Dr. Gertrude (Trudi) Seneviratne

Meet Dr. Gertrude (Trudi) Seneviratne

Dr. Gertrude Seneviratne is a highly experienced general adult and specialist perinatal psychiatrist with almost 25 years of experience in the NHS, UK. Trudi was born in Sri Lanka and incorporates her rich, varied background living in Sri Lanka and the UK into her practice as a psychiatrist.

Dr. Trudi practices truly holistic psychiatry, with assessments and treatments that combine biological approaches (from medication to electroconvulsive therapy) with psychological or talking therapies, social and cultural context, and spiritual elements, incorporating the importance of lifestyle modifications like quality sleep, exercise, and diet. She explores hormonal aspects of mental health presentations and advocates for incorporating arts and creative therapies into treatment.

Dr. Seneviratne treats adults with a range of emerging and existing psychiatric difficulties and comorbidities, including mood problems, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorders, phobias, obsessive-compulsive issues, schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder, bipolar affective disorder (manic depression), personality difficulties, complex trauma, grief, and loss. She utilizes clinical skills in psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavior therapy, mindfulness, dialectical behavior therapy, and family therapy.

Trudi is a perinatal psychiatrist who provides comprehensive care to anyone planning to have a baby or those who are pregnant or recently gave birth. Her goal is to support people in remaining well and preventing relapses during pregnancy and postnatal periods. Trudi treats all types of mental health conditions and considers mental health issues alongside hormonal and other physiological changes. She also works closely with relevant professionals to ensure the best care for her patients.

With her impressive 25+ years of experience, Dr. Seneviratne is well-equipped to offer adult psychiatric and medical expert court reports in Family Court cases related to babies or children. You can trust her thoughtful, insightful approach to these complex matters.

Background and Education

Dr. Trudi Seneviratne (OBE, FRCPsych) qualified as a medical practitioner in 1992, having trained at St Bartholomew’s Medical School, London. She completed her psychiatric training at St. Bartholomew’s and later as a research registrar at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN).

Trudi has been a consultant adult and lead perinatal psychiatrist at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust since 2002. She has been involved in all aspects of general adult and perinatal mental health services, from community/obstetric liaison perinatal services to currently running the inpatient Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) at Bethlem Royal Hospital, Maudsley – a facility dedicated to extensive family, multiagency, and systemic work. Dr. Seneviratne has helped treat the most severely ill women with their babies during pregnancy and following childbirth, leading the parenting assessment service at the Mother and Baby Unit since 2002.

Trudi has also been a Clinical Director at the Trust for many years. She has been an active global educator, publishing and translating a vast body of research on perinatal mental health into practice. She has held numerous national leadership roles, including Vice-Chair of the National Clinical Reference Group for NHS and Chair of The Perinatal Faculty for Royal College Psychiatrists (2016-2020). Her work as a perinatal psychiatrist has influenced the enormous expansion of perinatal mental health services and training of professionals across the UK. She is the Registrar of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (2000-2025), primarily responsible for supporting psychiatrists, policy, and communications.

In 2019, Trudi was awarded an OBE for services to Perinatal Psychiatry and the President’s Medal of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. In 2023, she was invited to be an advisor to the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.

Dr. Seneviratne loves spending time with her family and friends, exploring nature, and practicing yoga and HIIT training. She has an affinity for the arts, especially painting, drawing, and printing, and she enjoys cooking and traveling.