COUNSELLING FACULTY
MATT MARTYS MA, MBACP (ACCRED), HCPC, BAAT
Certificate in Humanistic Counselling Skills (Saturday / weekends) tutor
Matt’s career as a therapist started in 1992, in the NHS in East London. Since then, he has been a therapist in a range of settings, mostly within the NHS, charities and in education.
He has been a member of faculty at the Gestalt Centre since 2008, teaching the Certificate in Humanistic Counselling Skills (weekend format) and on the Counselling Diploma.
His training has been in psychodynamic, Jungian and Gestalt approaches and he holds qualifications in counselling, psychotherapy and supervision.
In his private practice, Matt works with individuals, couples and groups, as well as providing clinical supervision to counsellors and psychotherapists. As a qualified Art Psychotherapist, he is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council
Sangita Woods-McConville MA, UKCP
Certificate in Humanistic Counselling Skills tutor (Thursday evening)
Sangita Woods-McConville is UKCP Registered and has over 15 years’ experience as a counsellor and psychotherapist. Sangita’s experience is broad, recently including the role of Lead Counsellor at an HE college. Currently she works for a leading speech and drama college, where she offers therapy and supervision.
ROB FRENCH BA, PGCE, MA, UKCP
Certificate in Humanistic Counselling Skills tutor (Friday mornings)
Rob’s background is in design and making. Originally a cabinetmaker, he then taught design, technology, and construction in secondary schools for 9 years. Now a therapist for over 15 years’, he runs a practice alongside tutoring. Rob sees teaching, learning, and counselling as collaborative creative processes. He supports students to build on previous life experience and learn new skills in an enjoyable and vibrant learning environment. To include visual and kinaesthetic learners, Rob uses props, visual aids, and experiential exercises alongside traditional methods of teaching and learning.
Outside work, Rob loves learning, nature, making things, being with people, and playing the ukelele badly.
Patrizia vadala, BA (Honours), MBACP
Certificate in Humanistic Counselling Skills tutor (Wednesday evenings)
Patrizia Vadalà BA (Honours), MBACP is a BACP registered Gestalt-based Integrative Counsellor and Clinical Supervisor with a diverse background, particularly in areas such as gender studies, linguistics, and psychoethnology. She has experience in teaching counselling and Gestalt Therapy theory at diploma level in an educational environment in SW London. She is part of the The Gestalt Centre as a tutor for the Certificate in Humanistic Counselling programme.
Patrizia firmly believes that the true understanding of any theory can only be achieved through experiential learning. Her teaching approach focuses on bringing theory to life through engaging experiential exercises and fostering open, honest discussions with her students.
JO SMALL MBACP (ACCRED)
Diploma in Counselling tutor, Year 1 (Mondays)
Jo is a Gestalt Psychotherapist (MBACP accred) with over 10 years’ experience working with children, adolescents and adults, both in private practice and educational settings. She is also a level 6/7 trained Clinical Supervisor. Jo has been managing a counselling project within a challenging inner city secondary school for several years, training and supervising trainee placement counsellors. Jo trained at The Gestalt Centre and has been teaching Gestalt theory and counselling skills on a Diploma course, in a diverse SW London educational setting.
Nika Jelendorf, mbacp, msc, ukcp
Diploma in Counselling tutor, Year 1 (Thursdays)
Nika has a BA degree in psychology from the University of Zagreb and has qualified as a Gestalt psychotherapist and psychotherapeutic counsellor at Metanoia Institute.
She holds additional qualifications in psychosexual work and working with C-PTSD.
Before training in Gestalt, she spent over a decade teaching public speaking and human rights advocacy internationally.
DANNY BOYLE BA (HONS) UKCP
director of counselling
Diploma in Counselling tutor, Year 2 (Mondays)
Danny trained with the Gestalt Centre and is an experienced UKCP registered psychotherapist and supervisor. He has a private practice in Hertfordshire. Danny has a BA Hons in Education and Experiential learning and a background in NHS CAMHs (tier 4) services in therapeutic community and mental health projects and psychodrama groups. He is head of counselling and core tutor at the Gestalt Centre. Danny is the therapy scheme and placement coordinator for the Gestalt Centre liaising with existing and potential placement organisations and sending regular bulletins to our students.
