Dr Matt Woolgar 

Consultant Clinical Psychologist 

 

Qualifications 

  • MA, Social & Political Sciences, Cambridge University, 1991 (First class & GBR Psychology) 

  • PhD, Attachment & Developmental psychology, University College London, 1996 

  • DClinPsy, Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London 2004 

 

Current Employment: 

Dr Woolgar is Consultant Clinical Psychologist and leads the psychology services in the National Adoption & Fostering Service and the National Conduct Problems Clinic, Maudsley Hospital, SLAM NHS Foundation Trust, London. In these posts Dr Woolgar provides specialist assessment and treatment of complex behavioural problems and specialises in the assessment and treatment of the emotional, social and behavioural needs of children and young people, throughout the UK and abroad, who are looked after or adopted, particularly regarding placement, permanency and parenting support, especially in the context of attachment and neurodevelopmental features.

Dr Woolgar’s primary therapeutic expertise is with tailoring intensive, individualised evidence-based parenting approaches for families who have struggled with standard parenting interventions, for example in the context of neurodevelopmental problems; callous-unemotional traits or with children who have experienced significant disruptions in their attachments.   

Dr Woolgar is also a Senior Researcher in the National Academy for Parenting Research (NAPR), based at King’s College London. He also leads the Parenting programme in the UCL-KCL Diploma for the Department of Health’s Children & Young Peoples’ IAPT, a multi-level initiative to transform children’s mental services through NHS, social care and 3rd sector partnerships. He has a particular interest in developing innovative services for adoptive families that incorporate the best aspects of NHS evidence-based practice with the strengths of the individual support offered through 3rd sector partners. He recently designed the Maudsley’s assessment and treatment model for a Social Impact Bond funded care package for looked after children freed for adoption, in partnership with 3rd sector services, which was rolled out nationally in a project funded by the Cabinet Office and social venture capital banks. 

 

Research Supervision since 2012 

PhD supervision, unless stated [date passed] 

  • A longitudinal study of the impact of postnatal OCD on maternal sensitivity and infant attachment outcomes, plus an RCT of an intensive post natal CBT intervention. First supervisor [KCL, 2014] 

  • A multimethod investigation of maternal alcohol misuse and its impact on child outcomes and care proceedings. Second supervisor [KCL, 2014] 

  • An effectiveness study of Functional Family Therapy in the UK: Evaluating moderators and mechanisms of change which underpin outcome an engagement. Second supervisor [KCL, 2018]. 

  • Current applications of attachment theory in practice and policy, and implications for psychological treatment development. Second Supervisor [Cambridge University, in progress] 

  • Clinical Perspectives’ on the diagnosis and assessment of children presenting with attachment and neurodevelopmental difficulties. Second Supervisor [Cambridge University, in progress] 

  • The identification & treatment of Reactive Attachment Disorder in UK Looked After Children. Second Supervisor [UCL, in progress] 

 

DClinPsy supervision since 2010 within King’s College, unless stated [date passed]:  

  • An investigation of the relationship between ADHD and psychopathy in ‘hard to manage’ children [2010]. 

  • Parental Attributions of Child Behaviour as a Predictor of Outcome in Parent Management Training [2010]. 

  • Cognitive reactivity and latent negative self-schema in looked after children: a control comparison study [2012] 

  • Investigating the differential role of mood and callous-unemotional traits on cognitive and affective processing in antisocial adolescents. [2014] 

  • Executive functioning ability and social communication traits in children adopted from the UK [2015] 

  • Cognitive and executive processes associated with emotional and relationship difficulties (emerging borderline traits) in the looked after children population [2015] 

  • A longitudinal evaluation of a faith-based parenting programme [2015 DPsych via City University] 

  • Risk Factors Associated with High Levels of Compassion Fatigue in Foster Carers [2017] 

 

Research Grants 

  • Co-investigator for: An innovative early intervention for antisocial children with callous-unemotional traits. Funded by Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity (£290,000). PI: Mark Dadds, CIs: Jennifer Allen, Stephen Scott, Essi Viding & Matt Woolgar. [2011] 

