My Qualifications and Experience in Psychotherapy and Counselling
I have an honours degree in philosophy from the University of Sheffield, I trained as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist with the Guild of Psychotherapists, and as an analytical group psychotherapist at Goldsmiths, University of London (post-graduate diploma). Both trainings are accredited by the UKCP and I am dual registered with the UKCP. I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, the Universities Psychotherapy and Counselling Association, The Group Analytic Society (International). I am also a member of the Neuropsychoanalysis Association and the College of Psychoanalysts.
Both my trainings required me to undergo psychotherapy myself. Twice a week psychotherapy for a minimum of 18 months before being eligible to train is required by the Guild of Psychotherapists, followed by twice a week psychotherapy during the entirety of the four year training course. My group training required me to be in once a week group psychotherapy throughout the three year training. This experience of extensive psychotherapy is the hallmark of the best trainings. It means that practitioners can work through potential issues of their own so that they are then able to work with their clients from a position of emotional and psychological wellbeing.
I have over 25 years post qualifying experience. I have been a training therapist for trainee counsellors and psychotherapists, and I have supervised the work of counsellors, psychotherapists, and drama therapists ( I am a UKCP registered supervisor). I am an experienced workshop leader and lecturer and I have been an external examiner for a University of London counselling course.
My experience includes:
University Hospital, Lewisham
Staff Counselling Service
Vesta Road GP Surgery
Practice Counsellor
National Newpin
Psychotherapy programme for vulnerable parents.
Primary Care Psychotherapy Group
Group taking referrals from GPs in Lewisham, Lambeth, and Southwark
Mental Health Advice Centre
Multidisciplinary psychiatric team reflective practice group
Grove Park Hospital
Occupational Therapists’ staff support group
Richmond Fellowship
Staff dynamics for this therapeutic residential home for people with eating disorders
The Women’s Therapy Centre in London
Four general analytic groups, as well as time limited groups for women with eating disorders and survivors of child sexual abuse
Hestia
Two reflective practice groups for staff working with domestic violence
The Wimbledon Guild
A general analytic group for young adults aged 18-30. (I have also been a clinical supervisor for counsellors at the Wimbledon Guild.)
Continuous Professional Development is a requirement of my accrediting organisations and their professional and ethical codes of practice. This includes the giving of lectures/courses and the attendance of lectures/courses.
RECENT LECTURES/COURSES ATTENDED:
2021
Still Face and Mirror Neurons: The Neuroscience of Psychotherapy - ISC International, three day conference.
The Return of the Scapegoat: COVID Syndemic in the Unconscious Life of Groups - Video of Earl Hopper, at the Italian Group Analysis Association Conference
Siblings, Special Interest Group, Group Analytic Society International, monthly.
Social Dreaming, Special Interest Group, Group Analytic Society International, monthly.
2020
Psychoanalysis in Adverse Conditions - College of Psychoanalysts.
Childhood and Parenting - Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust
Jung - Lacan Dialogues: Time in Analysis - British Psychotherapy Foundation.
The Emotion Foundations of Personality and its’ Disorders - Dr Ken Davis. Neuropsychoanalysis Association.
Civilisation and the Discontented - Christopher Bollas Webinar.
The Online Medium; Technology in the Therapeutic Frame; Reflections from Online Practice: How to make the transition to working online and how to develop good practice - Tavistock Relations
2019
The Future of Neuroscience, Attachment, and Mentalizing: from research to clinical practice - UCL
2017
Neuroscience and Psychoanalysis - Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust
2016
Race and Culture - Guild of Psychotherapists
Enid Balint Lecture - Tavistock Centre for Couples
Institutional Abuse - University of East London, ICAP, IGA
Understanding Couples - Tavistock Centre for Couples
2015+
Group Lives - Tales of Attachment - Institute of Group Analysis
Perspectives on Working with Psychosis - Guild of Psychotherapists
Mentalisation-based Treatment - Maudsley and South London Foundation Trust
LECTURES/COURSES GIVEN
2016 Psychotherapy as a Transitional Space; the Psychological Impact of Changing Country, Culture, and Language - Guild of Psychotherapists Summer Conference, University of Cambridge.
2015 What's in a Word- Language and the Human Psyche Workshop
CB Counsellor Training, Surrey
2014 Listening to Silence; Speaking without Words - Guild of Psychotherapists Summer Conference, University of Cambridge.
"Telling it as it is" Workshop (for people working with those who were sexually abused as children):
2014 at CB Counsellor Training, Surrey and 2013 at Sutton Counselling
2013 Sutton Counselling AGM: Guest Speaker - Organisational Dynamics