Our experts

Area of expertise

• Neurodevelopmental disorders including Autism/Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD
• Intellectual Disability
• Mental Health in Intellectual Disability
• Challenging behaviour and Positive Behavioural Support
• Emotional difficulties (anxiety, mood, emotion regulation) and adapted evidence-based interventions for children and young people with neurodevelopmental disorders or intellectual disabilities
• Teaching, training and consultation

Background

Dr Sarah Carman is a Principal Clinical Psychologist in the Mental Health of Intellectual Disability team, a stream of the Service for Complex Autism and Associated Neurodevelopmental Disorders (SCAAND) based at the Michael Rutter Centre for Young People.

Dr Carman provides complex assessment, intervention and consultation for children and young people with intellectual disabilty or Autism, their families and professional networks, as part of the multi-disciplinary team. She has extensive experience in complex neurodevelopmental assessment and diagnosis, and in evidence based therapeutic intervention for children and young people with neurodevelopmental conditions who are also experiencing difficulties with mental health, emotions and/or behaviour.

Dr Carman has previously worked in specialist Neurodevelopmental Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in West and South London, at King’s College Hospital London, and in a specialist neurodevelopmental service within Children’s Neurosciences at the Evelina London Children’s Hospital. She has a particular interest and expertise in supporting the complex mental health needs of children with intellectual disability or autism, and working with young people, families and multi-disciplinary professionals to address behaviour that challenges.

Dr Carman has also previously worked as a lead for the Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner PGCert training at the IoPPN, King’s College London, and in this role as a Senior Clinical Tutor taught across CYP-IAPT courses on neurodevelopmental difficulties and adapting interventions. She provides teaching and training for Trainee Clinical Psychologists, junior doctors and other CAMHS professionals, and teaches on postgraduate and professional development trainings in child and adolescent wellbeing, neurodevelopment and intellectual disability across London, the South East and South West of England. She is passionate about supporting the development of the children’s mental health and wellbeing workforce, particularly for children with neurodevelopmental conditions and intellectual disability.

Education and Training

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (University College London), 2013
• MA (Cantab) Natural Sciences (Experimental Psychology) (University of Cambridge), 2007

Publications

Bennett S, Larkin H, Pincham H, Carman S, Fearon P. Neural correlates of children's emotion understanding. Dev Neuropsychol. 2018;43(4):329-344. doi: 10.1080/87565641.2018.1432055. Epub 2018 Mar 9. PMID: 29521525

Coronavirus and Covid: A book for children about the pandemic. Nosy Crow (Consultation)