Currently Chair of the Psychotherapy Section, Phil is a Chartered Psychologist (HCPC registered and BACP Snr Accred) with over 20 years of clinical experience. His research publications, conference presentations and lectures focus on unintended harm within psychotherapy (iatrogenesis), and how to support professionals deemed to have upset the delicate balance between good and less helpful practice. Phil is a passionate advocate for social activism and supporting marginalised groups, which includes therapists and trainees who experience difficulties – his philosophy is that by supporting therapists we support clients. To support his, Phil advises the Psychotherapy & Counselling Union on professional complaints.

Dr. Zenobia Nadirshaw is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with 44 years of clinical and management NHS experience of Health and Social Care Services in Learning Disabilities and Mental Health Care. She was recognised and given the MBE by Prince William in June 2019 at Buckingham Palace. Zenobia is also the Chair of several BPS Committees as well as treasurer of 2 other committees. She has worked in a variety of Health and Social Services settings – including projects/initiatives with a commitment to continuous improvements in psychological health care for clients and positive outcomes for their carers.

Zenobia has chaired several health and social services groups/committees providing advice to Health Authority Commissioners. She has also directed and led substantial organisational change at local and national levels within the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and also in the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the Division of Clinical Psychology (DCP) - influencing service delivery issues and impacting on the profession of Clinical Psychology and psychologist’s training and development of competencies to work effectively in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic British context.

This position is now vacant

Dr. Zenobia Nadirshaw is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with 44 years of clinical and management NHS experience of Health and Social Care Services in Learning Disabilities and Mental Health Care. She was recognised and given the MBE by Prince William in June 2019 at Buckingham Palace. Zenobia is also the Chair of several BPS Committees as well as treasurer of 2 other committees. She has worked in a variety of Health and Social Services settings – including projects/initiatives with a commitment to continuous improvements in psychological health care for clients and positive outcomes for their carers.

Zenobia has chaired several health and social services groups/committees providing advice to Health Authority Commissioners. She has also directed and led substantial organisational change at local and national levels within the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and also in the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the Division of Clinical Psychology (DCP) - influencing service delivery issues and impacting on the profession of Clinical Psychology and psychologist’s training and development of competencies to work effectively in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic British context.

Ghislaine is a psychologist, musician and writer. She’s got an MSc in Clinical Psychology and runs her own private practice, in which she offers therapy, coaching and counseling for a range of problems, including depression, anxiety and work-related issues. She is trained in, and often works with several forms of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Client Centered Therapy. She's also a (song)writer, musician and producer, and is currently working on her first studio-album.  What drew her into the section, is the wide range of topics and treatments discussed, which has given her in-depth knowledge which she uses in therapy.

Anu Sayal -Bennett is a Clinical Psychologist of a rather mature vintage. She flourishes best in Systemic, Psychodynamic and Energy vineyards. Her cellars include the NHS, Voluntary & Independent sectors. Anu still has a flavour for fighting all isms - mulled and delicate she is not!

Erica was Senior Executive in advertising and market research before becoming a research psychologist. As part of an EU project (1992), Erica was a Research Associate at Guy’s and St. Thomas’s NHS Mental Health Care Trust on the effectiveness of CAT and telemedicine in psychiatry. Erica authored “Hidden in Plain Sight” (Summer  2015) in the Psychotherapy Section Review, of which she is now the editor. Her current research topics include the psychological theory of premonitions and related anomalous experience.

Juan is a therapist and mindfulness teacher of Chinese origin and is currently completing a doctorate in counselling psychology and psychotherapy. She comes from a family with a background in Chinese medicine and originally trained in experimental psychology. She believes psychotherapy is an integration of art and science. Juan is passionate about promoting culturally-sensitive therapy in the community and race equality in mental healthcare services in the UK. Her doctorate research is exploring integrating Chinese Calligraphy Enhance Therapy as a complementary, culturally sensitive psychological approach to bridging the underrepresented Chinese clients in the UK. For more information about me please visit my website: https://juandutherapy.co.uk

Steve is a lecturer in Counselling on the Foundation degree at University College Weston, teaching Humanistic counselling theory and the Psychology and Sociology of mental health. I also act as visiting lecturer on other subjects; most recently on Evolutionary Psychology and Psychology and Climate change. As a past chair of the Psychotherapy Section, I’ve helped to arrange and present Continuing Professional Development courses and conferences, and contributed regularly to the section’s Review magazine. I am also a member of the Community Psychology section, which I believe is an important direction for the future of psychotherapy, and contribute actively to the South West branch, writing and presenting

Nina is in her 3rd year of training in Integrative Psychotherapy and enjoying her journey to becoming a therapist. Having studied in Romania and travelled to France as an Erasmus student, she gained insight into the workings of different schools of psychological thought, educational systems and issues that beginner psychologists are confronted with. Nina joined the Psychotherapy Committee in the hope that her experience would allow her to address some of the interests and concerns of psychology students and beginner therapists; she hopes to make a contribution by reaching out to those in need of a voice through the online face of the Psychotherapy Section. 

