Liz Blakey:  MSc Person Centred Psychotherapy & Counselling, BSc (Hons) Social Sciences, UKCP Reg, MBACP
I am a practising psychotherapist with over 10 years experience of working in mental health services. Prior to completing my qualifications, I worked for 7 years in an NHS community personality disorder service, where it was my job to engage and support clients coming into the service, I also co- developed and delivered training to around 500 health and social care professionals on understanding personality disorder.
Since 2010 I have worked as an honorary psychotherapist at the Centre for Trauma Resilience and Growth, a partnership between Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Nottingham. With specialist interests in early life and attachment trauma, traumatic bereavement and resilience building.
I currently also work across a number of fields including private clinical practice, NHS staff counselling, supervision, research and freelance training.
Drawing on personal and professional experience of self harm, it is my hope that training and education reduces the stigma around not only self harm, but mental health more generally. I believe that by encouraging communication and dialogue we can better understand the needs of those in distress, meeting them ‘where they are at’ and enabling ourselves to build confidence in working with others.