PETER TEIGEN BSC (HONS) PSYCHOLOGY, MA GESTALT PSYCHOTHERAPY, UKCP
Diploma in Counselling tutor, Year 2 (Thursdays)
Peter has a background in the creative arts. After gaining his degree in psychology, he qualified as a group and individual psychotherapist at the Gestalt Centre.
He has many years’ experience in private practice and is also a member of the British Psychological Society.
PSYCHOTHERAPY FACULTY
Marc williams, UKCP
Diploma in Professional Development tutor, Year 1 Psychotherapy
Marc Williams MA UKCP is an individual and group Gestalt Psychotherapist, Trainer and Tutor with over twenty-five years’ therapeutic experience He believes in the power of personal development groups, valuing the unique growth opportunities that come from shared experiences and interpersonal dynamics within a group setting.
Marc is UKCP and BACP registered and has a private practice in Brighton and London. As well as being tutor for the Diploma in Professional Development, Marc is an associate lecturer on the BA (Hons) Humanistic Counselling at Chichester University.
Dr Zoe Boden- stuart
Post Graduate Certificate in Gestalt Therapy tutor, Year 2 Psychotherapy
Suzanne Worrica, ukcp
Post Graduate Diploma in Gestalt Therapy tutor, Year 3 Psychotherapy
Suzanne Worrica is a Gestalt therapist, Group facilitator & Trainer. Suzanne runs a private practice, leads the Y3 Diploma course at the Gestalt Centre, and offers CPD to therapy training and voluntary sector organisations. She practices and researches relational, body-oriented Gestalt in nature-based settings. Suzanne has prior experience in the fields of mental health and social justice, with anti-oppressive practice running through all her work.
ADAM KINCEL PHD, MA, UKCP
Adam is a psychotherapist and supervisor with over 10 years’ experience. In addition to teaching at the Gestalt Centre, he also teaches internationally, particularly
in Eastern Europe and the USA. He is particularly interested in a relational approach and therapeutic work through the body. His doctoral research examined the
role of social and sexual identity in the therapeutic process.
URTZI CRISTOBAL, BSC PSYCHOLOGY, MA UKCP MBACP (ACCRED)
Masters in Gestalt Therapy tutor, Year 4 Psychotherapy
Urtzi is a psychotherapist and supervisor as well as our Masters and Psychotherapy Practitioners Diploma tutor. He worked for 11 years at a hospice where he trained and managed the staff as well as offering individual and group therapy for the terminally ill, their families and bereaved relatives. Urtzi also runs several of our short course programs throughout the year.
CARMEN JOANNE ABLACK, MSC PGDIP PSYCHOTHERAPY MIHM(SEN) UKCP
director of psychotherapy
Masters & Psychotherapy Practitioner Diploma tutor, Years 4 & 5
Carmen is an accredited Integrative Body and Gestalt Psychotherapist, Supervisor and Trainer (UKCP) and (EABP), working with individuals, groups, couples & organisations. A trained mediator and coach, teaching in the UK and abroad, her clinical and teaching experience includes integrative & relational approaches, gestalt body psychotherapy, intercultural, sexual and diversity work, supporting creativity & performance, somatic trauma therapy & transpersonal approaches in the psychological therapies. A keynote speaker, workshop leader and published author on psychotherapy theory, contemporary practice, regulation, and governance. Carmen, is an Honorary Fellow of the UKCP awarded 2010, President of the (EABP) European Association of Body Psychotherapists (2016-2023), and a member of UKAGP. She is a founder member of the Black, African and Asian Therapy Network (BAATN).
gestalt centre advisors
GAIE HOUSTON MA (OXFORD) UKCP
EMERITA ADVISOR
Gaie Houston is Emerita Advisor to the Gestalt Centre London. She first trained in the US and has been teaching Gestalt and supervising since 1974. She has written a number of books on Gestalt, Brief work, Groups, Supervision and Integrative Therapy. She has written a number of plays, mostly for radio. She currently supervises senior trainees at the Gestalt Centre and works as a trainer in several countries outside the UK.
jane puddy ukcp
Jane Puddy has a background in Drama Therapy, Family Therapy and Group Analysis. She works in a variety of social work, psychiatric and forensic settings, contributing to the development of Counselling and Psychotherapy courses internationally. She is also an Organisational Consultant.
