Meet the team

Alison joined the Institute in 2008 as a Director after a six year career break to have her two children. Prior to this, she worked in Social Services for 17 years initially as a social worker and then in various managerial roles within the learning disabilities field. During that time she developed an interest in social work training and undertook further training to equip herself as an adult educator. She then worked within the practice learning team, managing and supporting the vocational training of social work students through supervision of students on placement and their supervisors. She brings a wide variety of skills to her role as Company and Finance Director and really values working within a team and in close collaboration with students. Her family and children are focal and Alison continues to divide her time between her director role and bringing up her two young boys. She even manages to find some time to continue learning to play the piano (a work in slow progress!) and to pursue her love of cooking.

Rosemary has extensive training and experience as a counsellor, psychotherapist, supervisor and trainer and is trained in both Gestalt Psychotherapy and Integrative Psychotherapy, and has completed additional elements of training in Transactional Analysis, Behavioural Therapy and Client-Centred Counselling. She was previously course leader of the Person-Centred Counselling programme at The Sherwood Institute. In all of the different trainings Rosemary related to her interest in the interface between spirituality and psychology. She has been a tutor on the Counselling Programme at St. John’s Theological college in Nottingham and completed a second MA in Theology and Pastoral Care. In addition to psychotherapy training, Rosemary has trained as a supervisor and trainer and currently tutors on the Supervision training at SPTI. Prior to this Rosemary was a qualified Psychiatric Nurse and has more than twenty years experience working in the NHS, including a specialist role as a Nurse Therapist. She is accredited with the UKCP and runs a private practice working with individuals, couples and groups.

Will served in HM Forces (Army) for over 25 years undertaking a wide variety of roles including Logistic support on operations around the globe. He also held a wide variety of educational positions and is a qualified teacher. On retirement from the forces, he went on to hold several positions in HM Prisons as the Education Manager overseeing the delivering of a wide and varied curriculum including Literacy, Numeracy and Vocational skills-based training.

Whilst working in the Prison setting, Will undertook additional duties including quality assurance for all educational delivery, regime delivery, business continuity, administration support, stakeholder management, Human Resource processes and management of staff.

Will is a runner and has completed the London marathon, although he would like to return to this level of fitness again one day. Gardening and DIY are Will's other passions.

Will joined the Institute in February 2023 as the Business Operations Manager.

From a background in the NHS, Julie trained as an Integrative Psychotherapist she has expertise in working with early relational trauma, attachment disorders and psychopathology. Julie is a UKCP accredited Psychotherapist and Supervisor who has been practising for over 22 years. She is an experienced trainer in Integrative Psychotherapy.

Tracey Jackson began her role as Quality Assurance and Business Manager in Feb 2019. This is an exciting and essential new role for SPTI and one which we are sure will enable us to go forward confidently in the ever changing world of Higher Education regulation and will support us in maintaining and developing the focus on quality and excellence in provision of psychotherapy and counselling training.  Tracey is meeting with all members of staff in order to thoroughly understand all aspects of the training we provide, the business and systems which support the training provision and the individual roles within SPTI. Tracey will be looking at what we could do better across the business and helping to enact these developments. We warmly welcome her to the Senior Management Team.

Debs is a UKCP registered psychotherapist with a MA in Humanistic Person Centred Psychotherapy. Over the past 20 years she has trained in Gestalt, Person Centred and Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy. She has worked within a variety of therapeutic settings and now manages a private practice providing psychotherapy, counselling and supervision to individuals, couples, families, and groups. She has been involved in developing the undergraduate training at SPTI and is a tutor on the BSc (Hons) programme. Prior to this she has worked within Further Education providing various counselling programmes and was also a partner of a consultancy providing training to health professionals within the NHS and Social Services. Debs has a background within the NHS and Social Services working as a nurse, social worker, development officer, and manager. She has a particular interest in issues of identity, gender and shame.

