our team
Here’s who is going to make it all happen …
Dr Costas Papageorgiou - Consultant Clinical Psychologist, and Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology
Dr Papageorgiou is a highly qualified clinical psychologist with more than 25 years of clinical and research experience working in the areas of OCD, anxiety, and depression across several settings including the National Health Service, private mental health hospitals, and numerous national and international Universities (for further details on Dr Papageorgiou, please visit www.costaspapageorgiou.com).
Dr Papageorgiou has dedicated his professional career helping individuals with OCD, anxiety and depression to overcome these problems and improve their quality of life through brief, proven, and pragmatic psychological treatments. In 2007, with the support of Karen Carlile, Sue Thorgaard and other colleagues, Dr Papageorgiou established a longstanding outpatient 12-week OCD Treatment Programme at the Priory Hospital Altrincham, where hundreds of individuals with OCD participated and gained significant benefit. Dr Papageorgiou is delighted to be part of Asto Clinics Charity, which will enable him the opportunity to improve access of effective therapies for OCD to even more people with this problem.
Sue Thorgaard - Programme Coordinator
Sue started working as a medical secretary at The Priory Hospital Altrincham in 2004, where she was responsible for coordinating the OCD Treatment Programme since its inception in 2006 as administrator.
One of her key roles was to act as the first point of contact for patients, carers/families: listening and responding to any questions, and helping to allay any concerns. The role also involved motivating and preparing patients to engage with the assessment stage of the programme.
In addition, she has assisted in collecting and preparing relevant clinical data for quality and benchmarking analyses, some of which has been published in scientific peer-reviewed journals.
Externally she liaised with medical professionals who were gathering information about the service.
Sue’s interests include interior design, music and travel.
Karen Carlile - Treatment co-facilitator
Karen has a combined BA in History and Sociology, and it was after this time that she realised that she had severe OCD. In 2006, she had treatment at the Priory in Altrincham with Costas.
In 2007 after her successful recovery, she teamed up with Costas to become a facilitator for the OCD Group Programme that Costas was running at The Priory.
Karen is an essential part of the Group Programme, drawing on her own personal experience, and that of 15 years facilitating the Programme.
Karen enjoys walking, classical music, reading, and her two cats.
Steve Turnock - Chairman
Steve is a retired entrepreneur. Having been involved in a broad range of businesses in many different roles, Steve now wants to dedicate a significant proportion of his time and energy into creating more access to effective treatments for mental health issues.
Having suffered severe clinical OCD himself, Steve understands only too well the challenges an individual faces to overcome such an illness.
Steve has also held a voluntary board level position with Blackburn Youth Zone, a charity providing youth services in Blackburn.
Steve’s interests include cycling, skiing and travelling.
Cheryl Thomas - Trustee
Cheryl has many years of experience in assessment and people development and has run her own consultancy business for over 28 years. Working with individuals and organisations, she is involved in all aspects of organisational development and strategy, change management, coaching individuals and teams and designing and facilitating leadership development workshops.
Cheryl has also held the role of Trustee at a local Day Hospice for 18 months which she thoroughly enjoyed and is excited about being part of the asto team.
Cheryl’s interests include sailing and travelling.
Les Jones - Trustee
Les is a Creative Director, designer, magazine publisher, working across a wide range of projects. He is also an experienced speaker and talks about creativity, innovation and marketing and branding, with a clear goal of pushing people out of their creative comfort zone and inspiring them to find different and better solutions.
Les worked with Steve at Practiceplan, and was instrumental in giving the company a new brand identity.
Les has a very different perspective than most people on most things. His insight will be invaluable to asto.
Les’s interests include cycling and performing in a band.