Her relationship with the Gestalt Centre spans 33 years so far during which time she has been both a Director and Faculty member.
Jane also holds the title of Honorary Psychotherapist for the Centre for Psychotherapy and Human Rights.
Toni gilligan BSc, M. Phil, UKCP
Ethics chair and senior tutor
Former Director of Psychotherapy Training at The Gestalt Centre. Her practice includes psychotherapy, supervision, training and consultancy. She believes GTT is about social activism as well as psychotherapy and seeks to apply this to issues of diversity, social justice and the environment. She sings and finds singing can be a surprising route to awareness and growth. Originally a clinical psychologist in the NHS and voluntary sectors, she runs training in Motivational Interviewing, and workshops in ‘Finding Your Voice’. She is a past president of IAAGT.
VISITING TUTORS for TRAINING QUALIFICATIONS AND SHORT COURSES LEADERS
Visiting leaders are regularly invited to work in all years of the training. This gives trainees a wide experience of the theoretical understanding and practice of Gestalt and related approaches.
KIRATH GHATAORA MSc., BSc (hons)., UKCP
Kirath is an experienced Integrative Psychotherapist working with adult individuals and groups, within private practice and non-profit settings, whilst also working creatively in community settings with young people. They have further roles as a supervisor, tutor, trainer, director, consultant and group facilitator.
They have over 18 years experience within health, social care, community, education and arts sectors in various roles. They specialise in trauma, identity, and embodied working. They hold an integrated lens of mind-body-spirit, which is supported through a Gestalt core modality, clinical and biological knowledge and practice, holistic indigenous wisdom and practices, and local and global narratives. This makes for a deeply ethical, relational-dialogic, vibrant, robust and authentic life-practice, that is rooted in black-trans-feminism, anti-oppression, pro-justice, inclusivity, community, and holistic evidence and sustainability.
MICHAEL ELLIS MA UKCP
Michael is a psychotherapist, trainer, supervisor and consultant with over thirty years of experience. He has a background in social work and youth work including therapeutic work with families and children. He also has extensive experience of training design and delivery, predominantly in the public and voluntary sector. His MA is in organisational consultancy from the Tavistock and he works with teams and organisations in the health service as well as the private sector and with voluntary agencies. He has been involved with the Gestalt Centre for over 30 years, as a faculty member and for 15 years as Managing Director. He is now a visiting tutor and runs the Groupwork programmes. Whilst continuing his psychotherapy, counselling and supervision practice he also provides training in groupwork for different agencies and facilitates groups for community leaders.
CHRISTINA SCHUIERER
Christina Schuierer is an OD consultant and trainer with 20 years’ experience of working with public and private organisations worldwide. She has helped development organisations and teams to become more successful in designing and implementing projects on economic development, environmental protection and organisational sustainability and has worked in more than 50 countries in Europe, Africa and Asia.
She is managing a small consulting company based in Berlin, teaches on the faculty of international universities and institutes and is responsible for staff care at the German headquarters of Médecins Sans Frontières. Christina applies the Gestalt Approach to consulting, training, coaching and therapy.
ANGELIKA WIENRICH BA
Angelika Wienrich BA is a Gestalt based integrative Psychotherapist and supervisor with a background in research and Adult education. She has been teaching counselling and Gestalt since 1990 and is now a visiting tutor for the Gestalt Centre’s BACP accredited Diploma in Counselling. She runs our Gestalt in Action and Free Fall – Creative Writing as Therapy weekends. She writes and was a founder member of Playback South for 20 years.
She was a staff counsellor at Hammersmith hospital for 3 years and has been working in private practice since 1988. As well working with individuals, couples and groups, recognising the need for support and community her work has evolved to include mentoring for a broad spectrum of practitioners in ongoing groups.
PIOTR MIERKOWSKI MA DIP PSYCH UKCP
Piotr is a psychotherapist, supervisor and trainer with thirty years of clinical experience in the NHS, voluntary sector and private practice. His background is in psychology and neuroscience. He has considerable training in body therapy, couples therapy and many years’ experience of working with gender, sexuality and relationship diverse clients. Graduate of the Gestalt Centre London and its former board member, he is now a visiting tutor delivering amongst others the advanced clinical seminars for students of the Practitioner Programme. In addition to his private practice in London, he has been actively involved in the work of many different Gestalt organisations and training institutes in the UK and abroad. As a clinician working mostly in the second language, Piotr is interested in the reverberations of cultural and linguistic cross-cultural phenomena and how they impact the therapeutic process. He has translated the seminal text of Gestalt therapy into Polish.