Deborah is a UKCP registered Clinical Psychotherapist, Supervisor and Trainer as well as a BACP member. She holds a MSc. in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy and is a Certified Transactional Analyst, undertaking her masters at the Metanoia Institute London in the mid 1990’s. Over the last 20 years she has also trained as an EMDR practitioner, Developmental Couple Therapist and completed a Diploma in Clinical Supervision. She is endorsed by the European Association of Transactional Analysts as a (provisional) Teaching and Supervising Transactional Analyst.  She has worked in a variety of therapeutic settings, including the NHS and for the last 26 years in a Forensic setting facilitating therapeutic groups. She also manages a private psychotherapy practice in Derbyshire, working with individuals and couples and runs a long- term weekly private psychotherapy group.  Deborah is particularly interested in the growth and developmental of Counsellors and Psychotherapists and the sharing of knowledge and attends her own ongoing professional development group. Likewise she facilitates such groups in her own private practice, which involves supervision, training and academic writing.

Collette has a background in publishing and marketing which she bring to her role as Graduate Officer. Collette edits the graduate and student magazine 'Contact' and supports the development of our CPD programme and graduate resources. Collette has a BA in American Studies from Nottingham University and a Level 2 & 3 in counselling skills.

James joined SPTI as Academic Administrator in 2021 and his role is currently Short Course Administrator and Library Resources. James graduated with a BA Hons in Humanistic Counselling Practice in 2015 and is a keen motorcyclist, dog lover, D&D & computer games fan.

Lionel supports our staff and students with IT systems. Lionel is the webmaster of the SPTI website and administrator of our Virtual Learning Environment Moodle.

Rio joined us initially as a temp for the start of academic year 2022-2023 and now has re-joined the staff team as a full time Academic Administrator supporting our Admin Office and support staff. Rio is on a break from her Undergraduate degree in Product Design with Nottingham Trent University and has also previously worked in an admin role at Bio City. In her spare time Rio enjoys art and painting and restoring furniture.

Cath joined SPTI in May 2019 bringing with her a wealth of experience in all aspects of finance within the airline and other industries. Cath supports all finance and data processes for the institute.

Janice joined SPTI as a Student Support Officer in Jul 2022. She previously worked in an airline in Hong Kong for almost ten years with intensive experience in multi-cultural client relationship management and facilitated with good communication skills.

Janice had been in the role of pupil support officer in several secondary schools in Hong Kong, aiming to support young people with special educational needs and disabilities and make adjustments to help with their learning progress.

She has a B.Soc.Sc (Hons) in Counselling and Psychology. Her current role is to liaise with students and SPTI colleagues, ensuring our students feel supported throughout their learning journey.

Jo joined SPTI in December 2022 after working for the University of Nottingham in student and academic staff administration and support for 10 years. She currently provides academic administrative support for students undertaking the BSc and MSc courses.

Shelley joined SPTI in February 2011 after a career break raising her family. She previously worked in North East and London managing Admissions and HE Administration for several major Universities. Shelley has a BA (Hons) Fine Art and a PGCE. With 25+ years experience in Student Administration (Predominately in Student Recruitment), her current role is to support applicants from initial enquiry to enrolment in their chosen training programme.

Alan is a BACP accredited and UKCP registered Counsellor / Psychotherapist and supervisor with a BSc (Hons) in Counselling & Psychotherapy and an MSc in Integrative Psychotherapy. He has been in private practice in Leicester for eight years, working with adults, couples and supervisees. Alan previously trained and worked in telecommunications research and development, prior to transferring into quality and compliance in adult social care, whilst training in Counselling and Psychotherapy at the Sherwood Institute. He has professional interests include narrative research and how language is used to convey life stories, and the construction of identity for gender and sexual diversities. Alan's hobbies include reading, knitting, running and being with nature.