  • Co-investigator for Personalised assessment and intervention packages for children with conduct problems in child mental health services. Funded by NIHR (£2,395,000). PI: Rob Senior, CIs: Stephen Scott, Crispin Day, Jonathan Hill, Peter Fonagy, Bridget Young, Christopher Roberts, Essi Viding, Sarah Byford, Eilis Kennedy, Matt Woolgar & Sally Hodges. [2015] 

  • Co-investigator for a Feasibility study to treat reactive attachment disorder in looked after children. Funded by NIHR (£350,000). PI: Pasco Fearon, CIs: Stephen Scott, Matt Woolgar; Paul Ramchandani; Peter Fonagy; Barry Wright; Rob Senior; Jane Barlow; Sarah Byford; Will Hausrath; Danya Glaser; Eilis Kennedy [2016].  

  • Co-Investigator for a study about routinely used interventions for improving attachment in infants and young children: an updated systematic review and comprehensive UK survey. Funded by NIHR (£218,000). PI: Barry Wright, [July 2019] 

 

 

Recent Publications (see https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/matt.woolgar.html for latest additions)

 Woolgar, M., & Simmonds, J. (2019). The diverse neurobiological processes and legacies of early adversity: implications for practice. (Editorial). Adoption & Fostering, 43(3), 241–255. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308575919877012  

Collyer, H., Eisler, I. & Woolgar, M. (2019). Systematic literature review and meta-analysis of the relationship between adherence, competence and outcome in psychotherapy for children and adolescents. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. doi:10.1007/s00787-018-1265-2   

O’Connor, T. G., Woolgar, M., Humayun, S., Briskman, J. A., & Scott, S. (2019). Early caregiving predicts attachment representations in adolescence: findings from two longitudinal studies. Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 60, 944-952. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12936 

Barnes, G.L., Woolgar, M., Beckwith, H., & Duschinsky, R. (2018). John Bowlby and contemporary issues of clinical diagnosis. Attachment: New Directions in Psychotherapy and Relational Psychoanalysis, 12, 35-47. 

Hannah, B., & Woolgar, M. (2018). Secondary trauma and compassion fatigue in foster carers. Clinical Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 23 629-643. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104518778327 

Woolgar, M., Pinto, C., & Tomaselli, O. (2018). The Assessment of Children and Young People for Adoption Support: The evidence from 20 referrals to the National Adoption & Fostering Team at the Maudsley. https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/files/97475141/Briefing_maudsley_ASF_20_Cases_2018.pdf  

Gardner, E. & Woolgar, M. (2018). Parenting in the community: A service evaluation of a universal, voluntary sector parenting intervention. Journal of Community Psychology, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.21942 

Wretham, A., & Woolgar, M. (2017). Do children adopted from British foster care show difficulties in executive functioning and social communication? Adoption & Fostering, 4, 331-345. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308575917730295 

Ibrahim, J., Cosgrave, N. & Woolgar M. (2017). Childhood maltreatment and its link to borderline personality disorder features in children: A systematic review approach. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104517712778 

Challacombe, F. L., Salkovskis, P. M., Woolgar, M., Wilkinson, E. L., Read, J. & Acheson, R. (2017). A pilot randomized controlled trial of time-intensive cognitive-behaviour therapy for postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder: effects on maternal symptoms, mother-infant interactions and attachment. Psychological Medicine, 1478-1488 

Woolgar, M. & Pinto, C. (2016). Neuroscience and CAMHS practice. In Campbell, S., Morley, D. and Catchpole, R. (Eds). Critical Issues in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, pp 30-50. London: Palgrave. 

Woolgar, M. & Pinto, C (2016). Tailoring support. Adoption Today, Feb16, pp 10-11. 

Pinto, C. & Woolgar, M. (2016). Receiving an FASD diagnosis. Adoption Today, Feb16, pp 18. 

