About – Career planning for doctors

Photograph of Dr Caroline Elton, a chartered psychologist who specialises in medical career planning

Dr Caroline Elton is a chartered psychologist with dual registration in occupational and counselling psychology. She combines a rigorous academic training with an empathic and insightful approach to supporting doctors.

Dr Naomi Elton is a doctors’ career coach and systemic therapist. A retired psychiatrist, she is known for her clear thinking and excellent communication, achieving the most positive outcomes for her clients.

Photograph of Dr Naomi Elton, doctors' career coach and systemic therapist

People sometimes ask if Caroline Elton & Naomi Elton are related. They are not!

More about Dr Caroline Elton

After her first degree at Oxford University and a post-graduate scholarship at the University of Pennsylvania, Caroline worked as an inner-city secondary school teacher. She then changed career direction, undertaking a PhD in psychology and training in occupational and counselling psychology.

Caroline has worked in a numerous senior medical education roles. In 2008, she set up and led the London Deanery Careers Unit, providing a careers support service for trainees across the capital. Caroline has most recently been Associate Professor in Medical Education and Career Lead at Norwich Medical School. Caroline has supported hundreds of doctors – from foundation through to consultant level. Caroline drew upon this experience for her book, Also Human: The Inner Lives of Doctors (2018, Penguin Random House). Caroline has written widely about medical careers. She is a regular speaker and facilitator at conferences and training events throughout the UK, and beyond.

Caroline has personal knowledge of autism, having just published Looking After: A Portrait of my Autistic Brother (2025, Penguin Random House).

More about Dr Naomi Elton

Naomi trained in London, at UCLH, The Maudsley Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital and The Marlborough Family Centre. Inspired by her consultant supervisors, many of whom were distinguished family therapists, Naomi trained in systemic therapy. She worked for most of her career as a Consultant in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry in Essex, Cambridge, Huntingdon, and Peterborough. Mid-career, Naomi was keen to look critically at the way work teams function, the roles of individuals at work, and organizations themselves. She undertook an MSc in Occupational Psychology at Birkbeck and went on to lead children’s community services in Cambridgeshire for several years.

Upon retiring from the NHS, Naomi trained in both mediation and coaching. In recent years, Naomi has coached doctors through Career Planning for Doctors. She is also Systemic Therapist at The Family Treatment Service, Wimbledon, London SW19, working with families, couples and individuals.

Naomi has an intuitive and practical knowledge of both mental health and neurodiversity. She is particularly interested in helping people resolve tensions, psychological (individual) and interpersonal, related to family or work.