Meet Our Associates

At Make Sense Psychological Services, we are proud to work with a team of highly experienced and dedicated forensic psychologists. Our associates bring a wealth of specialist knowledge from across the criminal justice, mental health, and forensic psychology sectors. Each professional is HCPC registered and BPS chartered, with years of experience in delivering expert risk assessments, therapy, and consultancy across custodial, secure healthcare, and community settings.

This page introduces our trusted associates - experts who share our commitment to high-quality, ethical, and evidence-based psychological practice. Whether working with clients with complex needs, offering expert witness services, or providing therapeutic interventions, their work reflects the core values of Make Sense: professionalism, integrity, and compassion.

Explore their profiles below to learn more about the team supporting our work.

Our associates are trusted, highly experienced forensic psychologists dedicated to delivering expert, evidence-based services.

  • Dr Paul Farrington

    Forensic Psychologist

    Paul is a Chartered and HCPC-registered Forensic Psychologist with extensive experience delivering high-quality psychological risk assessments for legal, parole, and tribunal settings. He has a specialist interest in forensic mental health, including the assessment and treatment of individuals with complex needs such as personality disorder, trauma histories, and neurodevelopmental conditions including Autism Spectrum Disorder. Dr Farrington has particular expertise in schema-informed formulations and trauma-focused approaches, with a strong track record of working effectively with male and female patients in secure mental health services.

    Paul is proficient in the use of structured professional judgement tools such as the HCR-20 V3, RSVP, SARA-V3 and SAPROF. He is also trained in the assessment and diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder using both the ADOS-2 and ADI-R. His reports are clear, clinically detailed, and forensically rigorous, providing well-reasoned and evidence-based opinions to assist decision-makers in understanding risk, responsivity, and treatment needs. Dr Farrington regularly provides expert witness evidence in written and oral form, and is accustomed to working to tight procedural deadlines.

  • Bal Sanderson

    Forensic Psychologist

    Bal is a HCPC registered Forensic Psychologist and is a chartered member of the BPS. Bal has worked in forensic settings for over 16 years, with extensive experience of risk assessment and treatment with sexual and violent offenders. She has experience of working in a wide variety of forensic settings within the National Health Service, Public Sector prisons and St Andrew's healthcare, as well as community settings. Bal has worked across the range of security levels within these roles. She has also previously worked as part of the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) pathway, offering interventions within the prison service and consultation to probation services.

    Bal is trained in various psychological models and structured risk and personality assessment tools. She currently provides expert witness reports for the courts/parole board relating to violence risk/reoffending, cognitive functioning, sexual offending, interpersonal violence, personality disorder and other area of forensic risk.

  • Dr Naomi Budd

    Forensic Psychologist


    Naomi is an HCPC registered Forensic Psychologist and is a chartered member of the BPS with 26 years' experience in the prison system. She holds a Professional Doctorate in Psychology for her research into ABI among indeterminate prisoners. Naomi provides specialist risk assessments for parole and courts and works with individuals convicted of serious violent and sexual offences. Naomi also delivers individual therapy foe those with complex needs.

  • Scott van der Merwe

    Forensic Psychologist


    Scott is a BPS Chartered and HCPC-registered Forensic Psychologist with over 17 years’ experience in the prison system. He has led prison psychology teams and delivered risk assessments and interventions for sexual and violent offending. Scott is proficient in several risk assessment tools and is also trained to assess cognitive challenges and personality disorder. He is highly regarded for his expert evidence delivery.

    Scott is also trained and has extensive experience in delivery, management, supervision, and clinical oversight of a variety of the previous Accredited Interventions in the prison service.

  • Julia Croft

    Forensic Psychologist


    Julia is a BPS Chartered and HCPC-registered Forensic Psychologist, with 17 years of working in the prison service. She specialises in working with men and women who commit sexual and violent offences and has particular expertise with working with those with specific sexual interests which contribute to offending.

    Julia is skilled in delivering and managing both moderate and high-intensity accredited programmes and is trained in a broad range of cognitive and risk assessment tools including those which assist with the assessment of stalking.

  • Lorna Gray

    Forensic Psychologist


    Lorna has over 19 years experience of working with offenders in forensic settings, working in both private and public sector prisons. She is an accredited risk assessor by the Risk Management Authority in Scotland providing risk assessment reports for the High Court in Scotland since 2022

    Lorna specialises in assessing general and sexual violence, intimate partner violence, stalking, extremism, human trafficking and fire-raising. She has extensive experience in the assessment of personality disorder and is an accredited schema therapist. She provides assessments for the Scottish High Court and the Parole Board.