In 2005, I qualified as a Dental care professional at King’s college and have been working in the dental field since. Prior to this, I obtained a child Psychology degree (BSc) in my country. In 2012, I graduated from a Health Psychology MSc (Merit) and my research thesis was related to the prevention of gum disease, improvement of oral health, general health and behavioural change by applying practical Psychological Strategies. My research topic was ‘Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults’, which was published. I have experience of using CBT for adults with dental fear and anxiety, which enables me to encourage my patients to identify their thoughts in relation to dental treatment and the anxiety attached to it, using the therapy to overcome those fears. I am really interested in studying Psychology and applying psychological strategies to overcome and tackle the thoughts of discomfort. I joined the Psychotherapy Section’s committee after attending the psychotherapy and mindfulness workshop hosted by Professor Ho Law. This helped me realise that I would like to contribute to the BPS.

Nisha is a Practitioner Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Neuropsychologist (BPS Chartered and HCPC Registered) with over 20 years of clinical experience working in the NHS, private and independent sectors.  She is currently in independent practice.  Her clinical areas of work are mental health, psychological therapies, physical health, psychosomatic presentations, neuropsychological rehabilitation and functional neurological disorders.  She works therapeutically with people across the life span.  She is passionate about working with people with psychological problems arising from issues related to complex trauma and loss, employment and work related problems as well as identity, cognitive, family and personality changes following a brain injury, facilitating the rebuilding of self-identity, relational life and quality of life.  She also works as an Expert Witness for the Family, Criminal and Civil Law Courts. 

Professor Ho Law is an internationally renowned consultant in counselling and coaching psychology, psychotherapy, research & development with over 35 years’ experience. Ho has conducted 100s of training workshops in the UK and abroad (the East and West), in over 15 countries and 50 cities. He was one of the first equality advisors to the Assistant Permanent Under Secretary of State as a senior scientist in the UK Home Office (1988-2003), then senior lecturer at the University of East London (2009-2015) and Programme Advisor to Coaching at the University of Cambridge (2015-2016).

Ho is a Chartered Psychologist registered with the Health & Care Professions Council, a Registered Applied Psychology Practice Supervisor, Research Lead for the BPS Counselling Psychology Division (2018-2021), Founding Chair (2016-17) of the BPS East of England Branch; Chair (2014-15) of the  BPS Psychotherapy Section; Founding Member & Chair (2010-11) of the BPS Special Group in Coaching Psychology; Founding Director of the International Society for Coaching Psychology (ISfCP) and Empsy® Cambridge Coaching Psychology Group, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy; ISfCP; Associate Fellow of British Psychological Society (BPS) & Life Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine; Founding Director of the International Society for Coaching Psychology and Empsy® (Empowerment Psychology) Cambridge Coaching Psychology Group; Chair & Convenor of Mindfulness & Psychotherapy Workshops, which run quarterly each year in London.

Ho values diversity in people, respects their cultures and believes in equal opportunities for all. Ho is passionate about empowering people to develop their talents and achieve their full potential through psychological approaches. As a chartered and registered psychologist, he works in accordance to the professional code to uphold the standards of conduct, performance and ethics of the profession.

I am a 3rd year PhD student at the University of Glasgow investigating treatments for negative symptoms in psychosis. Serving as the representative for all postgraduate students who study psychology in any form (as all of these students can automatically be a member of PsyPAG!), I help bring forth considerations of students who are interested in psychotherapies. I would like to think that because of my own experience as a student researching psychotherapy, and the strong ethos of supporting students within the committee, we have worked hard to deliver conferences, resources, and communication channels that are increasingly accessible to students. I am committed to assisting the committee in its endeavours to support students in their postgraduate journey. Please share with me your views and ideas via email; [email protected] or twitter; @nicolamcguire

Martin Pollecoff is the elected Chair of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and a transpersonal therapist in private practice in Bayswater, London.

Martin considers himself an activist and entrepreneur of Psychotherapy. His aim in joining the BPS Psychotherapy Section is to create strong bonds within our profession and it is all part  of a wish to bring together all the  professions of Mental, Emotional and Spiritual Health – the Healing Arts. Martin holds a Masters in Change Agent Skills and Strategies from Surrey University  and a Masters in Psychotherapy from Metanoia/Middlesex.   He has been the Chair of the Minster Centre and the Chair of the Association of Humanistic Psychology.

In his previous life he was a management consultant and cut his teeth in Advertising and Marketing.   Martin's first introduction to Humanistic Psychology was in Exegesis in 1977.