About Roughledge Dwell
A practice built on the belief that understanding yourself is the foundation for living well.
Our Story
Roughledge Dwell began in 2014 when Dr. Eleanor Hartwell left her position at a London teaching hospital to establish a different kind of psychological practice. After a decade working in clinical settings, she'd seen countless people benefit from psychological support but also witnessed how institutional constraints often prevented the kind of flexible, personalized work that creates real change.
The practice started small, working with individuals navigating anxiety, depression, and the complexities of building meaningful lives. What distinguished the approach from the beginning was a refusal to treat people as diagnostic categories. Each person who walked through the door brought a unique constellation of experiences, strengths, and challenges that required thoughtful, individualized attention.
Over the years, the practice expanded to include personal development work alongside traditional psychological support. This evolution reflected a growing recognition that many people seeking help weren't experiencing mental health crises; they simply wanted to live more intentionally, understand themselves better, and develop capabilities that would serve them throughout their lives.
Today, Roughledge Dwell serves a diverse range of clients across the United Kingdom. Some come for short-term support during specific transitions. Others engage in longer-term development work. What unites them is a commitment to honest self-examination and a willingness to do the sometimes uncomfortable work of genuine growth.
Our Core Values
Integrity in Practice
We maintain the highest ethical standards in all our work. This means being honest about what we can and cannot help with, maintaining strict confidentiality, and always prioritizing your wellbeing over our convenience or financial interests.
Respect for Individual Experience
You are the expert on your own life. Our role is to provide frameworks, perspective, and support while respecting that you ultimately know what feels right for you. We guide; we don't dictate.
Evidence-Based Approaches
While we adapt methods to individual needs, everything we do is grounded in psychological research and proven clinical practice. We don't chase trends or promote unsubstantiated techniques.
Continuous Development
We apply to ourselves what we encourage in clients: ongoing learning and growth. Regular supervision, continued education, and engagement with current research ensure our practice evolves with the field.
Accessible Communication
Psychology is filled with jargon that can obscure rather than clarify. We communicate in clear, straightforward language that makes our work transparent and understandable.
Compassionate Curiosity
Change happens most effectively in an atmosphere of acceptance. We approach your experiences with curiosity rather than judgment, creating space for you to explore difficult territory safely.
Leadership & Expertise
Dr. Eleanor Hartwell
Founder & Principal Psychologist
Eleanor holds a doctorate in clinical psychology from University College London and has over fifteen years of experience working with individuals across a wide range of psychological difficulties. Her background includes clinical work in NHS settings, private practice, and teaching at postgraduate level.
She specializes in anxiety disorders, depression, relationship difficulties, and personal development. Her approach integrates cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and mindfulness-based interventions, adapted to each client's needs and preferences.
Eleanor is a chartered member of the British Psychological Society and maintains ongoing professional development through regular supervision and training in emerging therapeutic approaches.
Michael Chen
Personal Development Specialist
Michael joined Roughledge Dwell in 2018 after a decade working in organizational psychology and executive coaching. He brings a practical, results-oriented approach to personal development work, helping clients build concrete skills in emotional regulation, decision-making, and interpersonal effectiveness.
His background in both psychology and business gives him unique insight into the challenges faced by professionals navigating career transitions, leadership development, and work-life integration. He holds a master's degree in occupational psychology and is an associate member of the Association for Coaching.
Michael's client work focuses on goal clarification, habit development, and building sustainable practices for ongoing growth. He's known for his direct communication style and ability to translate psychological concepts into actionable strategies.
How We Think About Change
Personal change is paradoxical. It requires acceptance of who you are right now while simultaneously working toward who you want to become. Many people get stuck because they approach growth with self-criticism, believing they need to be harsh with themselves to improve. Research and experience both demonstrate this doesn't work.
Effective change comes from understanding your patterns with curiosity rather than judgment. When you understand why you think, feel, and behave the way you do, you create space to make different choices. This understanding develops through reflection, dialogue, and careful attention to your experiences.
We also recognize that insight alone isn't enough. You need to practice new ways of being in your actual life. This means our work together involves both exploration and experimentation, thinking and doing, understanding and action.
The timeline for meaningful change varies enormously between individuals. Some people experience significant shifts relatively quickly, particularly when working on specific skills or perspectives. Deeper patterns, especially those rooted in long-standing beliefs or early experiences, typically require more sustained work. We track progress together and adjust our approach based on what's actually happening, not what should theoretically occur.
Who We Work With
Our clients come from diverse backgrounds and life stages. We regularly work with:
Young Professionals
Individuals in their twenties and thirties navigating career development, relationship formation, and questions about identity and direction. Common themes include career uncertainty, social anxiety, and building confidence.
Mid-Career Individuals
People reassessing their priorities, dealing with burnout, or navigating significant life transitions. Often seeking better work-life balance or clarity about what truly matters to them.
Creative Professionals
Artists, writers, designers, and others in creative fields dealing with perfectionism, creative blocks, or the psychological challenges of pursuing uncertain career paths.
Healthcare Professionals
Doctors, nurses, and others in caring professions experiencing compassion fatigue, work stress, or difficulty maintaining boundaries between professional and personal life.
Entrepreneurs & Business Owners
Individuals managing the psychological demands of running businesses, dealing with decision fatigue, or working through the isolation that can accompany entrepreneurship.
Students & Academics
Those navigating academic pressure, research stress, or transitions between educational stages. Common concerns include anxiety, perfectionism, and career uncertainty.
Our Journey
Practice Founded
Dr. Eleanor Hartwell established Roughledge Dwell, beginning with individual psychological support in a small consulting room in North London.
Mindfulness Integration
Introduced structured mindfulness-based approaches after Eleanor completed advanced training in MBCT and saw consistent positive outcomes with clients.
Expansion to Personal Development
Michael Chen joined the practice, expanding services to include dedicated personal development coaching alongside therapeutic work.
Remote Service Adaptation
Successfully transitioned to offering remote sessions, broadening access to clients across the United Kingdom while maintaining service quality.
500+ Clients Supported
Reached the milestone of having worked with over five hundred individuals, with consistently high satisfaction and outcome ratings.
Continued Growth
Now in our twelfth year, continuing to refine our approach and expand the depth and breadth of support we offer to clients.
Professional Standards & Affiliations
Professional Registration
All practitioners are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and maintain professional indemnity insurance.
Ethical Compliance
We adhere to the British Psychological Society's Code of Ethics and Conduct, ensuring the highest standards of professional practice.
Ongoing Supervision
All clinical work is supported by regular professional supervision, maintaining quality and ethical standards in our practice.
Continued Professional Development
We complete over sixty hours annually of training and professional development, staying current with research and best practices.
Confidentiality Assurance
Strict confidentiality protocols protect all client information, with clear policies about the rare circumstances requiring disclosure.
Client Feedback Integration
We regularly collect and review client feedback, using it to continuously improve our service delivery and approach.
Ready to Begin?
If our approach resonates with you and you're ready to invest in your growth, we'd be glad to explore how we might work together.
Get In Touch