Jill has a background in nursing and midwifery, and has worked in schools as a matron/housemistress and as a counsellor. She is a BACP accredited therapist and a supervisor and has been involved with the Haven Counselling Centre in Ashby de la Zouch since 1999 and co-managed it for 13 years. Jill also has an established private practice offering long and short term therapy and supervision. She has special interest in working with issues around the impact of infertility, miscarriage and loss alongside the impact of traumatic labour on attachment and maternal relationship. Jill is a first year tutor on the BSc (Hons) Humanistic and Integrative degree. In her spare time Jill enjoys her family and grandchildren, gardening, dancing and attempting to make music!

Dawn trained at SPTI and has a MSc in Gestalt Psychotherapy and post grad diploma in contemporary trauma. She currently manages her private practise in Birmingham as a psychotherapist and supervisor working with adults, young people and couples.

Dawn has over 20 years’ psychotherapy experience in various settings, including: NHS, voluntary sector and schools and has also worked as clinical lead in acute services, therapeutically supporting patients in their transition from in-patient psychiatric care to a ‘healthier’ and ‘safer’ independent living within the community. She has a particular interest in identity and our sense of belonging. Her life experience as well as therapeutic work has shown her the value of a therapeutic relationship and the potential it has for healing and transformation.

David Tune: PhD. UKCP. C.Psychol. Af.BPS. David started his training as a Body Psychotherapist in New York in 1980 after taking his MA in Counselling there and then joining a ‘Bioenergetic’ training group for two years. On return to England he went on to do a full holistic psychotherapy training at the ‘Chiron Centre’ in London. He has been practising as a Psychotherapist for over 20 years and he is also a Chartered Counselling Psychologist (he was recently made an Associate Fellow of the BPS). After living abroad and in London for many years David returned to his home county of Yorkshire, where he runs a practise, lectures at university and supervises practitioners. He is especially interested in group work and has facilitated training and therapy groups for many years. He describes himself as an ‘Integrative Body Psychotherapist’, who integrates experience and training in Gestalt, and psychodynamic concepts into a body orientated approach. David’s particular area of interest is ‘the body-mind split’ and ways of healing it. His doctoral thesis was on the ‘therapeutic use of touch’ and he has published chapters related to body psychotherapy and integration in a number of books in the UK. He has recently had research into the phenomena of ‘presence in groups’ included in a book by the American Association of Gestalt Trainers and Therapists. This research was co-conducted with a colleague who is a musician and psychotherapist and focused on groups in counselling training and orchestras. David is also a member of the Society for Psychotherapy Research, and a regular presenter at national and international conferences.

Kate is a UKCP Registered Psychotherapist with a MA in Humanistic Person-Centred Psychotherapy.  She also has specific training in working with trauma, as well as with couples, and has a Diploma in Supervision.  Kate has been practicing for over 10 years and has experience of working in a variety of settings including: schools, university, GP surgery, and voluntary sector organisations.  She is currently in private practice working with individuals, couples, supervisees (group and individual), and has a specific interest in relationships and interpersonal dynamics.

Ryan Bennett-Clarke trained at SPTI and is a UKCP accredited Integrative Psychotherapist & Clinical Supervisor, and Mindfulness Teacher.  He has extensive experience of working as a therapist within the NHS and now works solely in Private Practice.  

Prior to training as a psychotherapist Ryan worked as a Forensic Community Psychiatric Nurse within a prison environment.  Ryan has specialist interest in the area of Psychodynamic theory and practice, and the topics of Unconscious Process, Envy, Greed, and Stalking.

Ryan enjoys travelling, spending time in nature, practicing yoga, meditation, and fitness.  He likes to read horror and fantasy novels, watches sci-fi and thriller movies, and enjoys spending time with his husband and two cats.  

Jill is a UKCP registered Psychotherapist with an MA Integrative Psychotherapy and Diploma in Clinical Supervision studied at the Minster Centre in London. Jill works in private practice in Stamford and has previous experience working in University, GP and IAPT services. Jill has a particular interest in trauma and how this is held in the body. Her initial training included a strong element of working with the body and she has continued to train in approaches to this work including EMDR, and the contemporary methods of energy psychotherapy including working with Chakras (AIT) and Meridians (Tapping).  Jill has a fascination with our relationship with nature and is currently exploring weaving this together with psychotherapy.

