Joanna Cowley

Psychological Therapies with Children, Young People and Families (M34) at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. Course outcome currently under consideration by the British Psychoanalytic Council Progression Board. Pending outcome of the final award - MA BPC

The course required for the completion of the Group Relations Conference 'Bridging Power over to empower: creating spaces for identity, culture and class in group and organisational life.'

Course Overview

Provision of psychodynamic psychotherapy inclusive of a range of modalities such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Systemic and Mindfulness.

Role Specifics

• Followed clinical guidelines to conduct state of mind and psychotherapy assessments and to formulate treatment plans based on findings.
• Established therapeutic relationships to create a safe and welcoming clinical environment and to promote successful client outcomes.
• Provided individual client-focused therapy within clinical settings.
• Unbiased in consideration of the effect of heredity, social and occupational factors on patterns in thought and behaviour.
• Delivered best practice psychotherapy integrating psychodynamic theory and the respective modality to advance emotional processing, to help clients resolve past issues and conflicts and to address patterns in behaviours.
• Through personal analysis and with the support and supervision from a Senior Training Analyst [Fellow of the Institute of Psychoanalysis], the former head of the WCYP, and M34 course supervisors, I adopted a reflective approach to enhance the therapeutic process and improve client outcomes.
• Used trauma-informed modalities to facilitate patient trust and engagement and to support clients in meeting therapeutic goals.
• Combined cognitive behavioural therapy approaches to educate patients about appropriate coping mechanisms to help them through tough situations, and to enhance the effectiveness of treatments.
• Incorporated mindfulness practices into sessions to support stress management and to reduce anxiety levels amongst clients.
• Utilised Adolescent Exploratory Therapy to help young people understand their feelings, difficulties, and the reasons behind their worries and to identify unconscious patterns, resulting in increased self-awareness and understanding.
• Provided family counselling, facilitating better communication and understanding within families.
• Maintained open lines of communication with multiple contacts, and participated in multidisciplinary teams for treatment planning and to deliver a comprehensive service.
• Communicated with clients to schedule appointments and co-ordinate care.
• Managed compliance with regulatory requirements surrounding mandatory reporting.
• Maintained up-to-date case notes with meticulous documentation of patient information in service plans, treatment reports and progress notes, and adapted treatment plans when applicable.
• Adhered strictly to professional ethics, ensuring clients' safety and confidentiality was maintained at all times.
• Collaborated with other practitioners to provide clients with recommendations to community resources or to arrange alternative therapeutic opportunities if so required.

A Mind and Body Practitioner for Young People in Secondary Schools in Kent.

Post Overview

Delivering assessment and providing one-to-one and group work short-term counselling with a specific lean towards psycho-social intervention to young people at risk of self-harm and suicide ideation.

Role Specifics

• Maintained patient confidentiality by adhering to strict privacy regulations.
• Facilitated group therapy sessions which led to improved mental well-being of participants.
• Established therapeutic relationships with patients and families, fostering a supportive environment.
• Delivered education on health promotion and disease prevention to improve community health standards.
• Communicated professionally and diplomatically across all healthcare levels, building strong rapport with multi-disciplinary healthcare teams.
• Maintained meticulous patient records, charting data in XX software.

Stay-at-home parent for the foundation years of the first of two children born in 2013 (Iver, Buckinghamshire), followed by a move to Kent to allow for family commitments and the birth of a second child (Canterbury, Kent).

The family move meant that I had to step away from the M80 course at the end of the penultimate year: pro rata credits awarded.

Internationally renowned NHS-funded clinical training: child and adolescent psychoanalytic psychotherapy (M80) at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust.

Post Overview

Trainee Child Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist based in Central and North West London (CNWL): Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

Specialised in psychoanalysis for children and adolescents with a particular focus on developmental issues, behavioural challenges and emotional struggles. Provided initial assessment which either gave rise to brief therapeutic intervention or to intensive psychoanalytic psychotherapy for young people aged from 4 - 19 years.

Acted as the interface when the young people transitioned to adult services and provided family counselling.

Role Specifics

• Engaging in one-on-one sessions with clients to explore and analyse their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Utilising various psychoanalytic techniques to uncover unconscious patterns and conflicts.
• Assessing clients' mental health through comprehensive evaluations and diagnostic processes. Formulating psychoanalytic interpretations to understand the root causes of psychological issues.
• Creating personalised treatment plans based on the psychoanalytic understanding of the client's issues. Implementing long-term therapeutic strategies to address deep-seated psychological patterns.
• Adhering to ethical guidelines and confidentiality principles in all interactions with clients. Ensuring a safe and non-judgmental environment for clients to explore their thoughts and feelings.
• Staying updated on advancements in psychoanalytic theory and related therapeutic techniques. Participating in ongoing training, supervision, and professional development activities.
• Co-ordinating and collaborating with psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals for comprehensive care. Providing consultation and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team when necessary.
• Keeping accurate and confidential records of client sessions, assessments, and treatment plans. Documenting progress and modifications to the treatment approach as needed.
• Engaging in regular supervision and four times weekly personal analysis to enhance professional competence. Reflecting on personal biases and maintaining self-awareness throughout the therapeutic process.

Post Overview

Senior Young Person's Worker: Initially as the Senior Substance Misuse Practitioner and then as the Principle Young Person and Mental Health Specialist at the Brent Centre for Young People (BCYP) encompassing the Boroughs of Ealing and Brent.

Role Specifics

• Counselled Young People with substance abuse difficulties.
• Worked as part of the medical prescribing team ensuring that vulnerable young people collected the drugs to support them on their journey to recovery.
• Skilled at working as part of multi-agency and multi-disciplinary teams including but not restricted to Social Services, Housing Services and Inpatient Care Services.
• Solely responsible for generating reports for the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse and the input of data to the National Treatment Drug Monitoring System.
• Supported young women with substance abuse challenges and at risk of sexual exploitation.
• Took on the role of the Principle Young Person and Mental Health Specialist ensuring that the Drug and Alcohol Service linked into the Psychoanalytic Service better than it ever had.
• Offered support to Young People experiencing mental health difficulties.
• Successfully participated in writing funding bids and responding to tenders which led to an expansion in service.
• Invited to take part in weekly clinical meetings; an invaluable source of continuous personal development. It was an opportunity to feed information in, to seek advice as appropriate, and to design and implement wrap around care packages for patients.
• A specific focus in relation to Adolescent Exploratory Therapy (AET) under the supervision of the BCYP's Director, the Centre's Senior Training Analyst and other world renowned Child and Adolescent Psychoanalysts and Psychotherapists.
• Provided one-to-one mental health support to Young People attending the Pupil Referral Unit (the PRU).