Who We Are

Dr Massimo Bernini

Dr Bernini is only able to make appointments or answer queries by email - m.bernini@sky.com - you can also contact him through his secretary - schultz@btinternet.com. It is not possible to make an appointment with or contact Dr Bernini by calling the phone number for Swiss Cottage Psychotherapy.

 

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.

 

You can find out more about counselling or psychotherapy with Barbara by looking at www.counsellingandpsychotherapy.net

Patrick Gannon

Patrick studied a BA (Hons) in Psychology/Philosophy at All Hallows College, Dublin (1996) and also holds an MSc in Family Counselling from Iona College, New York (2000). In 2003, Patrick completed a PG Diploma in Gestalt Psychotherapy at the Dublin Institute of Gestalt Therapy. He is a Registered Supervisor for the Diploma in Counselling Course at the Gestalt Centre, London and for the Bsc Integrative Counselling Course at Roehampton University.

 

With 11 years experience working as a qualified psychotherapist, Patrick is a Senior Accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

 

For three years, Patrick specialised in working with Complex PTSD/BPD with adult survivors of institutionalised abuse in Ireland. From May 2005 to May 2008, he practiced full-time as an Individual and Group Psychotherapist at the Capio Nightingale Hospital, London. Here he worked with patients presenting with a diagnosis of depression, anxiety disorder, personality disorder, OCD, addiction and other co-morbid conditions.

 

As a Gestalt/Relational Psychotherapist Patrick emphasises the use of “Self” in the client-therapist relationship. In this model, Patrick recognises the therapist as a participant in a here and now relationship. The goal is to shift the relationship with support, out of the familiar and into what is new and unfamiliar. In other words, support change.

 

Patrick also draws on group analytic theory and relational/attachment based psychoanalytic thinking to inform his practice. He has completed both the Introductory Year and Intermediate Year at the Institute of Group Analysis, London.

 

Both as a Psychotherapist and Supervisor, he abides by the code of ethics of the BACP.

 

Patrick is currently not taking referrals for individual psychotherapy, but does invite referrals for Couples Therapy and individuals seeking Supervision. For further information, please call 0207 372 4763.

Lesley MacKinnon

Lesley MacKinnon is a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist and Counsellor. 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 registered with the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) and is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Her professional body is the Foundation for Psychotherapy and Counselling (FPC) and she works in accordance with the FPC code of ethics and practice.

 

If you would like further information about Lesley or her practice, please visit her website at www.nwlondoncounselling.co.uk

Andy Metcalf

All of us experience emotional challenges at some points in our lives, and people often look for help when facing difficult feelings or life situations.
As a qualified and experienced psychotherapist and counsellor, I can help you explore the issues you face via psychotherapy or counselling.

 

I work with both individuals and couples whose relationship is in trouble.

 

If you are experiencing stress, depression, anxiety or feel unable to relax, or if you feel anxious whenever you mix socially with people, you might find therapy with mindfulness sessions, which combine counselling with meditation, would work best for you. You can find out more about mindfulness at my website: andymetcalftherapynw6.co.uk.

 

Whichever you choose, I will meet you one-to-one in a safe, confidential environment, where you can begin to examine your life, without being criticised or judged.

 

Psychotherapy involves working with a therapist to help you explore and gain insight into troubling or repeating patterns in your life.

 

It can be a creative, imaginative and integrating experience which works by unlocking doors to your inner self – your psyche. By helping people learn about the underlying, unconscious motivations behind their own actions, it can help them make dramatic changes in their lives.

 

Psychotherapy can be a good choice for people who feel stuck, or who want to develop themselves. It can also help people who have
suffered loss, trouble with relationships, or who aren’t feeling very real in themselves. It is a fluid, organic process that can take place over a short or long timeframe.

 

My approach to therapy

My therapeutic approach derives from my belief that each individual coming into therapy requires a specific and individually tailored way of working. Since everyone is different, different approaches are necessary to enable us to achieve the kinds of changes we want in our lives.

 

My training background allows me to take a pluralistic approach to working with clients – using various strands of psychoanalytic thinking, as well as working with mindfulness, alongside cognition and behaviour.

 

I will always work in an open, respectful and exploratory way, helping you to work through the various dimensions of the issues, the thoughts and feelings that you bring to therapy.

 

My approach will often help you to discover and grasp the less obvious, unconscious facets of your experience. Understanding that we may be trapped in present-day repetitive patterns is an important first step to allowing change to occur. It can open up avenues for personal transformation.

 

Experience and Qualifications

I am a registered and experienced practitioner who has completed an exacting and thorough training.

 

I achieved a first qualification in psychodynamic counselling from Highgate Counselling Centre, which gained me membership of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

 

I went on to gain a Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy qualification, following training with WPF Therapy, which is recognised as one of the leading training bodies in the UK for psychodynamic work. WPF has a strong reputation for both its clinical and academic excellence.

 

I am a registered psychoanalytic psychotherapist with the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) and I am also a full member of the Foundation for Psychotherapy and Counselling (FPC). The Foundation has a strict code of ethics and a complaints procedure, ensuring the highest standards of confidentiality and professional practice.

 

I am a member of the International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy (IARPP). I continue to develop my interest in working relationally with all my clients.

 

Before training in counselling and psychotherapy, I worked for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), where I trained to be a member of the BBC’s business coaching team. I therefore have a great deal of experience of the issues that can arise in the work place. I continue to use that experience by providing coaching to those working in an executive position and I am also an associate consultant with the Society for Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE).

 

Recent Publications

Book review by Andy Metcalf of Stephen Mitchell's Book: Influence and Autonomy in Psychoanalysis in the European Journal of Psychotherapy and Counselling Volume 9 Number 1 March 2007 pp122-124.

 

"Through a Lens Darkly" by Andy Metcalf in the journal Attachment Volume 2 No 1 March 2008 pp80-85.

Lisa Vaughan

Lisa Vaughan is a psychodynamic counsellor and psychotherapist. She offers brief and longer-term therapy for adults dealing with a wide range of emotional issues, including depression and anxiety, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, loss and trauma. The therapeutic process is collaborative and tailored to individual needs – clients can discuss past experiences, current challenges or hopes for the future. Read more about how Lisa works www.counsellingNW6.co.uk

 

Lisa works from a psychodynamic and psychoanalytic perspective, based on the principal that problems, distress and relationship patterns in the present may be related to early or past experience. Exploring emotional difficulties or dilemmas in the safety of the therapeutic relationship can bring relief, increase self-awareness and open up opportunities for living a fuller, more satisfying life. Lisa has also trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and integrates CBT techniques into her approach when appropriate.

 

Lisa's professional qualifications include an Advanced Diploma in Once-Weekly Psychodynamic Psychotherapy from WPF Therapy, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Studies from Roehampton University, and a WPF Post-Qualifying Certificate in CBT Skills.

 

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

 

In addition to her private practice, Lisa has worked in the National Health Service as a counsellor in a GP practice; with national charity Victim Support; and for WPF Therapy, the largest charitable provider of therapy in England, as a psychodynamic therapist, CBT therapist and assessor.