  • Dr Louise Sainsbury

    Forensic & Clinical Psychologist


    Louise has worked in forensic mental health for over 25 years, co-leading a high-security personality disorder service. She provides training, supervision, assessment, formulation and forensic trauma informed therapy for men with severe and complex difficulties,

    Louise is an ISST-certified Schema Therapy trainer and supervisor. Louise holds a postgraduate certificate in Mental Health Law and specialises in trauma-informed therapy, attachment, and treatment-resistant presentations. She is also proficient in providing holistic psychological risk assessments for the parole board and mental health tribunals for individuals with complex difficulties.

  • Dr Laura Challinor

    Forensic Psychologist


    Laura holds a Doctorate in Forensic Psychology and is registered with the HCPC. She has worked across all levels of secure healthcare, treating individuals under the Mental Health Act. She has a range of experience in the assessment and treatment of violent and sexual offenders. She is currently the clinical lead for a personality disorder service for individuals convicted of sexual offences.

    She is trained in Schema Therapy, EMDR, DBT, and structured risk assessment tools. She is also proficient in the assessment of ASD and cognitive challenges.

  • Melanie Merola

    Forensic Psychologist


    Melanie is a HCPC registered and BPS Chartered Forensic Psychologist who has worked across HMPPS and NHS services. She currently leads the HMP Aylesbury OPD Pathway and is proficient in a wide range of cognitive and risk assessments. She continues to deliver therapy within this role.

    Melanie has a range of experience in the assessment and treatment of sexual and violent offenders and the implementation, delivery and treatment management of accredited OBPs.

  • Azania Thomas

    Forensic Psychologist


    Azania is a BPS Chartered and HCPC-registered Forensic Psychologist with over 12 years’ experience in psychiatric and custodial settings. She specialises in Autism, personality disorders, learning disabilities, and mental illness. Azania is trained in DBT, Schema Therapy, ACT, CFT, and a range of risk and cognitive assessments.

  • Sally Evans

    Forensic Psychologist


    Sally Evans is an HCPC Registered and BPS Chartered Forensic Psychologist with over 20 years of experience.

    Sally specialises in psychological risk assessments across sexual offending, stalking, personality disorders, and mental health. she is also proficient in the assessment of cognitive challenges. She has specialist knowledge in working with trans and gender-diverse individuals in the justice system and uses a structured, evidence-based approach.

  • Louise Riddoch

    Forensic Psychologist


    Louise is a BPS Chartered and HCPC-registered Forensic Psychologist with over 19 years of experience. She is highly experienced in the assessment and treatment of sexual and violent offenders and has delivered and managed a range of accredited offending behaviour programmes. She specialises in working with long term prisoners who have substance misuse challenges which effect progression.

  • Kate Green

    Forensic Psychologist

    Kate is a HCPC registered Forensic Psychologist and chartered member of the BPS. Kate has almost 20 years’ experience across prisons, secure hospitals, and community settings. She currently works in a community CAMHS team, supporting young people at risk of psychosis or involved in the youth justice system. Kate is trained in a range of trauma-informed therapies and assessment tools, and she holds an honorary Assistant Professorship at the University of Nottingham, with research focused on early life trauma and mental health.

  • April Phillips

    Forensic Psychologist

    April is a HCPC Registered Forensic Psychologist with extensive experience across custodial, NHS, and community forensic settings. She has worked with both adults and young people, including within HMPPS, CAMHS, and NHS secure services, providing assessment and treatment for individuals detained under the Mental Health Act. April specialises in the assessment of violence, sexual offending, and intimate partner violence, with additional expertise in working with clients who present with cognitive challenges or neurodiversity.

  • Dr Paul Egleston

    Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist

    Paul is a Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist, MB ChB, MRCPsych, with over 25 years’ experience working within high, medium, and low secure psychiatric services. Since 2006, he has held the position of Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist at Rampton High Security Hospital, where he has worked extensively across both mental illness and personality disorder pathways, including as Medical Lead for the Personality Disorder Service.

  • Dr Louise Wade

    Doctorate in Forensic Psychology

     

    Louise has a range of experience working in medium and low secure psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitation services, community step-down services, learning disabilities specialist community services, and the Prison Service. She is employed as a Principal Forensic Psychologist and Neurodiversity Lead working for an NHS high secure psychiatric hospital. She has over 15 years of experience supporting individuals with Learning Disabilities and/or Autism across both forensic and non-forensic settings.

     

    She is proficient in the use of structured risk assessment tools and structured psychological and cognitive assessments. She is also an academic and clinical supervisor for psychologists in training.

  • Dr Naomi Callendar

    Doctorate in Forensic Psychology

    Naomi is a Chartered and HCPC-registered Forensic Psychologist with over 20 years of experience working in a range of prison, healthcare and community settings with forensic populations. She has experience of working with adult males, females and young people

    She is experienced in working with adult males who present with high risk of harm to others and mental health difficulties and has significant experience in the assessment and case formulation of individual's with complex presentations, primarily personality disorder, psychosis and offending behaviour.