Lorraine is a UKCP registered Psychotherapist and Clinical Supervisor. Following her SPTI training, Lorraine worked in a variety of therapeutic settings including NHS Primary Care and Schools. She now predominantly works in private practice based in Leamington Spa, as co-director of The Clarendon Centre. Before therapy training Lorraine had various careers in both HR and Film/TV production. Lorraine is passionate about the application of psychotherapy theories to not just the individual but also to organisations and systems e.g., organisational anxiety or ‘splits’ within organisations or groups. More recently she has completed a diploma in Embodied Psychotherapy which draws on a range of techniques from the practices of body-oriented psychotherapy, somatic experiencing, and neuroscience. This complements her ongoing yoga practice. As a trainer, Lorraine looks to ‘de-mystify’ the role of therapist and encourage students to continually reflect on their relationship with self and others working towards becoming integrated practitioners. The aim being for therapists to find their own authentic style which comes from integration of self.

David Tune: PhD. UKCP. C.Psychol. Af.BPS. David started his training as a Body Psychotherapist in New York in 1980 after taking his MA in Counselling there and then joining a ‘Bioenergetic’ training group for two years. On return to England he went on to do a full holistic psychotherapy training at the ‘Chiron Centre’ in London. He has been practising as a Psychotherapist for over 20 years and he is also a Chartered Counselling Psychologist (he was recently made an Associate Fellow of the BPS). After living abroad and in London for many years David returned to his home county of Yorkshire, where he runs a practise, lectures at university and supervises practitioners. He is especially interested in group work and has facilitated training and therapy groups for many years. He describes himself as an ‘Integrative Body Psychotherapist’, who integrates experience and training in Gestalt, and psychodynamic concepts into a body orientated approach. David’s particular area of interest is ‘the body-mind split’ and ways of healing it. His doctoral thesis was on the ‘therapeutic use of touch’ and he has published chapters related to body psychotherapy and integration in a number of books in the UK. He has recently had research into the phenomena of ‘presence in groups’ included in a book by the American Association of Gestalt Trainers and Therapists. This research was co-conducted with a colleague who is a musician and psychotherapist and focused on groups in counselling training and orchestras. David is also a member of the Society for Psychotherapy Research, and a regular presenter at national and international conferences.

Julie is an Integrative Psychotherapist and Clinical Supervisor in private practice. Her therapy work mainly involves adults on an individual basis, often long-term. She has held contracts for clinical supervision in school, higher education and charitable settings. Although psychotherapy is her first love, she has a passion for teaching and learning and has been working as a Lecturer in Psychology and Counselling since 2010. This has involved supporting the learning of psychology undergraduate students and postgraduate counselling trainees into their Masters research stage. Before qualifying as a psychotherapist, her previous roles included work in the third sector and the NHS with young people and support in disability and mental health employment. She holds strong beliefs around social justice and the importance of accepting difference and uniqueness. These underpin both her therapy and teaching practices. Julie is UKCP accredited and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Sally is a UKCP registered Psychotherapist and Clinical Supervisor. She holds an MSc in Integrative Psychotherapy undertaken at SPTI. Sally spent 22 years working in the pharmaceutical industry in the areas of depression, pain and diabetes. Working closely with GP’s and hospital doctors and community psychiatric nurses, focusing on treatment regimes for mental health patients. Her work in this area and her understanding of the need for talking therapy led her to retrain as a psychotherapist.