Challacombe, F. L., Salkovskis, P. M., Woolgar, M., Wilkinson, E. L., Read, J. & Acheson, R. (2016). Parenting and mother-infant interactions in the context of maternal postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder: Effects of obsessional symptoms and mood, Infant Behaviour & Development, 44, 11-20 

Pinto, C. and Woolgar, M. (2015), Editorial: Looked-after children – a perspective into a more resilient future. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 20: 181. doi: 10.1111/camh.12127 

Pinto, C., & Woolgar, M. (2015). Introduction: Looked After Children. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 20, 4, pp. e1–e3. doi:10.1111/camh.12125 

Cooper, P.J., De Pascalis, L., Woolgar, M., Romaniuk, H., & Murray, L. (2015). Attempting to prevent postnatal depression by targeting the mother–infant relationship: a randomised controlled trial. Primary Health Care Research & Development, 16, pp 383-397. doi:10.1017/S1463423614000401 

Woolgar, M. & Baldock, E. (2015). Attachment disorders versus more common problems in looked after and adopted children: comparing community and expert assessments. Child & Adolescent Mental Health. 20, 34–4 doi: 10.1111/camh.12052 

Luke, N., Sinclair, I., Woolgar, M., & Sebba, J. (2014). What works in preventing 

and treating poor mental health in looked after children? NSPCC & Rees Centre, Oxford University [http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/research/findings/evaluation/rees-report-full_wdf103943.pdf] 

Woolgar, M. & Scott, S. (2013). The negative consequences of over-diagnosing attachment disorders in adopted children: the importance of comprehensive formulations. Clinical Child Psychology & Psychiatry doi:10.1177/1359104513478545 (April 2013 Online First).  

Woolgar, M., Bengo, C., & Scott, S. (2013). Social learning theory-based parenting programs to treat attachment difficulties: a case-study of an older child placed late for adoption. Adoption Quarterly.  doi: 10.1080/10926755.2013.790864 

Woolgar, M. (2013). The practical implications of the emerging findings in the neurobiology of maltreatment for looked after and adopted children: Recognising the diversity of outcomes. Adoption & Fostering, 37, 237 - 252.  

Dadds, M.R., Allen, J.L., McGregor, K., Woolgar, M., Viding, E., & Scott, S. (2013). Callous-unemotional traits in children and mechanisms of impaired eye contact during expressions of love: a treatment target? Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry doi:10.1111/jcpp.12155 

Dadds, M.R., Allen, J.L., Oliver, B.R., Faulkner, N., Legge, K., Moul, C., Woolgar, M., & Scott, S. (2012). Love, eye contact, and the developmental origins of empathy versus psychopathy. British Journal of Psychiatry, 200, 191-196 

Bachman, K., Blackeby, K., Bengo, C., Slack, K., Woolgar, M., Lawson, H., & Scott, S. (2011). Fostering Changes: How to improve relationships and manage difficult behaviour. London: BAAF. 

Cresswell, C., Cooper, P., Giannakakis, A., Schofield, E., Woolgar, M., & Murray, L. (2011).  Emotion processing in infancy: Specificity in risk for social anxiety and associations with two-year outcomes. Journal of Experimental Psychopathology, 2, 490-508. 

Scott, S., Briskman,J., Woolgar, M., Humayun, S., & O’Connor, T.G. (2011). Attachment in adolescence: Overlap with parenting and unique prediction of behavioural adjustment. Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 52, 1052-62. 

Woolgar, M. & Tranah, T. (2010). Cognitive vulnerability to depression in young people in secure accommodation: the moderating impact of ethnicity and current suicidal ideation. Journal of Adolescence 33, 653-661. 

Woolgar, M. (2010). Accessing CAMHS for children in care proceedings - a guide for family law professionals. Family Law Week, doi, http://www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx?i=ed64647. 

Woolgar, M. (2010). Meeting mental health needs. Adoption Today, 12, 19-21 

Woolgar, M., & Murray, L. (2010). The representation of fathers by children of depressed mothers: refining the meaning of parentification in high-risk samples. Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry 51 (5), 621-629. 

Creswell,C., Woolgar, M., Cooper, P., Giannakakis, A., Schofield, E., Young, A.W., Murray, L. (2008). Processing of faces and emotional expressions in infants at risk of social phobia. Cognition and Emotion. Vol.22, pp. 437-458.  

Humayun, S., Woolgar, M., & Scott, S. (2008). The early development of offending and what works to stop it.  The Magistrate, (November/December 2008), pp. 258-259. 

Yule, W. & Woolgar, M. (2008). Developmental psychology. New Oxford Textbook of Psychiatry, 2nd Edition. OUP: Oxford.