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  • Welcome to Comfort Shields Practice
    Specialist Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy, and Independent Assessment

    Harley Street Medical District
    4 Devonshire Street, London W1W 5DT & Online

 

What makes my approach distinctive is the combination of a background in psychoanalytic and humanistic training with broad clinical expertise, enriched by anthropology, allowing me to attend not only to symptoms and history, but also to culture, meaning, identity, and the wider contexts in which suffering takes shape. My work is informed in particular by Winnicott, Jung, and Kierkegaard, alongside broader psychodynamic and humanistic traditions.

C. Comfort Shields, CPsychol, AFBPsS, MBACP (Accred), PhD & MA (ClinPsy), MPhil & MSt (Oxon), FRAI

 

Who I Work With

I work with adults who are seeking serious psychological help, whether they are outwardly functioning, privately struggling, in a period of crisis, or trying to understand patterns that have shaped them for many years.

Some clients come because life has become unmanageable through trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulty, burnout, neurodivergence, questions of identity, or a painful sense of disconnection from themselves. Others appear capable or composed on the outside, while inwardly carrying experiences that have never been fully understood, processed or spoken about.

My clients come from many different backgrounds. Some are professionals, clinicians, academics, creatives, founders, expatriates, senior leaders or people in the public eye; others are simply looking for a private, thoughtful and clinically rigorous space in which their distress can be taken seriously.

The work is suited to people who value depth, discretion and a therapeutic relationship in which complexity does not have to be simplified too quickly.

Depth Psychotherapy and EMDR in Harley Street and Online

I offer specialist psychotherapy and trauma therapy for adults who are seeking more than brief, generic support. My work is particularly suited to people carrying trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, neurodivergence, relational difficulty, questions of identity, or a sense of being outwardly capable while inwardly struggling.

Therapy is grounded in psychodynamic, humanistic and trauma-informed practice, with EMDR offered where clinically appropriate. The aim is not simply symptom management, but deeper psychological understanding, emotional integration and a more liveable relationship with the self.

Sessions are available in the Harley Street Medical District and online. Clients may book a 90-minute initial consultation, a structured EMDR block, or an 8-session psychotherapy block where clinically appropriate.

Specialist Psychological Assessment Clinic

Dr Caroline Comfort Shields, Chartered Clinical Psychologist, provides private psychological assessments and reports for adults seeking diagnostic clarity, treatment recommendations, formal documentation, or compensation-related evidence.

I devote a significant part of my practice to assessments for PTSD, C-PTSD, CICA, AFCS, ADHD and complex diagnostic questions. Assessments are available in the Harley Street Medical District and online where clinically appropriate.

Reports may address diagnosis, functional impairment, prognosis, treatment needs and, where appropriate, the relationship between trauma and current psychological presentation. Assessment may include structured clinical interview, validated psychometric measures, CAPS-5 for PTSD where clinically indicated, and the International Trauma Interview for ICD-11 PTSD and C-PTSD where clinically indicated.

Assessment enquiries are considered carefully so that the scope of work is clear before an appointment is arranged. I provide selected CICA and AFCS psychological reports, but do not provide court attendance or oral evidence.

 

Testimonials

 

 

New Article Featuring Comfort Shields, Bupa Global therapist London:

New Article Featuring Comfort Shields:

Featured in Woman & Home magazine

Featured in Huff Post

“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.”
— Donald Winnicott

My approach is grounded in curiosity rather than correction. I am most concerned with experiences and feelings that interfere with your ability to feel real to yourself, to sustain meaning, and to inhabit your life with a sense of vitality and coherence.

Together, we might ask questions such as:

How does life come to feel significant again?
How does one develop an authentic sense of self?
How does meaning return after trauma, loss, or long periods of psychological strain?

There are no universal answers to these questions. Rather than offering solutions in advance, my role is to provide a contained, reflective therapeutic environment in which they can be explored at a pace that is safe, grounded, and specific to you — supporting psychological integration, stability, and the gradual expansion of life possibilities over time.

Depending on a client’s needs, I may integrate other modalities alongside psychodynamic work, including EMDR and, where appropriate, elements of DBT or CBT, always in service of depth, containment, and ethical care rather than technique for its own sake.

I am also specialist in trauma and complex mental health, including complex PTSD, PTSD, developmental trauma, neurodivergence, and more severe or enduring mental health presentations such as bipolar spectrum disorders , where psychological therapy is offered thoughtfully and in collaboration with psychiatric care.

I am based in the Harley Street Medical District, offering discreet, world-class psychological therapy and assessment in Central London and online. I am an approved provider for Bupa Global, Cigna, and WPA, and am trusted by senior leaders, professionals, expats, and private clients who value confidentiality, clinical rigour, and discretion.

Services Offered by Dr Comfort Shields (Harley Street, London & Online):

  • ADHD and diagnostic clarification assessments
  • Trauma and C-PTSD assessments using the gold-standard CAPS-5 and ITI assessment measures
  • AFCS and CICA psychological assessments and reports, including for appeals
  • Psychodynamic and humanistic psychotherapy
  • Advanced EMDR therapy
  • Couples therapy

 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between therapy and an assessment?
Therapy is an ongoing process focused on emotional understanding and change over time. An assessment is a structured, time-limited process designed to provide clarity, diagnosis where appropriate, and recommendations.

How quickly can I get an appointment?
Appointments for assessments are typically available within 1–2 weeks, and sometimes the same week. Therapy availability varies depending on current capacity and whether you would like to meet in person or online.

Do you offer online appointments?
Yes. Sessions and assessments are available both in person in the Harley Street Medical District and online. On Fridays, I meet exclusively online.

Do I need to know exactly what I need before contacting you?
No. Many clients are unsure whether they need therapy or an assessment. You are welcome to get in touch, and we can guide you.

Do you accept credit card payments?
Yes. Sessions and assessments may be paid for by credit card (including Visa, Mastercard, and AmericanExpress), private medical insurances including Bupa Global (but not Bupa UK), Cigna UK and Cigna Global, and WPA, or by bank transfer.

 

London psychotherapist, Comfort Shields, has been quoted in the media both online and in print.

C. COMFORT SHIELDS

A warm welcome! I am a private psychotherapist and chartered psychologist in the Harley Street Medical District of Central London.

  • Have some questions first? You can always reach out here, or email me directly at info@comfortshieldspractice.com