Qualifications and professional training

Grounded in relational, trauma-informed psychotherapy and body-aware practice.

Below is an overview of my qualifications, professional training, and ongoing development in psychotherapy, trauma-focused work, Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR), and ILF neurofeedback.

If you are reading this as a prospective client, you do not need to make sense of every acronym. What matters most is that the work is ethically grounded, carefully held, and informed by substantial specialist training.

Training matters not because it makes therapy impressive, but because it helps the work stay safe, thoughtful, and responsive to complexity.


Why this matters

Qualifications and training are only one part of good therapy, but they do matter.

The aim is not to bring in more methods for their own sake, but to have enough depth, flexibility, and clinical grounding to work well with a range of experiences.


Core qualifications

These qualifications provide the relational and psychotherapeutic foundation of my work.

  • Certified Transactional Analyst Psychotherapy (CTA-P) — EATA (2017)

  • MSc Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy — Middlesex University, London (2017)

  • Clinical Diploma in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy — Metanoia, London (2017)

  • Diploma in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapeutic Counselling — Metanoia, London (2014)


Specialist trauma and body-based trainings

These trainings support a more integrated, body-aware, and trauma-informed way of working.

Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR)

  • Level 1: DBR Introduction

  • Level 2: DBR for Attachment Shock and Wounding

  • Level 3: DBR for Dissociative and Other Complex Trauma Disorders

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

  • Level 1: Affect Dysregulation, Survival Defences, and Traumatic Memory

  • Level 2: Emotional Processing, Meaning Making, and Attachment Repair

EMDR

  • Parts 1–3

Neurofeedback (Bee Medic / ILF approach)

  • Neurofeedback Basic Course

  • Neurofeedback for ADHD


Clinical supervision and group work training

  • Diploma in Clinical Supervision

  • Foundation Year in Group Analysis


Current further training and professional development

  • Working towards DBR-P (Approved Practitioner) status

  • Working towards Othmer Method Certification

  • Further academic study in clinical psychology

Ongoing development matters because good practice is not static.


Other trainings / CPD

Expand below to view additional trainings and continuing professional development.

    • 29 January 2026 - Webinar - Sensing the Senses with the Sensory Quartet by Ruth Lanius, Sherain Harricharan, Breanne Kearney, and Benjamin Pandev-Girard

    • 23 January 2026 - Understanding narcissism and personality disorders (Sandhurst Counselling Services)

    • 22 January 2026 -Jessica Christie-Sands – The Pain of  Presence of Absence;         Breanne Kearney – Updates about the latest randomised DBR trial

    • 14 January 2026 - “Frequency Band Training vs. ILF: A Comparative Overview of Neurofeedback Approaches" presented by Olga Kara and BeeMedic

    • 12 December 2025 - Infra-Low Neurofeedback & Psychotherapy Case Study with Adriana King

    • 11 December 2025 - BACP Webinar-Working With event - Rediscovering the spirit within counselling and psychotherapy – Jeremy Holmes, Charlotte Hastings, Robin Shohet

    • 10 December 2025 - DBR and Body Therapies – Conversations with Giovanni Tagliavini – updated reflections about Bottom-up work with complex dissociative disorders

    • 5 December 2025 - Discover Supervision Techniques that Foster Collaboration and Growth by Psychotherapy.net

    • 28-29 November 2025 - Neurofeedback for ADHD by BeeMedic.com

    • 12 November 2025 - BACP - Professional development day - Artificial Intelligence and the Human Connection by Dr. Richard Miller

    • 1 November 2025 - DBR-Where-Self Location: an in depth training by Frank Corrigan and Jessica Christie-Sands

    • 14 October 2025 - How to work with trauma using the Alpha down neurofeedback protocol and Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR ITALIA-CRISTINA GRAZIOLI)

    • 13-14 September 2025 - DBR HYBRID CONFERENCE, TORONTO

    • 9 May–13 June 2025 — EEGer.comThe Absence of Presence and the Presence of Absence… (Dr Ken Benau), 5h online

