About Dr. Vives
Dr. Julian E. Vives brings together rigorous clinical training, international experience, and a deep commitment to anti-oppressive practice. His unique perspective as an Afro-Puerto Rican psychologist enriches every aspect of his clinical work.
Professional Journey
Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, Dr. Julian E. Vives' journey to becoming a leading Clinical Psychologist has been shaped by his Afro-Puerto Rican heritage and his commitment to serving diverse communities. His cultural background informs his unique approach to psychological practice, emphasising the importance of cultural humility and systemic awareness.
After completing his doctoral training at Florida Institute of Technology with a specialisation in Integrated Behavioural Healthcare, Dr. Vives completed his APA-accredited internship at the VA Medical Center, where he developed expertise in trauma-informed care while serving military veterans.
His transition to the United Kingdom has allowed him to bring his international perspective to the NHS and private sector, where he now serves as Lead Clinical Psychologist at Elysium Healthcare, providing leadership in mental health rehabilitation services.
Education & Training
Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)
Florida Institute of Technology
Focus: Integrated Behavioural Healthcare
Dual Master's Degrees
Barry University
Focus: Clinical Psychology & Mental Health Counselling
Bachelor of Arts
Binghamton University
Focus: Psychology
Undergraduate Education
Dr. Vives began his academic journey at Binghamton University in New York, where he earned his Bachelor's degree. This foundational education provided him with a comprehensive understanding of human behaviour and set the stage for his specialisation in mental health services.
Graduate Studies: Dual Master's Degrees
Seeking to deepen his clinical expertise, Dr. Vives relocated to Florida to pursue advanced studies at Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida. There, he earned dual Master's degrees in Mental Health Counselling and Marriage & Family Therapy. This comprehensive training equipped him with specialized skills in both individual mental health treatment and systemic family therapy approaches, providing a holistic foundation for his clinical work.
In 2017, Dr. Vives achieved a significant milestone by becoming a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the State of Florida. This licensure marked the beginning of his professional practice, during which he worked extensively in the private sector, gaining invaluable experience in direct clinical service delivery.
Doctoral Training: Clinical Psychology
Driven by a passion for integrated healthcare and a desire to expand his scope of practice, Dr. Vives returned to academia to pursue doctoral studies. He enrolled at the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida, where he completed both a Master's in Psychology and a Doctorate of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology.
His doctoral programme featured a specialized emphasis on Integrated Behavioural Healthcare, reflecting his commitment to bridging the gap between mental and physical health services. This training prepared him to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary healthcare teams and to address the complex interplay between psychological and medical factors affecting patient wellbeing.
Clinical Experience
APA-Accredited Internship
Completed rigorous training at VA Medical Center, specialising in veteran mental health and trauma-informed care.
UK Registration & Practice
HCPC-registered practitioner with full authorisation to practice as a Clinical Psychologist in the United Kingdom.
Leadership Role
Currently serving as Lead Clinical Psychologist at Elysium Healthcare, leading mental health rehabilitation programmes.
As Lead Clinical Psychologist at Elysium Healthcare, Dr. Vives provides strategic leadership in mental health rehabilitation services, develops evidence-based treatment programmes, and mentors the next generation of clinical practitioners.
—Elysium Healthcare
Clinical Training & International Experience
APA-Accredited Internship
Following the completion of his doctoral coursework, Dr. Vives relocated to Manchester, New Hampshire, to undertake his APA-accredited clinical internship at the Manchester VA Medical Center. This rigorous training experience provided him with intensive exposure to integrated behavioural healthcare within a Veterans Affairs setting.
During his internship, Dr. Vives worked with military veterans experiencing a wide range of mental health conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety disorders, and substance use disorders. He gained expertise in evidence-based treatments and learnt to navigate the complexities of providing care within a large healthcare system.
This experience deeply influenced his understanding of trauma, resourcefulness, and the unique psychological needs of individuals who have served in high-stress environments.
Transition to the United Kingdom
Upon completing his internship, Dr. Vives made the bold decision to relocate to the United Kingdom, bringing his extensive training and clinical expertise across the Atlantic. In 2022, he successfully achieved qualification as a Clinical Psychologist and became registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) under registration number PYL041065.
This achievement represents not only a professional milestone but also demonstrates Dr. Vives' adaptability and commitment to meeting the highest international standards of clinical practice. His ability to navigate two distinct healthcare systems—the US and UK—provides him with a unique, comprehensive perspective on integrated behavioural healthcare delivery.
