Recovery with Systemicare

I'm a qualified Occupational Therapist, and I've been practising in adolescent mental health for nine years. I help young people and their families navigate the challenges in eating disorders, autism, and mental health.

I'm an eating disorder specialist with extensive experience working with young people and their families, in inpatient, daycare, outpatient and specialist school settings. I'm also an autism specialist. Alongside Systemicare, I also am a CAMHS Specialist in the NHS, and both of my specialisms are informed by extensive clinical and personal life experience.

I'm registered with and accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), and have a student membership to the Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice (AFT).

What I Offer

Individual Therapy

A safe and confidential space for young people to explore their thoughts, feelings, and challenges one-on-one.

Family-Based Therapy

Strengthening understanding and communication within families to better support each other through difficult times.

Meal Support

Practical, compassionate guidance during mealtimes to help young people overcome challenges with eating and feeding.

Service Liaison

Collaborating with schools, healthcare providers, and other professionals to ensure seamless and comprehensive care.

Why Choose Systemicare?

I founded Systemicare based on a core belief:

Creating a sustainable path for recovery is not only about a young person's individual therapy, but also about strengthening the systems around them.

Many parents, schools and clinical teams feel stuck. Although they want to support their young person, they are unsure how to do that in practice. While the young person's individual work is certainly a key ingredient in their recovery, if it is the only focus, then it can also widen this gap between the young person and the people around them.

Based on this belief, I prioritise support with, and around, the young person, so that families can move forward and life can get better.

How I Can Help

Every young person is unique, and so are the challenges they face. Whether you're navigating a new diagnosis or need support through a specific struggle, I'm here to help.

Eating and feeding disorders, including anorexia, bulimia and ARFID.
Managing mental health, self-esteem, anxiety or depression in adolescence.
Supporting neurodivergent young people and their families to build skills for daily life.
Liaising with external services, including schools, social care and medical professionals.
Guidance for families in navigating practical challenges, ranging from day-to-day life to special occasions.

Testimonials

Some kind words from my previous clients.

Nick, Parent

"Tom Hawksworth is a phenomenal therapist. I cannot praise him highly enough. He has provided impeccable, professional, scientifically based yet profoundly compassionate care for a family member - and therefore to our entire family. As a consultant physician myself, I have no hesitation in recommending Tom for his expertise in caring for a young person, his loyalty to his patients and his determination to go the extra mile."

Josh, Patient

"I found both Tom and the clinic to be immensely helpful on my journey. When I started, I was struggling and had very little independence. In combination with Tom and the clinic, I was able to gain back control of my independence and reach a state where I was succeeding and no longer suffering. Tom helped me become the person I am today, and without him and his help I would not be in the place I am today."

Kitty, Parent

"Tom is an incredible therapist and our family feels hugely privileged to have received his care. He has held us through the most intensely difficult of times and shown us, again and again, how to exist and move forward when it felt so desperate and seemed almost impossible, and when nobody else seemed able to help. His support combines absolutely solid, immutable strength with an incredible lightness, flexibility, grace and humility; it is truly awe-inspiring and deeply healing to experience it. Tom’s ability to understand and care for our family as an organic system, with total commitment and generosity, has been transformational for us all and profound for me as a mother, partner, daughter and human. He has helped me start to transform the way I relate to myself, and to my family, through the most radically accepting and extraordinarily empowering lens. I cannot recommend him highly enough; he is a precious gift."

Justin, Parent

"Our family has worked with Tom over the course of a year, in both group and one-to-one settings. We've covered some very difficult issues. We appreciated how deftly he is able to challenge his clients to work hard, while showing enormous compassion and, where appropriate, humour. He is easy for both young people and their parents to relate to and confide in. We whole-heartedly recommend him as a therapist."

9 Years

specialising in adolescent mental health

Hundreds

of success stories

30 5-Star Reviews

on Google Reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

Who do you work with?

I work with young people and families who might be experiencing difficulties with eating and feeding. This might include concerns around weight and shape, challenges related to food intake or difficulties for parents around meals and meal times. I also work with neurodiverse young people, their families, and autism-related eating difficulties, such as ARFID.

Do I need to have a diagnosis of an eating disorder or autism in order to work with you?

No. I can work with young people with or without such diagnoses.

Do you offer online or in-person sessions?

Currently, I only offer online sessions (via Team, Zoom or Google Meet).

How do I know my sessions are confidential?

I use secure, encrypted platforms for online sessions and adhere to strict confidentiality guidelines to protect your privacy.

How frequent and how long are your sessions?

All my sessions (whether individual or family-based) are 50 minutes long. I usually suggest weekly sessions to begin with. However, it is also important to work with young people and their families on specific goals, which might require a different time scale. I can be open and flexible around how you wish to work, as well as providing my expertise regarding what might be helpful, based on your current situation.

Do you accept insurance?

I currently operate on a private-pay basis. However, please do get in touch if you do have queries regarding insurance, as this is something that I am open to discussing.

What are your qualifications and professional memberships?

I am a HCPC and RCOT registered Specialist Occupational Therapist, having completed my degree from the University of Derby in 2016. I have also completed multiple courses and gained multiple certificates in both evidence-based eating disorder practice and general evidence-based adolescent mental health. This includes: Family Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa (FT-AN), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-E), Mentalisation-Based Treatment for Adolescents (MBT-A), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA).

What can I expect from the first session?

We'll start with a free 15-minute consultation, to discuss your needs. You can book your free consultation here.

Then, in our first therapy session, I will conduct an assessment to understand each client’s unique needs, preferences, and goals. I use this information to create a personalised treatment plan. The first session is an opportunity for us to explore your concerns, discuss your goals, and create a plan for moving forward. We’ll also review your family’s involvement and how we can work together to support recovery.

What if we miss a session?

I understand that this sometimes happens and cannot be helped. However, I require 24 hours’ notice for cancellations to avoid being charged. Missed sessions without notice are billed in full.

What if my child doesn’t want therapy?

This is common. In our initial consultation, we’ll explore ways to address their concerns and make therapy feel safe and accessible. At the beginning of our journey, the main goal of the sessions might be to support parents, but we will always include the wishes and goals of the young person as best as we can. Therefore, inviting them into sessions continuously will be an important part of the process.

Aside from therapy, what services do you provide?

I offer consultation to clinicians and liaise with schools, GPs, specialist services, and social care to ensure a cohesive, comprehensive, and collaborative standard of care. For example, I can support with report writing, CPA attendance, and professionals’ meetings.

Tom Hawksworth