    • 8 May 2025 — BACP — Working with race and racial identities to support ethical practice, 3h online

    • 23 March 2025 — IARTA workshop — The Dialogue of Unconsciouses… (Dr Anthony Bass), 3h online

    • 20 March 2025 — NovoPsych webinar — Trauma Informed Practice: Key Assessment Considerations, 1.5h online

    • 6 January 2025 — ESTD webinar — Structuring stabilisation for chronically traumatised and dissociative children (Arianne Struik), 1.5h online

    • 13 December 2024 - When the Past Intrudes on the Present: Sensorimotor Psychotherapy for Couples – by Pat Ogden, 3h online

    • 10 December 2024 - ESTD Webinar-“Trauma-coerced attachment: Diagnosis, challenges, and therapy considerations” with Chitra Raghavan, Ph.D., Kendra Doychak, Ph.D., 1,5h online

    • 7 December 2024 - IARTA’S ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2024 - HOW IS THE UNSAYABLE SPOKEN? – THE CONTEMPORARY UNCONSCIOUS IN RELATIONAL TA - Simon Cavicchia, Helena Hargaden, Birgitta Heiller, Karen Minikin, Carole Shadbolt and Charlotte Sills, 7h online

    • 25 November 2024 - NovoPsych - Webinar for Mental Health Clinicians: Identifying Autism and ADHD in Adults. A Neurodiversity-Affirming Approach in Clinical Practice. 25 November 2024, Monique Mitchelson, 1.25h online

    • 20 November 2024 - ESTD WEBINAR - Rational and Irrational Psychopharmacology for Dissociative Identity Disorder, 1.5h online

    • 14 November 2024 - IARTA workshop-Working with Empty States – Anne Alvarez, 2h online

    • 5 November 2024 - BACP - Difference, Diversity &Anti-Oppressive Practice, 3h online

    • 4-5 October - TRAUMA 24: Neurofeedback and Deep Brain Reorienting Conference, 9h online

    • 28 September 2024 - IAGP Webinar - Changing Those who are a Drain into a Gain, 2h online

    • 13 Sep 2024 - IARTA workshop - Personality Differences and Their Implications for Psychotherapy – Dr. Nancy McWilliams, 3h online

    • 5-6 September 2024 - SP Master Class: Innovations in Treating Complex Trauma & PTSD
      Live with Pat Ogden & Tracy Jarvis, 6h online

    • 24 July 2024 - Neurofeedback - Evolution, Evidence, and Application, 2h, online

    • 11 July 2024 - Demystifying Neurofeedback with Leigh Povia, 1h, online

    • 28 June 2024 - Iarta-Understanding and working with Chronic Shame Dr. Patricia DeYoung, 2h, online

    • 22 June 2024 - IAGP (international Association for Group Psychotherapy and Group Processes) - Intersectional Identities and Socially Unconscious Processes- Konstantinos Liolios, Gila Ofer, Kavita Avula, 3h, online

    • 21 April 2024 - IARTA-Soul Murder: a treatable catastrophe? - Paul Williams, 3h, online

    • 3 April – 3 July 2024 - DBR CONSULTATIONS with Dr. Jessica Christie-Sands (4 group sessions, 2h each)

    • 13 March 2024 - IARTA-The Deeper Dimensions of Interconnectedness A Conversation with John Heath, 2h online

    • 5 March 2024 - EATA Webinar Series 2024, TA- Best Practice, 1.5h online

    • IARTA Webinar-Deconstruction of theory and practice through an intersectional lens Facilitated by Victoria Baskerville (She//Her), 15 February 2024

    • Deep Brain Reorienting (Level 3: DBR for Dissociative and Other Complex Trauma Disorders), Dr Frank Corrigan, February 2024

    • Deep Brain Reorienting (Level 2: DBR for Attachment Shock and Wounding), Dr Frank Corrigan, January 2024

    • IARTA Webinar-LIMINALITY, facilitated by Carole Shadbolt, 5 February 2024

    • IARTA Webinar-Nourish: Eating, Shape and Weight Through the Relational Lens Facilitated by Mandy Atkinson 16 and 30 January 2024

