I was awarded in 2022 from the Child & Woman Abuse Studies Unit (CWASU) at London Metropolitan University.

Today, I continue to offer therapy to clients in private practice and university services. I am also working to establish closer links between research, therapy, education and activism, in hopes of contributing to a joined-up approach to challenge gender-based violence.

I am based in Edinburgh, Scotland and offer therapy, consultation, and training across the UK. For more information, please contact me or explore my website.