    She is proficient in the use of psychological risk assessments and has significant experience of delivering individual and group therapy, for example, CBT, DBT and Schema Therapy.

  • Alisha Meertins

    Forensic Psychologist

    Alisha is an HCPC Registered Forensic Psychologist with experience across custodial, NHS, community and education settings.  She has worked with both adults and young people, providing assessment and treatment.  Alisha is proficient in the use of structured risk assessment tools and structured personality and cognitive functioning assessments. She specialises in working with individuals who have been convicted of sexual offences and/or have specific sexual interests.  She also has experience of, and an interest in, working with people convicted, or at risk of, stalking.

Testimonials

  • "Having instructed Make Sense associates over a number of years I would have no hesitation in recommending their professionalism , the quality and efficiency in their production of psychological assessments and their empathy to those serving significant sentences of imprisonment within the UK penal system. Their attention to detail and willingness to collaborate with a view to the best possible report in every case is second to none. "

    Alastair Young, The Johnson Partnership Solicitors

  • "Ive instructed Makesense Psychology Services for several years instructing Dr Matthew Nicoll to do full risk assessments on prisoners due with up coming parole hearings. From interviewing the client to compiling the report every bit of it is professional, all my clients speak highly of the associates, their professionalism and their manner on dealing with very sensitive matters I personally find the report easy to read and the associates are very accurate with regards to risk and their recommendations I have no intentions of using any other firm"

    Mrs Clare Sievewright, RMNJ Solicitors

  • "I’ve worked with Make Sense Psychological Services on numerous occassions over the years, and I can honestly say their professionalism and expertise are second to none. Every expert I’ve instructed through them has been highly professional, ethical, and deeply knowledgeable in their field. Their reports are always clear, balanced, and persuasive, and their input regularly carries considerable weight within legal proceedings. It’s a service I’ve come to trust completely, and I will continue to use and recommend Make Sense Psychological Services without hesitation."

    Lloyd Stradling, Prison Law Consultant and Solicitor - Graham & Co Solicitors Limited

  • "I first instructed Make Sense in 2020 following a recommendation from a colleague, and I have instructed them on numerous occasions since. I have found the approach of Make Sense psychologists different to other psychologists. They take a very thorough approach to assessments, but their reports are not overly lengthy, so are easy to understand and I have also found them to be persuasive in my cases before the Parole Board. In oral evidence, I have found the psychologists to be very clear and on top of their instructions with an impressive knowledge of the cases. They deal well with challenges from Parole Board members and instil confidence. With more vulnerable clients I have found Make Sense to have a truly compassionate approach which has meant a lot to my clients. I would not hesitate to recommend Make Sense to anyone who requires expert psychological input in a Parole Board review."

    Catherine Bond, Consultant Solicitor, SL5 Legal

  • "We have worked with Makesense Psychology Services on a number of our more complex prison law cases and have been continually impressed by the quality of their work and professionalism. Their psychologists bring a calm, compassionate, and highly skilled approach to every case. The assessments are detailed, balanced, and always delivered with clarity and sensitivity to the unique circumstances involved. Their insight has often been key in helping us better understand our clients’ needs and in supporting fairer outcomes. Communication with the team is always efficient and friendly, and they consistently go above and beyond to accommodate tight deadlines and challenging situations. It’s clear they care deeply about both the people they assess and the professionals they work alongside. We have no hesitation in recommending Makesense Psychology Services to anyone seeking reliable, expert, and genuinely caring psychological input."

    Sally Patchett, Prison Law Consultant

  • The challenge for a Prison Law Advocate is balancing the needs of the individual prisoner and working within the requirements of The Parole Board in order to satisfy the statutory test for release. Make Sense Psychological Services provide specific and tailored psychological assessments for a wide range of offending behavioural concerns. The positive reports recommending progression are submitted to the Parole Board. As a result of the meticulous work carried out by Make Sense Psychology they ensure the respective client receives an impartial assessment of his risk factors preceding Parole and these reports and oral evidence presented go towards assuring the Paroleboard of manageability and potential release back into the community. The insight that Dr Nicoll and his team of qualified psychologists provide can be utilised by Probation along with a range of third party services so as to ensure that a successful reintegration into society can be achieved. In summary, an excellent service providing straightforward and comprehensive assessments.

    Mr Malcolm Wilkinson, Martyn Hewett Solicitor

If you're unsure which associate is best suited to your needs, please get in touch. Our team will be happy to discuss your case and connect you with the most appropriate expert for your situation.

Contact Us For More Information