Felix de Carvalho
Felix de Carvalho
Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Dr. Felix de Carvalho is an experienced and passionate Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist who specialises in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children, young people, and their families. He plays a pivotal role at Harwood Child Psychology, where he is deeply involved in ensuring families have a high quality, thoughtful and warm encounter with mental health support.
Felix has worked as lead consultant psychiatrist in NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), meaning he is experienced at supporting, diagnosing and treating both complex and more straightforward mental health difficulties that commonly present in children and adolescents. Felix has a particular specialism and interest in neurodevelopmental conditions, including ASD, ADHD, and Intellectual disabilities. He is able to support a range of mental health conditions that are commonly associated with neurodiversity.
His leadership and expertise are evident in his past role conducting multiple assessments across various NHS teams. He's also made significant contributions to the development of ADHD and ASD care pathways in Hampshire CAMHS and has collaborated with top-tier clinicians at South London and Maudsley Trust in national specialist services, like the National Autism, Anxiety Residential and Neurodevelopmental services.
Whilst Felix is a medical doctor and is able to prescribe medication where indicated, he does not see himself as a typical medical doctor. He will carefully explore and explain everything that is going on for a young person, and prefers not to jump straight to medication unless it is needed and wanted by families and young people. Harwood Child Psychology have a range of different clinicians, including clinical psychology and therapy, so therapy can be explored alongside medication where needed.
In addition to his private practice, Felix serves the community as a CAMHS Consultant at the Sussex Partnership NHS Trust. Here, he leads a dedicated team addressing the complex mental health challenges faced by young people. This includes offering thorough assessments, tailored treatments, and expert management of a variety of mental health concerns. He supervises a team of more junior doctors as part of his role.
Education and continual growth are paramount for Felix. He has enriched the medical community through research publications, mentoring of junior doctors, lecturing at regional levels, and presentations at global conferences. Trained in The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) and the New Forest Parenting Programme, he brings both expertise and a personal touch to his practice.
At the heart of Felix's work is collaboration. He believes in working hand-in-hand with everyone involved to ensure the best outcomes for young people and their families. His approach is characterised by sensitivity, thoroughness, and a genuine desire to make a positive difference. By looking at the bigger picture, he considers both the internal and external worlds of his patients. His therapeutic toolkit is vast, spanning from cognitive behavioural therapy and positive behavioural support to family interventions. Additionally, he offers tailored insights, specialised knowledge, and a thoughtful approach to medication.
Felix earned a first-class Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree, coupled with a BSc in Medical Sciences from the University of Lisbon and University Autonoma of Barcelona. He pursued his core psychiatry training at the world renowned South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, affiliating with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London. He accomplished his advanced specialty training at the WESSEX Health Education England, in conjunction with the University of Southampton. Felix holds a specialty register with the General Medical Council and full registration with the Royal College of Psychiatrists. He is also an esteemed member of The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health and the British Pharmacological Society.