Sally has worked with the mental health charity Mind in Northamptonshire, and the cancer charity Coping With Cancer in Leicestershire, where she did both palliative and survivorship therapy with cancer patients. In 2017 Sally began working as a bank Psychotherapist for the Practitioner Health Programme within the NHS, seeing doctors from all fields of medicine for short-term psychotherapy. She undertook further training in couples work at The Bowlby Centre in London following Sue Johnson’s model of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy. She also trained with The Infant Loss Foundation enabling her to work with couples on all aspects of baby loss. Her Diploma in Clinical Supervision was undertaken at SPTI.

Sally runs a busy therapy centre in Oakham, Rutland, where she is one of nine therapists in private practice who between them cover all aspects of therapy including children, adults, couples, family therapy and art and drama therapy. Sally is passionate about Integrative Psychotherapy and the training of new therapists and is keen to help bring well-trained therapists into this much needed profession.

In addition to working as part of the MSc Person-Centred team, Ambika also offers Academic Writing Skills Workshops to support students with their studies. Her special interests include relational depth research, diversity (within and with others), the embodied process and creatively exploring how the art of therapy can be translated into words. She has an MSc in Person-Centred Psychotherapy, and is a registered UKCP practitioner.

Rosemary has extensive training and experience as a counsellor, psychotherapist, supervisor and trainer and is trained in both Gestalt Psychotherapy and Integrative Psychotherapy, and has completed additional elements of training in Transactional Analysis, Behavioural Therapy and Client-Centred Counselling. She was previously course leader of the Person-Centred Counselling programme at The Sherwood Institute. In all of the different trainings Rosemary related to her interest in the interface between spirituality and psychology. She has been a tutor on the Counselling Programme at St. John’s Theological college in Nottingham and completed a second MA in Theology and Pastoral Care. In addition to psychotherapy training, Rosemary has trained as a supervisor and trainer and currently tutors on the Supervision training at SPTI. Prior to this Rosemary was a qualified Psychiatric Nurse and has more than twenty years experience working in the NHS, including a specialist role as a Nurse Therapist. She is accredited with the UKCP and runs a private practice working with individuals, couples and groups.

Sezal is a UKCP registered psychotherapist who currently works part time for a national charity providing couples and individual therapy and provides an IAPT contracted service for couples where depression is an underlying factor in their relational distress. Sezal has her own private practice where her special interest is working with clients experiencing sexual compulsivity with or without the consequences of illegal activity.  Sezal also works as a sessional practitioner for a children's charity dedicated to the prevention of child sexual abuse. Training is an area where Sezal has extensive expertise having delivered a variety of training packages to staff and senior managers in multi-disciplinary contexts extensively for more than 5 years in both forensic and third sector settings. In her previous employment prior to training as a psychotherapist, for over 10 years Sezal facilitated therapeutic groups in a forensic setting.

Tim has worked with children and families since 1984 and specifically in the field of sexual harm (sexual abuse, sexual assault, rape, children who sexually harm children and child sexual exploitation) since 1996. He is an advanced and certified Sensorimotor Psychotherapist, Enactive trauma therapist, registered Non-directive Play therapist, Filial therapist, EMDR Practitioner, Jungian and Integrative sandplay therapist, an ABE approved Social Worker and is currently studying Internal Family Systems Therapy.

Peter is a UKCP accredited Gestalt psychotherapist with prior qualifications in counselling and a Master’s Degree in Education. He has been a clinical teacher in psychiatry and a lecturer in Psychiatric Studies within the NHS. Peter brings his considerable experience of teaching a wide range of professional groups to his work at the Sherwood Institute where he is responsible for teaching the Mental Health workshop and co-ordinating the Mental Health Placement Programme. Until recently he ran the Masters in Gestalt psychotherapy programme at the Institute and was also a Tutor on the Diploma in Humanistic Psychotherapy programme. He has an interest in the synthesis of a variety of theoretical perspectives that may inform and support the practice of psychotherapy in the areas of mind, body and consciousness, with a particular interest in neurobiology. Peter approaches education from a holistic perspective and endeavours to realise the major tenets of humanistic psychology in his teaching practice. He runs a clinical practice working with individuals, couples and groups.