Dr Patrick Davey
MOAI Founder & Consultant General Adult Psychiatrist
NHS Clinical Entrepreneur BM BSc PGDip (OXON) MRCPsych
Dr Davey has always been interested in people and their stories. His route into psychiatry was slightly unconventional. He initially studied Psychology, volunteered with autistic children and eventually joined the BBC, training as a journalist and working in radio production. He loved the creativity and storytelling, but wanted a more direct connection with people. He left journalism to work as a carer for autistic adults with the National Autistic Society, before an opportunity arose to study graduate-entry medicine.
As a doctor, Dr Davey was again drawn to people’s stories. An A&E placement ultimately led him towards psychiatry and the South London and Maudsley training scheme. He has since worked across community and inpatient services, with particular experience in neurodiversity and anxiety disorders. He also trained in CBT and won an innovation prize for work using virtual reality to treat emetophobia.
Dr Davey’s own experiences of physical illness have also meant experiencing healthcare from both sides. He knows that asking for help can feel exposing and that meeting a psychiatrist can be nerve-wracking. This shapes how he practises: human, curious, compassionate and non-judgemental. He actively listens, understanding the person and their story before deciding what might help.
“It remains an enormous privilege when somebody trusts you with their inner world, often sharing things they may never have said aloud before. I don’t take that trust lightly.” This philosophy ultimately led Dr Davey to found MOAI Health. Inspired partly by communities around the world where connection, purpose and belonging contribute to healthier lives, we’re exploring how clinical expertise, earlier intervention and better understanding can help people not only receive the right treatment, but make sense of themselves and what they need.
Dr Davey also co-wrote Cheeky Worries, helping children understand everyday anxiety using CBT principles. Across everything he does sits a simple idea: understanding should come before judgement, and good healthcare should help people build lives in which they can thrive.
Qualifications
- PGDip Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Oxford University (2018-2021)
- BM Medicine Southampton University (2006-2010)
- PGDip Broadcast Journalism Cardiff University (2003-2004)
- BSc Psychology Cardiff University (1998-2001)
Specialisms and areas of interest
Dr Davey’s special interests are community-based mental health care, neurodiversity and anxiety disorders. He takes a compassionate, non-judgemental and collaborative approach, helping people feel genuinely seen and heard, understand their story and how they relate to themselves, others and their environment.
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