Richard Shelton

Overview

Richard is a Lecturer in Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (LICBT) on the MSc Psychological Therapies with Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner training at City St George’s, University of London and a BABCP-accredited High Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist. He brings extensive experience from NHS Talking Therapies services, where he has worked across a range of clinical, supervisory, and senior roles delivering evidence-based interventions for common mental health difficulties.

Alongside his academic role, Richard maintains clinical practice as a High Intensity CBT Psychotherapist, working closely with psychological wellbeing practitioners in the field, ensuring his teaching is grounded in current, real-world clinical experience. His work spans both high- and low-intensity CBT, with expertise in assessment, formulation, and delivering effective interventions within the NHS stepped care model.

Richard has a strong specialist interest in adapting high- and low-intensity CBT approaches for individuals with comorbid long-term physical health conditions and persistent physical symptoms. He is particularly experienced in working with pain conditions and incorporating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy techniques to improve patient outcomes.

He is also an experienced group therapy facilitator with a particular passion for CBT-based group interventions. His work has focused on developing and delivering group programmes for individuals with long-term health conditions, recognising the value of group processes in enhancing engagement, normalisation, and recovery.

Richard has held several positions within NHS services, including Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner and clinical supervisory roles, where he supported the development of trainees and qualified practitioners through supervision, line management and running clinical skills training sessions. He is committed to fostering reflective, skilled, and evidence-based clinicians, and brings this ethos into his teaching.

His academic work is grounded in a commitment to bridging clinical practice and education, supporting students to develop both the theoretical knowledge and practical competencies required for effective work within NHS Talking Therapies services.

Qualifications

• IAPT Course (LI-CBT), Mental Health Assessment and Treatment of People with LTC and MUS, University College London, United Kingdom
• IAPT Course (High Intensity CBT), Mental Health Assessment and Treatment of People with Long-Term Conditions and Medically Unexplained Symptoms, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom
• BSc Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom
• MSc Developmental Psychology, Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom

Postgraduate training

• PGDip High Intensity Psychological Interventions (CBT), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
• PGCert Evidence-Based Psychological Treatment (Low Intensity CBT), University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom

Employment

• Lecturer, City St Georges, University of London, United Kingdom, September 2025 - present
• Psychotherapist (High Intensity CBT), Turning Point Talking Therapies, United Kingdom, October 2021 - present
• Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom, September 2020 - October 2021
• Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (LICBT), Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom, August 2018 - September 2020