    • ESTD Webinar, first webinar for Published Research, 16 January 2024

      • The use of innovative drugs in the treatment of (severe) PTSD: New findings and perspectives. Reviewing matrix of psychedelics in PTSD treatment, Prof. Col ret’d Eric Vermetten, MD, PhD

      • MDMA-assisted therapy and Somatic - Acceptance based therapy (SEA-IT), shared and differential mechanisms of change. A new study into treatment for veteran PTSD and moral injury.; Dr. Anna Harwood-Gross

    • IARTA ANNUAL CONFERENCE, “MUTUALITY” - Deepak Dhanajaya, Karen Minikin, Katherine Murphy, Carole Shadbolt and Charlotte Sills (Chair), 10 December 2023

    • IARTA-Queer identities and GSRD inclusive practice, facilitated by Victoria Baskerville, 16 November 2023

    • IARTA Webinar-Ego States – A Round Table Discussion Heather Fowlie, Adrienne Lee, Charlotte Sills and Keith Tudor, 9 Nov 2023

    • Deep Brain Reorienting (Level 1: DBR Introduction), Dr Frank Corrigan, November 2023

    • IARTA Webinar-Radical-Relational Perspectives: Oppression, Alienation, Karen Minikin, 17 October 2023

    • ESTD Webinar, 10 October 2023

      • Dr. Giulia Di Fini, Ph.D. - Adverse Childhood Experiences and Dissociation of Adults with Gender Dysphoria.

      • Andrea Zagaria, Ph.D. - Clarifying the concept of Attachment Trauma 

    • EATA Webinar Series 2023 - Diversity, 29 September and 19 November 2023

    • Virtual Intro Weekend in Group Analysis, The Group Analysis Institute, 16-17 September 2023

    • IARTA Webinar “The Ethics of Self Disclosure - A Panel Discussion” with Ray Little, Karen Minikin and Carole Shadbolt, 1 July 2023

    • “Group Work Training” - Mick Landaiche, 18 January 2023 - 29 March 2023

    • IARTA Webinar “Relational Transactional Analysis – A Conversation” – Helena Hargaden and Charlotte Sills, 4 March 2023

    • Transactional Analysis Cumbrian Conference, “The Personal and the Political”, 25th February 2023

      • Keynote address - “The Personal and the Political” - Karen Minikin - TSTA

      • Sudha Thimmaiah - “The Personal is political”

      • Romy Graichen & Cheryl (Yi Mei) Leong - “I+U+ for Neurodivergent Folks - addressing Neurotypical bias in therapy”

    • IARTA Webinar “Trauma, disorganised attachment and dissociative identity disorder” - Dr. Valerie Sinason - 15 December 2022 & 16 February 2023

    • The Science of Drugs: MDMA, Cocaine, Ketamine & 2C-B - Dr Jonathan Iliff - 23 November 2022

    • EATA-ITAA workshop “Unconscious Processes In Self and Systems - A Group Relations Approach” - 22nd November 2022

    • IARTA Webinar “A Relational Approach to working with Confusion and Deconfusion” - Heather Fowlie TSTA - 10 November 2022

    • IDTAP (Interpretive Dynamic Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy) Training for Researchers - Ales Zivkovic PTSTA(P) - 22 October 2022

    • IARTA Webinar "Sharpen your eye: roles, relations and responsibility in professional fields” – Maya Bentele - 19 October 2022

    • “2022 Suicide Prevention Summit” - various presenters, 10-11 September 2022

    • IARTA Webinar “Embodied Relational Therapy in TA: With and Without Touch” - Edward T Novak - 22 May 2022

    • EATA Webinar – New Theory - Charlotte Sills, Mil Rosseau, Linda Gregory - 11 May 2022

    • Transactional Analysis Cumbrian Conference - 26th February 2022

      • “Finding balance in an ever changing world” (Enid Welford, TSTA-P)

      • “I and We - Finding the balance” (Gunjan Zutshi, CTA-P)

