Who We Are

Dr Massimo Bernini

Dr Massimo Bernini is a full time Consultant in General Adult Psychiatry at the Central Middlesex Hospital, CNWL (Central and North West London) Foundation Trust, where he has held a substantive post since 1998.

 

During his 12 years experience in the UK, he has developed a specialist interest in mood disorder and bipolar affective disorder, as well as Adult ADHD (Attentive Deficit Hyperactive Disorder).

 

He offers comprehensive assessments in clinical psychiatry and provides medico-legal assistance to solicitors, barristers and the Court, for which he has had training as an expert witness.

 

Dr Bernini can conduct assessments in Italian and English and understands and speaks Spanish. Consultations can be provided within a week of the request. He consults in the evenings after 6 pm and on Saturday mornings.

 

Dr Bernini obtained his medical degree in 1991 and his specialty in 1996, both from the University of Verona. His residency was in one of the most prestigious psychiatric community services in Italy and he also spent six months training in Washington DC, at the Department of Addictions, Victims and Mental Health Services.

 

After completing his residency, he moved to London to work in the out-of-hours team at St Mary's Hospital until 1997 when he took a consultant position at the Central Middlesex Hospital, now CNWL Trust.

 

During his training he gained psychotherapeutic experience that allowed him to become a Member of the Specialist Register of Psychotherapy, Italy.

Barbara Faden

Barbara Faden is a Psychodynamic Counsellor and Psychotherapist. She works with individuals on issues such as self-esteem, anxiety, identity, relationship problems and work-related difficulties. Barbara is particularly interested in psychosomatic illnesses and the mind-body-spirit connection. She has considerable experience working with people in the creative fields including writers, artists and actors.

 

Her clinical approach lies in helping patients gain greater self-awareness in order to make more appropriate life choices and to help them live more fully. This involves uncovering the deeper roots of troublesome behaviours; exploring experiences, emotions and patterns of relating that may be contributing to present difficulties. These patterns are hard to recognise or change on one's own, but can be identified and worked on together in the therapeutic relationship.

 

Barbara qualified as both a Psychodynamic Counsellor and Psychodynamic Psychotherapist at WPF Therapy. She has an MA in Literature from the University of London. She is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), registered as a psychotherapist by the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and a full member of the Foundation for Psychotherapy and Counselling (FPC), adhering to their code of ethics.

 

She has worked for an Employee Assistance Programme as well as with people recovering from alcoholism and addictions. Prior to becoming a Psychotherapist, Barbara had a successful career as a senior manager in a high-pressured creative industry and is well aware of the stresses and strains of the workplace.

Lesley MacKinnon

Lesley MacKinnon is a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor. Her counselling approach is psychodynamic. The psychodynamic method is a reflective approach, in which Lesley and her client work together to think about the client's thoughts, feelings, experiences and relationships. An attempt is made to bring previously unconscious processes, which may have been driving the client's behaviour and creating conflict, into conscious awareness. Links will be made between the client's past experiences and his or her current circumstances. This work takes place within a supportive, non-judgemental and empathic atmosphere. And whilst the work can be deep and challenging, Lesley is sensitive to the need for each client to work at his or her own pace.

 

Lesley's first degree was in philosophy, which she studied at Oxford University. This was the start of her interest in the mind, which evolved in time into an interest in psychotherapy. She has worked in a variety of roles within a selection of psychiatric organisations, including MIND and the NHS. She has also worked as a bereavement counsellor with Cruse Bereavement Care before embarking on her psychodynamic training at WPF Therapy. WPF Therapy is widely considered to be one of the best training organisations in the UK.

 

Lesley is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and is registered with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). Her professional body is the Foundation for Psychotherapy and Counselling (FPC) and she works in accordance with the FPC code of ethics and practice.

Andy Metcalf

Andy Metcalf trained as a counselor at Highgate Counselling Centre . He has since done further training at WPF Therapy. He is a professional member of the BACP and the FPC, and is committed to abiding by the ethics of these organisations. He is also a member of the International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy.

 

Andy's training has enabled him to work in a variety of ways with clients. He believes that it benefits each client if the therapy can evolve in such a way to suit each individual client. To that end, Andy draws upon various therapy traditions that include: psychoanalytic practice, image based work, mindfulness practices.

 

Andy has a long standing engagement with the emotional issues that effect men, co-editing the book: The Sexuality of Men (Pluto Press). He also has a special interest in difficult issues that arise at work, and presently also works as an organizational consultant in Local Authorities in London. An account of one project in a local authority has been published in the journal Attachment. Andy also has an interest in working with clients with relationship issues.

Lisa Vaughan

Lisa Vaughan offers brief and longer-term psychotherapeutic counselling for adults dealing with a wide range of emotional issues, including depression and anxiety, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, loss and trauma. The counselling process is collaborative and tailored to individual needs – clients can discuss past experiences, current challenges or hopes for the future.

 

Lisa works from a psychodynamic and psychoanalytic perspective, based on the principal that problems and distress in the present may be related to early experiences. Exploring emotional difficulties in this way can increase self-awareness and open up opportunities for living a fuller, more satisfying life. Lisa also trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and integrates CBT techniques into her approach.

 

Lisa's professional qualifications include an Advanced Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling from WPF Therapy, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Studies from Roehampton University, and a WPF Post-Qualifying Certificate in CBT Skills. Her training institution and courses were all BACP- and UKCP- accredited.

 

Lisa is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and a registered Psychotherapeutic Counsellor with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). She is also a full member of the Foundation for Psychotherapy and Counselling (FPC). She works to the strict ethical codes and professional standards required by these organisations.

 

In addition to her private practice, Lisa works in the National Health Service as a counsellor at Longrove NHS Surgery, High Barnet.