Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Dr Snowdon-Carr is a consultant clinical psychologist who has worked in the field of weight management, disordered eating and bariatric surgery since 2007 both within the NHS and private practice.
She is registered with the Health Care Professions Council, is an Associate Fellow and Chartered Clinical Psychologist of the British Psychological Society and a member of the British Obesity and Bariatric Surgery Society (BOMSS).
Dr Snowdon-Carr has worked in a range of physical health and mental health services across the South West of England and South Wales, completing her clinical psychology doctorate at Cardiff University in 2002.
She has been involved in a range of national policy developments to highlight patients’ psychological needs within bariatric surgery and obesity services; working with the Royal College of Surgeons and representing the British Psychological Society on the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE), Clinical Commissioning Group for Bariatric Surgery. She has been part of a small team, to develop guidelines on behalf of BOMSS for the provision of psychological care by both NHS and private bariatric surgery providers.
Dr Snowdon-Carr provides training and workshops both nationally and internationally on the subject of obesity, weight stigma and bariatric surgery.
Employment
Dr Snowdon-Carr led the NHS clinical psychology service at Musgrove Park Hospital for bariatric surgery and weight management for over 10 years before leaving to co-develop Verve Health Group.
Relevant Publications
2022 Global variations in preoperative practices concerning patients seeking primary bariatric and metabolic surgery (PACT Study): A survey of 634 bariatric healthcare professionals. International Journal of Obesity 46, 1341–1350
2021 Impact of COVID-19 on Obesity Management Services in the United Kingdom (The COMS-UK study). Obesity Surgery 31, 904–908
2019 Psychological Perspectives on Obesity: Addressing Policy, Practice and Research Priorities. British Psychological Society
2019 British Obesity Metabolic Surgery Society endorsed guidelines for psychological support pre- and post-bariatric surgery. Clinical Obesity 9(6)
2019 Psychological Approaches in the Treatment of Obesity. In: Sbraccia P., Finer N. (eds) Obesity. Endocrinology.
2018 Psychological Approaches in the Treatment of Obesity. In Obesity: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Treatment (2018) pp1-23, Springer
2016 Using Psychological Approaches for Working with Type 2 Diabetes. Practical Diabetes 33(7) pp248-252b
2015 Psychological Issues Before and After Bariatric Surgery. In Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery. Pp 643-652, Springer, Cham
Personal Statement
Prejudice about weight results in an over-simplified idea that weight loss is easy. I am therefore passionate about my work and the need to highlight the complexity of issues for people living with obesity.
I use a range of therapeutic models in my clinical practice to enable patients to explore the issues with which they feel stuck. Having worked for many years with people who have had bariatric surgery, I have witnessed the significant impact of surgery as a ‘turbo-boost’ for change. I also recognise the importance of the changes the individual needs to make to help weight management and improved quality of life in the long term after surgery. Supporting people along this journey is the part of my work I enjoy the most.
A perfect weekend for me is exploring the South West with my family in a campervan. I have recently started running, I can’t say that I love it all of the time, but I am enjoying the challenge!