I am a medical psychotherapist, qualified as a doctor and psychiatrist as well as a psychotherapist.  Until 2011, I was working in the NHS running a unit for people with severe emotional and behavioural problems. I have written a number of academic papers and books over the years, most recently ‘Don’t Turn Away, stories of troubled minds in fractured times’ which is about my experience as a psychiatrist and psychotherapist.  You can find details of it here.

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Prior to that, I jointly authored a book, 'Intelligent Kindness', on the culture of health and social care and the conditions that nurture kindness and compassion.  Explore it here, if you're interested.

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Many years in the NHS have given me a great deal of experience working with people who feel very unsafe in themselves – people who have made suicide attempts in the past or developed self-destructive patterns of coping with feelings. I am aware that therapy works best when the patient feels safe enough to trust the therapist, not just with their story but with difficult thoughts and feelings as they arise. Such a relationship can take time to develop and requires a particular skill and sensitivity on the part of the therapist.

 

Working as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist, I try to tailor my approach to the individual I’m with and I’m comfortable with being pragmatic and practical, particularly around issues such as self- harm, eating disorders, alcohol/drug use and medically unexplained symptoms.

 

Most psychotherapists these days have an understanding that emotional problems can have biological and social components, as well as psychological; indeed, many people present with a mixture of psychological and physical symptoms. Having worked as a doctor, I am particularly well placed to think about the complex interaction between the psychological and physical – for example, discussing the pros and cons of medication, the psychological effects of a physical condition or whether a physical symptom warrants further medical investigation.

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For enquiries or to arrange an initial consultation call 07753 231656 or email your enquiries to pennycampling@gmail.com