Clinical expertise
Dr Sara Sopena is a consultant paediatric psychologist with extensive experience of working with families and children with emotional, behavioural, neurodevelopmental and/or learning difficulties.
She regularly treats patients with conditions such as:
- anxiety
- behavioural issues
- cognitive/ learning/ neuropsychological assessment
- depression
- neurodevelopmental conditions (autism, ADHD, Tourette’s)
- obsessive compulsive disorder
- post-traumatic stress disorder
She performs treatments such as:
- cognitive behavioural therapy
- dialectical behavioural therapy
- EMDR (trauma focused therapy)
- individual psychological therapy
- mindfulness
- parenting support
- positive behavioural support
Locations
Our specialist provides care at these locations:
Biography
Dr Sara Sopena is a consultant paediatric psychologist with over 20 years of experience working across several NHS services in London. She specialises in supporting children and families from diverse backgrounds who present with a wide range of emotional, behavioural, neurodevelopmental, and/or learning difficulties.
Dr Sopena is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and is a member of other professional bodies including EMDR UK and the European Society for the Study of Tourette Syndrome (ESSTS).
Currently she serves as joint head of psychology in the neurosciences department at Evelina London Children’s Hospital, where she co-leads a large psychology team. Clinically, she works with children with complex neurodevelopmental, neurological, and/or neuropsychological conditions, providing both assessment and intervention. She is deeply passionate about improving the quality of life of young people with complex needs, helping them achieve meaningful progress aligned with their values, culture, and individual goals.
Sara’s clinical expertise include conducting comprehensive psychological and neurodevelopmental assessments to help families gain a clear understanding of their child’s difficulties and develop evidence-based, individualised interventions. She provides general assessments for common mental health difficulties such as anxiety and depression, as well as specialist diagnostic assessments for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and cognitive/learning evaluations.
She is trained in a range of evidence-based therapeutic approaches, which are always tailored to the unique needs of each child and family. These include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), narrative therapy, positive behavioural support (PBS), eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR), and mindfulness-based interventions.
Research
Dr Sopena has maintained a strong commitment to clinically relevant research. She has contributed to the development of widely used neuropsychological assessment test batteries, participated in international genetic studies, and led or co-authored numerous research projects published in peer-reviewed journals.
Her research interests include autism, tic disorders, EMDR, and neuropsychology.