      • “Standing up-moving your therapy out of your chair” (Daniel Weaver)

      • “Intersectional Healing: Find your inner balance with Jin Shin & Transactional Analysis” (Alexis Brink)

    • IARTA Conference, “The Naked Self With Keynote Speaker Dr Zefiro Mellacqua“, online, 20 November 2021

    • “Meeting the challenge of race in therapy practice”, IARTA online workshop, 14 May 2021

    • "Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Level II: Emotional Processing, Meaning Making, and Attachment Repair”, London, 2019-2020

    • “EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)” , London, February-December 2018

    • "Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Level 1: Affect Dysregulation, Survival Defences, and Traumatic Memories", Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute, London, March- October 2017

    • "MSc Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy", Metanoia, London, 2017

    • "Certified Transactional Analyst (Psychotherapy)" (CTA-P), EATA (European Association for Transactional Analysis), 2017

    • "Clinical Diploma in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy", Metanoia, London, 2017

    • "A personal crisis plan for therapists in private practice", November 2016

    • "Safeguarding Adults", Sutton Uplift, South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, October 2016

    • "Safeguarding Young Adults", Sutton Uplift, South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, September 2016

    • IARPP (International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy) Conference about "The Arts of Time - Relational Psychoanalysis and Forms of Vitality in the Clinical Process", Rome, June 2016. Workshops I attended:

      • "The Relational School and the Art of Psychoanalysis", Hazel Ipp (Canada), Tony Bass (USA)

      • "Brandchaft’s Emancipatory Psychoanalysis: Working with Pathological Accommodation", Shelley Doctors (USA)

      • "Reclaiming Inner Freedom: a Relational Perspective", Avi Berman (Israel), Shoshana Breiner (Israel), Ytzhak Mendelsohn (Israel)

      • "Vitality Forms: Infant Research, Neurosciences, and Clinical Psychoanalysis", Nadia Brushweiller-Stern (Switzerland), Pierfrancesco Ferrari (Italy), Massimo Ammaniti (Italy)

      • "Temporality and Timing in the Arts and in the Clinical Process", Vittorio Lingiardi (Italy), Donnel Stern (USA)

      • "Analysis Outside the Lines: Creativity and Post-Traumatic Growth"

      • "Grief-Inspired Creativity: an Analytic Relationship between Two former Child Artists", Doris Brothers (USA)

      • "The Art of Survival: Restoring the Capacity for Creative Living after Trauma", George Hagman (USA)

      • "Walk with me so you can see what I see: Stepping out of the Frame to see the Picture", Karen Starr (USA)

      • "Vitality within Contexts of Destruction", Chana Ullman (Israel), Sally Swartz (South Africa), Andrew Samuels (UK), Alejandro Avila Espada (Spain)

      • "Creativity in the Clinical Exchange", Joseph Litchenberg (USA), Nino Dazzi (Italy)Relational Trauma from a Contemplative Perspective: Interweaving Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Buddhist Psychology and Enactive-Neuroscientifc Accounts

      • "Mindful Parenting: a path of healing intergenerational transmission of trauma", Pilar Mardones (Chile)

      • “Developmental Trauma: a Buddisth and Intersubjective integration", Sebastian Medeiros (Chile)

      • “Minding the body, emboding who we are: modes of being (with) the self and others, Trauma as a disruption of subjectivity and vitality", Simon Guendelman (Germany)

      • “Uncertainty, Bodily Experience and Clinical Wisdom”

      • “Let the Yoga do you: Clinical Decision Making, Ambiguity and Certainty", Christina Emanuel (USA)

      • "Figurability as a form of vitality: a clinical case discussion", Camila Junqueira (Brazil)

      • "The Low Spark of High Heeled 'Girls': Hyperdeadness and Hyper awareness with Eating DIsorder Patients", Jean Petrucelli (USA)

      • "Play and Improvisation in Psychoanalysis as an Art of Interactions", Jessica Benjamin (USA), Philip Ringstrom (USA), Boaz Shalgi (Israel).

