Matthew Simpson

Currently I occupy a number of roles within Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Trust (HPFT); last year I qualified in couple therapy, as a part of my continuous professional development. However, my main function within the Talking Therapies service, predominately revolves around Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT). This entails my clinical lead designation across the Trust and correspondingly the development of the DIT modality pathway and thereafter, the daily responsibility for the operation of the pathway. My role also encompasses working closely with MIND in Mid-Hertfordshire, who are one of our associated partners. In addition, I deliver DIT to clients, which might encompass working with the support of interpreters, but I also supervise both experienced and newly qualified (DIT) therapists. The supervisory model that I subscribe to is psychodynamic; nonetheless it is also supervisee led and therefore both relational and experiential. I have found how this particular delivery of supervision, supports supervisee’s self-awareness and their developing reflexive function; notwithstanding their emerging ‘internal supervisor’ (Casement, 1985). In addition to the foregoing, The Anna Freud Centre in London has contracted me to deliver DIT supervision to their DIT trainees, where I have supported their successful accreditation with the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC). One of my responsibilities as a DIT practitioner is to organize and manage my own caseload. This encompasses effecting therapeutic change within clients, monitoring and managing potential risk with clients, safeguarding of vulnerable clients and third parties, maintaining confidential accurate and timely clinical records, along with meeting agreed targets i.e., number of clients planned and actual contacts including missed appointments. In terms of the latter, it is necessary to uphold well boundaried contracting.