Dr Fiona Knott

My  name is Fiona Knott and I am a clinical psychologist specialising in  working with children and adults with autism.  I joined Every-Mind in  September 2020.

I  have been passionate about autism since I spent my gap year working in a  school for children with autism in my home county of Dorset. Since  then, I have been lucky enough to have worked as a clinician  and an academic in a variety of settings.  I completed a PhD at the  University of Reading looking at the way children with autism interact  with their siblings.  In 1995 I qualified as a clinical psychologist at  the University of Glasgow and spent a number  of years in the West of Scotland working in child psychology services  with children with a range of developmental and other difficulties. On  my return to Reading in 2002, I took up a split post, working as a  lecturer at the University and as a clinician in  Berkshire CAMHS supporting children and families with autism spectrum  disorders. Since leaving the NHS in 2014 I have worked in various  settings as a clinical psychologist, including the Centre for Autism,  University of Reading and at Prior’s Court School. 

As  well as working therapeutically with individuals and families, I have  developed and run groups for parents and siblings and have delivered  numerous training courses to professional and voluntary  sector organisations.  My academic research interests have two key  areas.   I am keen to understand attitudes to autism in order to improve  awareness and reduce stigma. I am also keen to develop better  understanding and treatments for anxiety as this is such  a common problem for autistic people. I have a number of publications  in these areas. 

As  a clinician I work holistically, starting by understanding young  people’s strengths and challenges and then working with individuals and  their families to find solutions.  I find cognitive behaviour  therapy a useful framework particularly when it is adapted for each  individual and I particularly enjoy finding out about young peoples’  interests and using these creatively in the work we do together.