Clinical Experience
APA-Accredited Internship
Completed rigorous training at VA Medical Center, specialising in veteran mental health and trauma-informed care.
UK Registration & Practice
HCPC-registered practitioner with full authorisation to practice as a Clinical Psychologist in the United Kingdom.
Leadership Role
Currently serving as Lead Clinical Psychologist at Elysium Healthcare, leading mental health rehabilitation programmes.
As Lead Clinical Psychologist at Elysium Healthcare, Dr. Vives provides strategic leadership in mental health rehabilitation services, develops evidence-based treatment programmes, and mentors the next generation of clinical practitioners.
—Elysium Healthcare
Clinical Training & International Experience
APA-Accredited Internship
Following the completion of his doctoral coursework, Dr. Vives relocated to Manchester, New Hampshire, to undertake his APA-accredited clinical internship at the Manchester VA Medical Center. This rigorous training experience provided him with intensive exposure to integrated behavioural healthcare within a Veterans Affairs setting.
During his internship, Dr. Vives worked with military veterans experiencing a wide range of mental health conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety disorders, and substance use disorders. He gained expertise in evidence-based treatments and learnt to navigate the complexities of providing care within a large healthcare system. This experience deeply influenced his understanding of trauma, resourcefulness, and the unique psychological needs of individuals who have served in high-stress environments.
Transition to the United Kingdom
Upon completing his internship, Dr. Vives made the bold decision to relocate to the United Kingdom, bringing his extensive training and clinical expertise across the Atlantic. In 2022, he successfully achieved qualification as a Clinical Psychologist and became registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) under registration number PYL041065.
This achievement represents not only a professional milestone but also demonstrates Dr. Vives' adaptability and commitment to meeting the highest international standards of clinical practice. His ability to navigate two distinct healthcare systems—the US and UK—provides him with a unique, comprehensive perspective on integrated behavioural healthcare delivery.
Current Practice & Expertise
Integrated Behavioural Healthcare Leadership
Dr. Vives currently serves as Lead Clinical Psychologist at Elysium Healthcare, where he provides comprehensive psychological services to individuals with severe and persistent mental health difficulties in a Level 2 mental health rehabilitation facility in London. His role encompasses direct clinical service delivery, team leadership, programme development, and staff training.
Throughout his career, Dr. Vives has accumulated many years of international integrated behavioural healthcare experience. This experience spans diverse clinical settings, including VA medical centres, private practice, telehealth platforms, and inpatient mental health rehabilitation facilities. His expertise in integrated care allows him to effectively collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and address the complex interplay of physical, psychological, and social factors affecting client wellbeing.
Current Practice & Expertise
Integrated Behavioural Healthcare Leadership
Dr. Vives currently serves as Lead Clinical Psychologist at Elysium Healthcare, where he provides comprehensive psychological services to individuals with severe and persistent mental health difficulties in a Level 2 mental health rehabilitation facility in London. His role encompasses direct clinical service delivery, team leadership, programme development, and staff training.
Throughout his career, Dr. Vives has accumulated many years of international integrated behavioural healthcare experience. This experience spans diverse clinical settings, including VA medical centres, private practice, telehealth platforms, and inpatient mental health rehabilitation facilities. His expertise in integrated care allows him to effectively collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and address the complex interplay of physical, psychological, and social factors affecting client wellbeing.
Central to Dr. Vives' clinical philosophy is his commitment to anti-oppressive and anti-colonial frameworks that challenge traditional power dynamics within psychology. His practice is grounded in the recognition that mental health is inseparable from community wellbeing and systemic factors, including racism, poverty, and structural inequality.
As an Afro-Latino clinician who has navigated both American and British healthcare systems, Dr. Vives brings a critical lens to the ways in which psychological services have historically marginalised communities of colour. His approach centres marginalised voices, honours diverse ways of knowing and healing, and actively works to dismantle barriers to accessible, culturally responsive care.
This framework informs all aspects of his work—from his approach to assessment and formulation, to his leadership in organisational development, to his commitment to training the next generation of clinicians. Dr. Vives recognises that true excellence in psychology requires not only clinical competence but also a willingness to interrogate and transform the systems that perpetuate inequity.
—Core Values—
Dr. Vives is committed to a practice that challenges traditional power structures and centers the experiences of those who have been historically marginalised.
