Alex Penfold is a Registered Mental Health Nurse with many years of experience supporting children, young people, and families navigating emotional and psychological difficulties. She qualified and obtained her nursing registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council in 2013 and has since developed a diverse and fulfilling career that continues to evolve. Alongside her private practice, Alex continues to work within the NHS on an ad-hoc basis and has also established a successful career as an expert witness in medicolegal practice.
 

Throughout her career, Alex has worked across a range of mental health services in both the NHS and the private sector. She has also practised as an equine facilitated psychotherapist in private practice. During this time, she has supported individuals experiencing challenges such as anxiety, low mood, trauma, self-harm, identity struggles, relationship difficulties, and the many complexities that can arise during childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood.

Alex has undertaken a wide range of professional training, including Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy, Foundation Family Systemic Practice Skills, and Intermediate Family and Systemic Practice Skills.
 

This training, alongside her experience of working with individuals facing difficulties ranging from everyday emotional struggles to severe mental health crises, has shaped the way she thinks about mental health nursing. In particular, it has strengthened her belief in the importance of relationships and connection as central to emotional wellbeing and recovery.
 

Her work is grounded in compassion, curiosity, and respect for each person’s individual story. As a mental health nurse, Alex believes that meaningful personal growth often occurs through the presence of a strong therapeutic relationship. For this reason, she places the therapeutic relationship at the centre of her work. She is deeply passionate about the role of mental health nursing within psychotherapy, which is explored further in her projects.
 

Alex’s approach is deeply relational. At times, this involves holding a reflective and compassionate space where clients can bring whatever feels most important in the moment. At other times, the therapeutic relationship provides a foundation for introducing therapeutic ideas and approaches that may support the work.
 

A significant part of her practice involves psychoeducation, supporting individuals—and parents of younger clients—to better understand their mental and emotional wellbeing.

As a nurse, Alex remains attentive to both mind and body. She is interested not only in psychological experiences, but also in how physical wellbeing, the nervous system, and the body’s stress responses influence emotional regulation and interactions with the world. She often supports clients in understanding how their nervous system functions and how this shapes thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
 

Alongside her clinical training, Alex brings lived experience of neurodiversity and complex trauma. This has shaped her belief that people’s difficulties make sense within the context of their lives and relationships, and that meaningful change often begins with feeling understood rather than judged.

Outside of her professional work, Alex enjoys spending time with the people and animals that are important to her. She lives in the Midlands with her partner, and they share their lives with two horses, Loulou and Surprise, and two cats, Millie and Tiggy. Together, both the humans and animals in her life help to keep her grounded and have supported her in ways that are difficult to fully put into words.
 

Alex also has a long-standing love of music and singing. For many years, she performed in bands and at pubs, weddings, and private events. These days, she tends to prefer a quieter lifestyle, although she can often still be found singing along to music in the car.
 

She founded New Vision Nursing Ltd in 2024 and continues to feel a sense of gratitude for how the journey has unfolded. Building the practice has required commitment, patience, and ongoing learning.
 

What makes this work most meaningful to Alex are the people who choose to entrust her with their stories. Sharing one’s inner world takes courage—something she
understands from personal experience—and it is a privilege to be invited into that process. The connections she continues to make through this work are what make it deeply rewarding.