About Parkar Psychological Therapy and Consulting

Faz Parkar is the owner and director of Parkar Psychological Therapy and Consulting. He is a qualified Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist and is fully accredited by the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP). Accreditation from the BABCP means Faz has completed high quality CBT training and has shown the knowledge, skills and competencies to deliver a high standard of evidence based psychological treatment. Being accredited by the BABCP also means Faz commits to undertaking regular supervision for his clinical work, continuing his professional development by attending training and is bound by a code of conduct which ensures he works within an ethical framework, ensuring he has the best interest of clients in mind. Further information about the BABCP can be found at www.babcp.com and accreditation status can be checked and verified at www.cbtregisteruk.com. Faz Parkar trained in EMDR Therapy also, which he completed in 2018 via EMDR Works. He is now an EMDR Europe Accredited Practitioner.

Faz first started working in mental health settings in 2008 where he worked on several inpatient psychiatric units in Luton. He then began working in the government’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) scheme in 2009 and he remains there today. He has worked in several different roles within those periods, which included working as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, Assistant Psychologist, Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, High Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and also Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner Team Lead. Faz has also spent time working in other areas whilst working within IAPT, and this included working as a Sexual Health Advisor in a GUM clinic and working as a Project Support Officer within a mental health setting.

He has significant experience of delivering evidence based treatments on an individual basis, as well as significant experience of running workshops and groups. Faz has undertaken further training in treatment of PTSD, including EMDR and Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) and used to run a pre treatment stabilisation group for clients presenting with PTSD. Faz also has experience of working as part of the senior management team, where he has experience in recruitment, supervision, waiting list management, service development and strategic level thinking. Faz's previous post involved working for his local IAPT service as a Team Leader - Senior CBT Therapist / Step 2 and Trainee Coordinator. He has worked on secondment with the Oxford Academic Health Science Network as a Project Support Officer within the Anxiety and Depression clinical network, where he has worked alongside national experts within the field of IAPT. In his previous role, he delivered high intensity CBT, as well as supervising telephone triage assessments for the team and being on the risk duty rota. Faz also supervised a number of Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners and Trainee High Intensity CBT therapists. Faz was also a qualified PPiPCare Trainer and Lead for his local IAPT service. PPiPCare refers to Psychological Perspectives in Primary Care which involves delivering teaching modules to various organisations or primary care staff in order to improve their knowledge and awareness of how to recognise depression and anxiety, how to use behavioural activation for depression, problem solving skills and motivational interviewing. Faz has also guest lectured at university presenting on career progression for Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners.

In 2019, Faz worked as Assistant Director (Counselling and Mental Health) at the University of St Andrews, within the Student Services department. At present, Faz is currently working part time in the private sector as a Clinical Lead, and part time in his own private practice which he thoroughly enjoys. As a result, he often has no waiting lists and can offer flexible appointments. Faz has also worked as an Associate Lecturer on the Post Graduate Diploma in CBT at Bucks New University in High Wycombe (England), which delivered a level 2 BABCP Accredited training course for Trainee CBT Therapists.

Qualifications include a BSc Honours in Psychology (University of Hertfordshire), MSc Research Methods in Psychology (University of Hertfordshire), Post Graduate Certificate in Mental Health in Primary Care (University of Hertfordshire) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Evidence Based Psychological Therapies (CBT) from University of Reading, and Parts 1 to 4 EMDR Training via EMDR Works.

Faz has also completed his training to become a Specialist Stop Smoking Advisor as part of the National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training (NCSCT). In addition to the Core Competencies in Helping People Stop Smoking Practitioner Training, he has also completed speciality courses in Mental Health and Smoking Cessation and Pregnancy and Smoking Cessation as part of NCSCT. 

Outside of work, Faz has a significant interest in martial arts and health and fitness. He used to train in Tae Kwon Do for over 9 years and achieved his black belt in 2008 and later went on to become a qualified Tae Kwon Do Instructor with the Tae Kwon Do Association of Great Britain (TAGB).  In 2012, Faz completed his Active IQ Level 2 Gym Instructor and Level 3 Personal Trainer Course which was recognised by the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPS). He has worked part time as a Personal Trainer in the past although now he focuses on developing his own skills in Krav Maga, which is a self defence system which originated from Israel.

Faz is also registered with Aviva Healthcare , BUPA and AXA PPP Healthcare.

• BABCP Accredited CBT Therapist
• EMDR Europe Accredited Practitioner
• Significant Experience of Delivering Evidence Based Treatment
• Experience at Senior Management Team Level with Extensive Supervision Experience
• No waiting lists, continuous treatment often starts within 1 to 2 weeks of initial enquiry