    • "Working with Rape and Sexual Abuse", SCS, Sandhurst, May 2016

    • "Working with Relational Trauma: Dealing with Disorganised Attachment", PODS, London, June 2016

    • Mental Health Familiarisation Placement at the Cassel Hospital, Richmond (a Therapeutic Community for inpatients diagnosed with Personality Disorders), March 2016

    • Ten-day residential mindfulness meditation course, IMC UK, December 2015

    • “Archetypes”, SCS, Sandhurst, November 2015

    • “Mental Health Act and Medication”, Metanoia, London, November 2015

    • 1st EATA (European Association of Transactional Analysis) Conference about "TA Theory & Research", Rome, July 2015. Workshops I attended (TA stands for Transactional Analysis):

      • "Scientific Validation of TA Theory- Theory construction and scientific recognition of basic concepts", Prof. John McLeod (UK)

      • "Team Agility", Van Poelje, S. (Netherlands)

      • "Conflicts and Impasses", Alleysson, E. (France)

      • "TA and intense short dynamic psychotherapy: integration of models and comparison of techniques through [psychotherapy video", Sambin, M. (Italy) and Scotta', F. (Italy)

      • "Scientific validation of TA theory - How can basic TA concepts be empirically validated to reach scientific recognition?", Prof. Gelo, O. (Italy)

      • "'Alien in my body': an agonising integration path between sexual identity and gender identity.", Settanni, A. S. (Italy)

      • "Dialoguing with the hidden pole: a proposal for a new representation of Impasse.", Gerosa, S. (Italy)

      • Redecision process and states of consciousness: multidisciplinary connections and methodological developments in TA according to the bio-psycho-social-existential", Attanasio Romanini (Italy), S, Maggio, P. (Italy) and Sasso, R. (Italy)

      • "Borderline Personality and Trauma: an integrated intervention", Liverano, A. (Italy), Zedda, C. (Italy) and Aceti, T. (Italy)

      • "The Treasure and Tragedy of Script Protocol: the non-conscious foundations on one's personality.", Pierini, A. (Italy) and Cornell, W. (USA)

      • "Emergent Theory: the ongoing evolution of TA theory.", Cornell, W. (round table moderator)

      • "Thinking of somatic illness: a theoretical approach to Impasse Theory.", Tenconi, P. M. (Italy)

    • “Trauma, Dissociation and Recovery”, PODS, London, 2015

    • “Trauma and the Body”, PODS, Brighton, 2014

    • “Diploma in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapeutic Counselling” , Metanoia, London, November 2014

    • “Living and Working in Groups: How do we shape them and how do they shape us?”, Charlotte Sills, Metanoia Institute, London, 2014

    • “Transactional Analysis Process Therapy Groups”, Adrienne Lee BA MPracNLP TSTA(P), The Berne Institute, Kegworth, 2013

    • “Relational Psychotherapy: the Emergence and Development of a Tradition”, workshop by Dr Lew Aron (Director of the New York University Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis) at Metanoia, London, 2013

    • “Sexuality Awareness”, No5, Reading, 2013

    • “CAHMS Conference – Improving Effectiveness and Understanding the Evidence Base: Working with the impact of parental conflict on children and young people’s mental health”, The Tavistock Centre For Couple Relationships, London, 2012

    • “Transference-Countertransference & Enactments: An Integrated Relation Perspective Workshop”, Ray Little at Metanoia, London, 2012

    • “Certificate in competency in using psychological tests”, Metanoia, MCPS, London, 2011

    • “Introduction to Universal Safeguarding Children”, Directorate Education and Children’s Service, Reading, 2011

    • “Foundation year in Transactional Analysis” (part of MSc in TA Psychotherapy) from Metanoia Institute, London, 2010

    • “Transactional Analysis 101” from Metanoia Institute, London, 2010

    • “Diploma in Business and Life Coaching” from The UK College of Personal Development, Swindon

    • “NLP Master Practitioner” from John Seymour Associates Ltd, Bristol, 2009

    • “NLP Practitioner” from John Seymour Associates Ltd, Bristol, 2008.