Meet our expert, accredited and specialist team of
therapists & doctors
All of our practitioners have professional membership of the Health and Professions Council (or an allied body).
PROFESSOR DAVID WILKINSON BSc (Hons), MSc (Hons), PGCHE, PhD
DirectorAs founder and CEO, Professor Wilkinson ensures that the Centre’s clinical, research and education strands come together to produce an outstanding service that is guided by a core vision and values.
Professor Wilkinson’s own distinguished research career seeks to develop more effective therapies for people with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions. He is a member of the Parkinson’s UK College of Experts and sits on the British Society of Gerontology Special Interest Group for Ageing, Business and Society which mobilises different parts of the community to better meet the needs of older adults.
MARK COLLEY
Director of OperationsWith an extensive career in Physiotherapy, both in the UK and the United States, Mark has a passion for providing holistic person-centred care. As our Chief Operations Officer, Mark is responsible for ensuring every aspect of the clinic is focused entirely on providing the best, most personalised care for you.
DR MAYUR BODANI
Clinical AdvisorDr Bodani is accredited as a specialist in General Adult Psychiatry, the Psychiatry of Old Age and Liaison Psychiatry. He has worked extensively with people living with Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, both in the NHS and in private practice. He is an 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.
DR LAURA SMITH
Research LeadDr Smith’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.
WESLEY PYKE, MSc
Lead Clinical AssessorSince joining the Parkinson’s Centre for Integrated Therapy, initially as a trainee assessor, Wesley has conducted over 100 initial assessments with our new members. This has given him an in-depth understanding of the challenges faced by people with Parkinson’s disease. Alongside his clinical work at PCIT, Wesley is completing a PhD that explores the effects of non-invasive brain stimulation on learning and memory.
This research expertise not only informs his understanding of current neurological research and treatment developments but also guides our research programme here at the Centre.
ALEXANDRA-ELENA MARIN MSc
Lawson Trust Research AssociateAlex has gained valuable experience as a psychologist and researcher while working in Spain in clinical, prison, commercial and university settings. She has worked with a wide range of neurological and non-neurological populations, and is a specialist in couples’ therapy. She manages all conditions relevant to general adult relationships, including intimacy, psychoeducation, sexual dysfunctions, sexual-related addictions, infidelity, grief counselling, and the problems associated with communication and conflict resolution.
Alongside her work at PCIT, Alex is completing a PhD in Neuroscience which seeks to understand the cognitive and neurological effects of long-term renal disease.
DR EMMA TRAVERS-HILL PhD
Clinical Psychologist and Senior lecturerEmma completed her BSc in Applied Psychology at the University of Kent and then undertook her PhD at the University of Cambridge in the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit. Emma then completed a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of East Anglia. Once qualified as a Clinical Psychologist, she worked for the NHS in secondary care adult mental health services in Cambridgeshire and Kent.
Emma’s research at PCIT focuses on the design and evaluation of Brief Psychological Interventions (BPIs) to help people with Parkinson’s better manage anxiety, depression and low mood.
SARAH FROW
Fitness TrainerSarah 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.
HELEN RIRIS BSc Hons, MCSP HCPC
PhysiotherapistHelen is a Chartered Physiotherapist (BSc Hons, MCSP HCPC), specialising in Neurological Rehabilitation.
She joined PCIT in November 2023 and provides assessment and treatment for people with Parkinson’s Disease with the goal of enabling them learn to manage their conditions through the use of movement and exercises, which is strongly evidenced in the rehabilitation literature.
Helen strongly feels that exercise is as important as medicine in the management of the symptoms of Parkinson’s and contributes to wellness and better health outcomes. Helen also works alongside Clare Proctor in the delivery of PCIT’s physio-led exercise group as well as seeing members for physio assessments and follow-ups. Helen feels very proud to be part of PCIT as it evolves and finds a new home at the University of Kent, utilising the wide range of facilities there.
PAUL HOLDEN Lic.Ac, MBAcC, BSc (Hons), ACMA, CGMA, PTTLS
Acupuncturist, Meridian Therapist, Tai Chi Chuan, Qigong and meditation teacherPaul so enjoyed improving the health and well-being of students through teaching Tai Chi and Qigong that he left accountancy and retrained as a classical acupuncturist. He is excited to be applying his experience and the versatility of his East Asian Medical approaches at the Parkinson’s Centre.
Paul treats patients holistically, applying therapies that include acupuncture, Japanese meridian therapy, moxibustion, cupping, Qigong, and auricular acupuncture with compassion and empathy, working with patient to optimise treatments.
Paul’s passions are Eastern philosophy, mind/body cultivation, and science fiction. A Canterbury resident with his own acupunture clinic, Paul lives with his wife in the City centre. He has two adult daughters who are pursuing careers in the health sector and a dog who constantly reminds him of the simple joys of life.
LAURA DANIELS
Speech and Language Therapist and Therapeutic HorticulturalistLaura qualified as a Speech & Language Therapist in 1998 and has always worked with adults with Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions. In her free time she can usually be found in the garden or on the allotments that she has cultivated for the last 20 years. She has combined her background as a clinician with her love of gardening and nature to gain additional training in Social and Therapeutic Horticulture. She is joining the PCIT Therapy Team as it relocates to the University of Kent and will providing Speech and Language Therapy and also Horticultural Therapy for PCIT members.
CLARE WALKER
Administrative Co-ordinatorClare 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.
Mark Mardell – Writer and broadcaster
“I feel both proud and privileged to be the Patron of this centre. It is a brilliant idea, and like many a brilliant idea it seems simple and obvious –but only in retrospect, once someone has had the thought and pushed it with determination. All kudos to Prof David Wilkinson.“