RICHARD SPENCE MA (OXON) MSC UKCP
Richard works globally as an Executive and Team Coach with organisations ranging from Engineering to Advertising and from corporate giants to fast-growing start-ups. He is a coaching supervisor for individuals and groups and teaches systemic Constellation work. Richard is also a Gestalt psychotherapist in private practice, working with people facing challenges including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, addiction, bullying, bereavement, trauma and chronic suicidality. As a volunteer, Richard was the first Chair of Trustees for suicide charity ‘The Listening Place’ and is now on their clinical advisory panel. He is a trustee for ‘The Wren Project’, the only charity to provide psychological support to people across the full range of auto-immune diseases, was a Samaritan for fifteen years and a former co-director of Central London Samaritans. Previously, Richard had a long creative career as a BAFTA-winning film and television director in the UK and USA.
sachiko kishi MA,UKCP MB ACP
Sachiko is a UKCP and BACP registered Gestalt psychotherapist, supervisor, and trainer. Her background is in cross-cultural arts and media consultancy where she was involved in examining international social and cultural trends. Later, she shifted focus to working in innovative approaches to mental health in the community and in higher education. She has worked for nearly 25 years with groups, in the private and public sectors and with third sector organisations. Formally a faculty member of the Gestalt Centre, she believes that the Gestalt holistic model can offer valuable ideas for working and living more creatively in our increasingly complex world.
NATSU HATTORI, DPHIL (OXON) MA UKCP
Natsu is a Gestalt psychotherapist working with individuals, couples and groups in private practice, a well as offering clinical supervision. In her academic background, she gained a DPhil from Oxford and was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Wellcome Institute. She has been a facilitator and co-facilitator of groups on race and inclusion. Natsu also works as a volunteer counsellor with NHS frontline staff.
Dora Darvasi MA
Carlo Draghi MA
Carlo is a UKCP accredited Gestalt psychotherapist, an EMCC accredited coach, and a consultant. Prior to this, Carlo worked for 18 years in the finance industry managing high-performing teams. Today, he integrates his corporate background, coaching and therapy training to support individuals, leaders, and teams to unlock potential, enhance performance, and navigate personal and professional growth. Carlo also holds an MA in Gestalt Psychotherapy, an MSc in Organisational Psychology, and a BSc in Economics.
Faiza Khokhar CPsychol MA MSc
Faiza Khokhar is a Chartered Occupational Psychologist, Coaching Psychologist and UKCP-registered Gestalt Psychotherapist with over 25 years’ experience working at the intersection of organisational development, leadership and psychology. She has partnered with FTSE 100 companies, global organisations, executive and leadership teams to support organisational development, culture change, leadership and team effectiveness. As a qualified Gestalt psychotherapist, Faiza brings together extensive organisational experience with a relational and experiential approach to learning. Alongside her organisational work, Faiza maintains her psychotherapy practice working with individuals, couples and groups.
MANAGEMENT
ELINA STAMOU MA, MSA
Gestalt Centre Chief Executive
Leading the organisational management of the Gestalt Centre, Elina has over 25 years’ experience working with organisations in the fields of human rights and EDI, mental health, children and young people, homelessness and education. Elina’s experience is in the areas of strategic and operational leadership, organisational growth, change and innovation, business development and collaborative human-centric cultures that support impactful and meaningful practice. Elina is also an Executive Coach, supporting executives and teams to lead fulfilling and thriving lives at work.
Elina holds BA Honors In Economics and Business (Athens University of Economics and Business, Greece), MA in International Political Economy (University of Warwick, UK), MA in Social Anthropology of Development (SOAS, London) and Executive Coaching Diploma (Academy of Executive Coaching, London). Elina is a member of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations and the Association for Coaching.
clare murphy BA (hons)
Gestalt Centre Executive Centre Manager
Norma Clarke BA (Hons)
Finance Manager, 17 years' experience working in the education sector.
