All information on the Taming Olivia website and it's partnering sites, including but not exclusive to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, Linkedin, Threads, Bluesk and TikTok accounts (in future just referred to as partnering sites) is given in good faith and is based on information that I believe to be reliable and accurate at the time of release. I set up Taming Olivia as a way of sharing my experiences and knowledge gained through my own lived experiences of OCD, working alongside some of the most successful OCD specialists internationally, and from my time working as a trustee of OCD Action and volunteering with international OCD charities for the best part of a decade. I hope it will help others and help stop people feeling alone, but it is not meant as a replacement for professional medical advice or treatment so please, please make sure you are seeking professional medical and mental health support. You deserve it.
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We know how important it is to be completely transparent about our qualifications, experience and training. We want to do all we can to keep you safe and informed. By using our site and the content on it, you accept that the information on it has been created by people with the following qualifications, experince and training.   
 
Our Experience and Qualifications

• Pete and I have spent the past decade working within the realms of the wonderful mental health and OCD communities. We have made a worldwide network of wonderful partners and friends who work with in the same field. We know a lot about this area. 

• I am a specialist social, emotional and mental health qualified teacher so I am qualified to talk about learning styles and how best to learn. I am qualified to develop and teach my own schemes of work about things like mental health, well-being and self-care strategies in line with the UK Governments Educational and Social Policies and Curriculum. I also have loads of experience in creating fun, accessible and vibrant resources that will support learning.

• Pete is a qualified graphic artist and designer. It’s thanks to him that the website, packs and blogs all look so awesome!

• Neither Pete nor I are therapists or OCD/ mental health/medical professionals. I've seen some seriously bad practice over my years of advocacy, and know how important it is to get proper professional help if you are struggling. So please make sure you talk to your medical/mental health professional if you have any questions. And please remember that the term 'therapist' is not a protected title in the UK, anyone can call themselves one, so please check the qualifications and certifications of anyone before you choose to work with them. There is an excellent artical here by OCD-UK that talks about the subject in more detail and describes ways to keep yourslef safe when looking for help. 

 
Relevant training and qualifications:
Catherine:

• BA (Hons) - Psychology (British Psychological Society accredited) 2:1 with a focus on Child Development and Counselling in Education

• Post Graduate Certificate of Education (with Qualified teacher Status)

• Over a decade teaching in schools in East London with additional training in SEND and Inclusion

• Teachers Training for Supporting Children With PANS or PANDAS - CPD accredited

• Charity Trustee Safeguarding training - NSPCC - CPD accredited

• Safeguarding for Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing in Education - NSPCC - CPD accredited

• Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Children and Young People's Mental Health. NCFE accredited.

• Safeguarding Young People and Young Adults training - NSPCC - CPD accredited

• Enhanced DBS 

• Adverse Childhood Experiences and Trauma Informed Education - Level 2 

• Online Safety Training - NSPCC - CPD accredited

 
 
 
The content of our website and partnering sites are provided for general information only. Nothing found on this website and partnering sites is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Nor is it a substitute for therapy. Neither Pete nor I, Catherine Benfield are a qualified doctor, therapist, psychiatrist or any other medical professional so please obtain the relevant professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action based on the information on this site, partnering sites or any other Taming Olivia generated content. We can not and do not accept legal liability or responsibility for the content of this information or any consequences arising from its use. We hope you understand. 
 
Please be aware that information may be changed or become outdated and incorrect after they have been placed on this site and partnering sites. I cannot ensure the accuracy of any information contained after publication on this site or partnering sites
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Taming Olivia is not intended for children or young people under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children and young people under 18. If you are under 18, please do not provide any information on this website. If you have, please ask a trusted adult to contact me at tamingolivia@outlook.com and I'll delete it.  
 
If you have questions about any medical matter or you think you are experiencing a medical condition, you should seek immediate medical attention from a doctor or other professional healthcare provider. 
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Occasionally specific research will be presented in blogs and posts as a way of investigating certain areas of OCD, e.g. types of treatments and this material on this site and partnering sites may reflect the views or recommendations of third parties which do not necessarily reflect my  views, nor indicate a commitment to a particular course of action.
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​Although I try extremely hard to compile accurate information on my site and partnering sites, and to update the information on my mental health information web pages, I make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in these mental health information on the site and partnering sites are accurate, complete or up to date.
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By using my website or partnering sites, you are agreeing that under no circumstances, me and/or my officers, employees, successors, shareholders, joint venture partners or anyone else working with us shall be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, equitable, special, punitive, exemplary or any other damages resulting from your use of this website including but not limited to all the content, information, products, services and graphics presented here.
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By using this site and partnering sites, you expressly agree that your use of the site and partnering sites is at your sole risk, and that you are solely responsible for the accuracy of the personal and any information you provide, outcome of your actions, personal and business results, and for all other use in connection with the site and related sites.
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THIS WEB SITE AND THE MATERIALS IN THIS WEB SITE ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TAMING OLIVIA DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. TAMING OLIVIA DOES NOT REPRESENT OR WARRANT THAT MATERIALS IN THIS WEB SITE ARE ACCURATE, COMPLETE, RELIABLE, CURRENT, OR ERROR-FREE. TAMING OLIVIA DOES NOT REPRESENT OR WARRANT THAT THIS WEB SITE OR ITS SERVER(S) ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS. TAMING OLIVIA DOES NOT REPRESENT OR WARRANT THAT THIS WEB SITE OR ITS SERVER(S) ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS.

Taming Olivia reserves the right to change any and all content contained on this Web site at any time without notice. Reference to any products, services, processes, or other information, by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, supplier, or other designation does not constitute or imply endorsement, sponsorship, or recommendation thereof by Taming Olivia.
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Taming Olivia is my life work. We have poured a ton of time, energy and resources into creatingour little world and services. Please do not use her or anything on this site or social media pages without my explicit permission. If you would like to write about Taming Olivia, please discuss it with us first and please snire you fact check with us first.    
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For information about us please see our further policies - the links are provided below.