Anti-Oppressive Practice
Challenging traditional power dynamics in psychology to create more equitable and just therapeutic relationships.
Cultural Responsiveness
Honouring diverse cultural backgrounds and integrating cultural understanding into all aspects of assessment and treatment.
Centering Marginalised Voices
Prioritising the experiences and perspectives of those who have been historically underserved by mental health systems.
Systemic Awareness
Recognising how broader social, political, and economic systems impact individual and community mental health.
Vision & Mission
Dr. Vives is dedicated to expanding access to high-quality medico-legal psychological services across the United Kingdom. By combining clinical excellence with cultural responsiveness, he aims to set new standards in how psychological assessments serve both legal professionals and the individuals they represent.
His mission is to ensure that every assessment not only meets the rigorous requirements of the legal system but also honours the dignity and unique experiences of each individual evaluated.
Since February 2023, Dr. Vives has developed a thriving medico-legal assessment practice that has become a cornerstone of his professional portfolio.
Over the past three years, he has completed over 3,000 psychological assessments for civil litigation cases, establishing himself as a sought-after expert clinical psychologist in this specialized field.
● Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) – evaluating post-traumatic stress disorder, driving phobia, anxiety disorders, and adjustment difficulties.
● Housing Disrepair – assessing the psychological impact of living in substandard housing conditions.
● Workplace Injuries – comprehensive evaluation of occupational stress, workplace accidents, and return-to-work capacity.
● Personal Injury Claims – examining mental health consequences, functional impairment, and quality of life impact.
● Expert Witness Services – providing professional expert witness testimony, court appearances, and comprehensive written reports compliant with CPR Part 35 requirements.
His assessments are characterized by rigorous methodology, comprehensive report writing, and the ability to communicate complex psychological concepts clearly to legal professionals.
Dr. Vives provides expert testimony that is both evidence-based and accessible, supporting solicitors in achieving successful outcomes for their clients.
Dr. Vives is committed to expanding and growing his medico-legal assessment practice. With three years of established expertise and over 3,000 completed assessments, he has built a solid foundation of clinical excellence and professional credibility in this specialized field.
A key component of this growth strategy is to connect directly with solicitors across the United Kingdom.
Dr. Vives recognizes that solicitors require expert psychological assessments that are not only clinically sound but also legally robust, timely, and presented in a format that is readily usable in legal proceedings. His goal is to establish himself as the preferred expert psychologist for solicitors handling personal injury, road traffic accident, housing disrepair, and workplace injury cases.
Beyond his medico-legal practice, Dr. Vives provides a comprehensive range of clinical psychology services across multiple sectors:
● Clinical Supervision: Professional supervision for mental health practitioners, with a successful track record of guiding four mental health counsellor interns to independent licensure
● Consultation Services: Organizational consultation for healthcare providers, including programme development, staff training, and capacity building
● Psychological Assessments: Comprehensive psychological evaluations for clinical, educational, and occupational purposes
● Individual and Couples Therapy: Evidence-based therapeutic interventions utilizing his dual training in mental health counselling and marriage & family therapy
Dr. Vives is committed to expanding and growing his medico-legal assessment practice. With three years of established expertise and over 3,000 completed assessments, he has built a solid foundation of clinical excellence and professional credibility in this specialized field.
A key component of this growth strategy is to connect directly with solicitors across the United Kingdom.
Dr. Vives recognizes that solicitors require expert psychological assessments that are not only clinically sound but also legally robust, timely, and presented in a format that is readily usable in legal proceedings. His goal is to establish himself as the preferred expert psychologist for solicitors handling personal injury, road traffic accident, housing disrepair, and workplace injury cases.
Beyond his medico-legal practice, Dr. Vives provides a comprehensive range of clinical psychology services across multiple sectors:
● Clinical Supervision: Professional supervision for mental health practitioners, with a successful track record of guiding four mental health counsellor interns to independent licensure
● Consultation Services: Organizational consultation for healthcare providers, including programme development, staff training, and capacity building
● Psychological Assessments: Comprehensive psychological evaluations for clinical, educational, and occupational purposes
● Individual and Couples Therapy: Evidence-based therapeutic interventions utilizing his dual training in mental health counselling and marriage & family therapy
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Serving Solicitors Across the United Kingdom
+44 7822 010587
Professional psychological services are delivered
in accordance with HCPC regulations and
ethical guidelines for clinical practice.
