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Clinical Training Staff

Andrew Balfour

Chief Executive Officer, Psychoanalytic Programme Lead and Head of Trainings
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Meet Andrew Balfour

Biography

Andrew Balfour is Chief Executive of Tavistock Relationships. He originally trained as a clinical psychologist at University College London and then as an Adult Psychotherapist at the Tavistock & Portman NHS Trust, whilst in a staff post there. He subsequently trained as a Couple Psychotherapist at Tavistock Relationships, where for more than 10 years he was Clinical Director before becoming Chief Executive in 2016. He has many years’ experience of working psychotherapeutically with couples, developing new projects and conducting research. He has published numerous papers in the field and has taught and lectured widely both in Britain and abroad. His most recent book is; ‘Engaging Couples - New Directions in Therapeutic Work with Families’. Edited by Andrew Balfour, Christopher Clulow, and Kate Thompson. (Routledge, 2019).

Andrew Davidson

Head Programme Lead for Diploma in Psychosexual Therapy
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Meet Andrew Davidson

Andrew Davidson
Head Programme Lead for Diploma in Psychosexual Therapy

Training

Joint Lead for the Psychosexual Diploma

Biography

Andrew is a psychosexual and relationship psychotherapist and has worked with couples for over 20 years. He is registered with the College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists (COSRT) and the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Andrew is jointly responsible for the Diploma in Psychosexual Therapy and teaches on the Psychosexual Certificate in Psychosexual Studies. Andrew originally completed his clinical training at Relate. He also worked for Relate National for several years, where he managed and coordinated the clinical training. In 2013, he completed an MA in Relationship Therapy at the Relate Institute. He then furthered his skill set by completing an MSc in Psychosexual and Relationship Therapy in 2018 at Tavistock Relationships. He also worked at an NHS Psychosexual Service in Bedford and has continued his clinical work as a visiting clinician at TR. Andrew has also worked in the corporate world designing psychological and educational training programmes for various blue chips organisations. Some of these companies include British Airways, Heathrow Airport, Zurich Insurance, Network Rail, BT, and BP, to name but a few. Andrew has been in private practice since moving to a small town near Milton Keynes in 2013. He has a particular interest in the effects of male low sexual desire on couple relationships.

Soulmaz Bashirinia:

Psychodynamic Couple and Individual Therapist and Clinical Training Lead
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Meet Soulmaz Bashirinia:

Soulmaz Bashirinia:
Psychodynamic Couple and Individual Therapist and Clinical Training Lead

Biography

Are you tired of repeating old patterns? Do you find that relationships are hard work? Are you sick of feeling stuck and unhappy? Does change feel frightening? Whether you are taking this step alone or together with your partner, Soulmaz is here to help. She is Tavistock’s trilingual therapist, working in English, Farsi (Persian) and Swedish. She provides space for you to mention your concerns, and to think together about your situation, being that third person who helps to untangle things. In therapy you will consider your background(s), including family and relationship histories, and work together to make the changes you need. Some areas where Soulmaz has worked include loneliness, anxiety, PTSD and nightmares, low mood, stress, sex and desire, open relations and dealing with feelings of jealousy. She helps couples to rediscover each other and navigate the challenges of everyday life. Whatever the situation, Soulmaz will create an environment of trust and safety informed by her own experiences of feeling out of place. Registrations and qualifications: Postgraduate Diploma and a Masters in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy from Tavistock Relationships; Diploma in systemic therapy (intermediate level); Bachelor of science in social work. Studying psychoanalytic psychotherapy at Tavistock and Portman (NHS); Registered member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (MBACP).

Bethsheba McGill

Clinical and Training Lead, Seminar Leader and Psychodynamic Psychotherapist
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Meet Bethsheba McGill

Bethsheba McGill
Clinical and Training Lead, Seminar Leader and Psychodynamic Psychotherapist

Biography

Bethsheba McGill is a couple and individual psychodynamic counsellor and psychotherapist. She is also a seminar leader on the Foundation Certificate and a tutor on the Psychodynamic training. Bethsheba has many years of experience working in Higher Education, including supporting students with mental health and autism spectrum conditions. In her clinical work, Bethsheba creates a space where the previously uninvited and disavowed parts of the self can find a voice, which can foster a greater feeling of wholeness, both within the self and in relationships with others. Working collaboratively with her clients, Bethsheba helps couples think about their inner worlds, how these impact on one another, and on the relationship they create together. In addition to her work in TR's clinical service, Bethsheba also sees couples and individuals in her private practice in Oxford. Training: MA in Couple and Individual Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy from Tavistock Relationships and the University of East London, and BSc (Hons) Psychology. Membership: British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the Tavistock Relationships Association for Psychotherapists and Counsellors (TRAPC). Bethsheba is an Honorary Fellow at Birkbeck College, University of London.