Posted on: 16 April 2025
The psychotherapy conference took place on 1 April at the Wellcome collection.
The conference was attended by over 100 NHS Psychotherapists, inclusive of Adult, Child and Adolescent, Counselling, Creative Arts and Systemic Therapists
The conference began with staff networking followed by a series of presentations by Anna Maratos, Head of Psychotherapy at CNWL and Co-Chair of the Conference, Nick Green, Chief People Officer and Dr Ryan Kemp, Director of Therapies at CNWL who shared their thoughts and vision for the future of Psychotherapy within the Trust.
Opening remarks: “How do we reach particular groups?” what is our perspective, perception and response to events that impact our communities?
Psychotherapy somehow, has been a hidden profession and it is essential that we move towards being known and seen in line with other psychological professions.
This year’s theme psychotherapy: A New Lens was coined by Dr Kenisha Jackson, Senior Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist at CNWL, Conference Co-Chair and author of Research “How do we understand the underrepresentation of Black Children and Families Accessing CAMHS” expressed her passion to support professionals to look within and consider the dynamics at play within teams that transcends to the communities we aim to engage – she says it is imperative that we adjust our lens for a clearer and more inclusive approach to our offer.
Keynote speaker highlights
Dr Farhad Dalal, Psychotherapist invited us to consider whether we were willing to risk deviating from what has become the ‘norm’ in the profession to meet more diverse groups while ensuring that we do not distort or dilute our therapeutic practice.
Dr Selone Ajewole, Educational and Child Psychologist and Integrative Psychotherapist took us on a powerful journey of the lived experience of the Black child in education, Black professionals in training and the lived experience of Black people accessing personal therapy.
Hendrix Hammond Consultant Systemic Psychotherapist and Leadership Development Coach highlighted that Leaders often have less space to do the thinking that is required in the field in which we work in; it was agreed that we need to create more collaborative and curious spaces for growth.
Dr Alexandra De Rementeria
Encouraged delegates to consider how, “since we see, what we see, through the prism of our own experiences – can we turn our ‘good eye’ to groups that have been marginalised and at times seen as ‘bad’ that we might ‘see’ something different?
Lastly we want to acknowledge and say special thanks to the conference’s scientific planning committee Aleisha Prendergast, Akum Uwahemu, Paul Hann and Gabriella Cohen who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, leading up to the event and also on the day to make the event a huge success.