At the Parkinson's Centre for Integrated Therapy, we have a fantastic team of therapists and administrators, who will take care of your every need.
Get to know a little bit about our therapists and other team members at the Parkinson's Centre.
Director
Professor David Wilkinson is a professor of psychology who worked at the University of Oxford and Harvard Medical School before moving to Kent in 2005.
Lead Clinician
Mark retired from a 30-year career as a firefighter in the London Fire Brigade in 2012. Prior to this, he completed a psychology and physiotherapy degree.
Research Lead
Dr Laura Smith is a Lecturer based as the University of Kent.
Administrative Coordinator
Clare Walker is the Administrative Co-ordinator, she lives in Faversham, Kent with her husband and fox-red Labrador.
Clinical Consultant
Dr Bodani has over 30 years’ experience in Medicine and over 25 years in psychiatry, the last 18 of which have been as a Consultant Neuropsychiatrist in both NHS and independent private practice.
Occupational Therapist
Kate lives in Broadstairs and qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2002. She has a post graduate qualification in Sensory Integration Therapy
Physiotherapist
Clare completed her physiotherapy degree at the University of East Anglia in 2012. During this time she developed a passion for neurological rehabilitation and a special interest in Parkinsons.
Fitness Trainer
Sarah is a Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor.
Chair of Skylarks
Lucy chairs the committee which runs Canterbury Skylarks and is herself a keen singer and a member of the Amici choir, which is part of Canterbury Cantata Trust.
Musical Director
Emily is a passionate and experienced musician, educator and performer.
Faversham Counselling Service Limited, now FCS Talking Therapies, was launched in 1992. They are a mental health charity based in Faversham, Kent and provide services across the whole of the Kent area. Their work includes free NHS Talking Therapies services, private counselling, corporate counselling, innovative virtual reality therapies, and developing and training student therapists.
FCS is an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). FCS will provide 1:1 counselling sessions and groups at the Parkinson's Centre.
Professor David Wilkinson's research seeks to develop more effective therapies for people with neurological conditions, focusing on non-invasive brain stimulation. This technique, which will be available at the Centre, has led to improved quality of life and functional independence in people with Parkinson’s disease.
As Director, Professor Wilkinson will ensure that the Centre’s clinical, research and education strands come together to produce the best environment in which to understand and care for people with Parkinson’s disease. When not at work, Professor Wilkinson tries to play as much football as he can!
Prior to his 30 year career as a firefighter, Mark completed a psychology and physiotherapy degree. Most recently, he ran a successful private physiotherapy clinic for 13 years, specialising in musculoskeletal and neurological conditions.
Mark has a passion for providing holistic person-centred care and is very excited about leading the team of dedicated, professional clinicians at the brand new Parkinson's Centre. Outside of work, Marks enjoy cycling, walking, cooking and socialising with family and friends.
Dr Laura's research applies psychological theories to better understand, assess, and treat neurological conditions. Laura’s work focuses on the impact that neurological conditions have on mental health and cognition and aims to develop therapies to improve wellbeing.
Laura will manage the clinical database at the Centre along with other key research projects wrapped around our service provision. When not at work, Laura enjoys spending time outdoors and with family.
Clare has three grown up children and a degree in Childhood and Youth Studies which she completed in 2015. She has a long history in providing administrative support in an environment for people with physical and health needs and is excited to now have the opportunity to provide similar support for the Parkinson's Centre.
Clare’s favourite things to do involve books, pebble painting, quality family time, holidays in the sun and walking her dog in the countryside.
Dr Bodani is accredited as a specialist in General Adult Psychiatry, the Psychiatry of Old Age and Liaison Psychiatry. He manages all conditions relevant to general adult psychiatry including depression, anxiety, generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), bipolar affective disorder, psychosis, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), somatoform disorders, the problems associated with addictions and drug withdrawal.
Dr Bodani has worked extensively with people living with Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. He is expert in the assessment of mental capacity in relation to medicolegal matters and has been an Accredited Expert endorsed by the Academy of Experts since 2009.
Dr Bodani has extensive experience in psychopharmacology, and neuromodulation technologies such as galvanic vestibular stimulation and vagus nerve stimulation in which he is actively pursuing research as a means of helping the problems associated with Parkinson’s disease. He has a holistic approach to diagnosis and management, and is eminent in his field.
Katie has a post graduate qualification in Sensory Integration Therapy. She gained valuable experience through working with individuals in a wide variety of settings, including in teaching hospitals, in the community and in specialisms with both young people and older adults.
Katie has an empathetic and caring approach and enjoys working with individuals holistically to promote independence in daily living and sense of wellbeing. She also really enjoys being creative within her Occupational Therapy role. In her spare time, Katie enjoys painting and visiting art galleries for inspiration!
During completing her her physiotherapy degree Clare developed a passion for neurological rehabilitation and a special interest in Parkinsons. Having worked in the NHS for seven years, she is now self-employed and is delighted to be able to provide 1:1 physiotherapy alongside group exercise at the Parkinson’s Centre in Canterbury.
Clare lives in East Sussex with her husband, young son and 5 guinea pigs. Clare enjoys jogging, reading, playing with her son and finding excuses to hire inflatable bouncy castles and obstacles courses!
Sarah is married with 2 boys and lives in Tenterden, Kent. She has been a runner since the age of 11 and running, sport and fitness have always played a big part in her life
Sarah has often described running as her
“ religion", however, in 2019 she noticed changes in her body and in
2021, was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson's
Disease. This was a life changing bombshell for Sarah but she has continued to
run exercise daily, still managing to keep up with her 10 and 12 years olds!
Sarah has adopted "exercise is my medicine" as her new mantra and is very much looking forward to the opportunity to working in the first Integrated Therapies Centre for People living with Parkinson's. She hopes to be able to inspire people to keep moving whilst having fun in a safe and welcoming environment.
Lucy's career has focussed on support during the transition to parenthood and regularly sings at the weekly mother and baby yoga sessions which she runs.
Lucy is a great believer in the power of group singing and the benefits it can bring.
Alongside her career as Director of Music at Simon Langton Grammar School for Boy's and Director of Canterbury Cantata, Emily has recently become Artistic Director for Canterbury Cantata Trust.
She leads various community singing groups, focusing on ways in which music can improve both physical and mental health.
