Elizabeth Denton

I have worked in and around schools for twenty-five years, as an English teacher, Editor of secondary school materials for Italian schools, Head of Language Development, Mental Health Lead and Educational Psychotherapist – more or less in that order!

Throughout, I have been fascinated by emotional barriers to learning and how we can facilitate learning, both for young people, and by supporting the adults who work with them. 

I trained with the Caspari Foundation in Educational Psychotherapy ten years ago, completing my practise in Islington CAMHS. Since qualifying, as well as delivering Educational Psychotherapy sessions one-to-one, I have taken every opportunity to provide reflective practice and supervision for school staff, which I think is vital for collaborative understanding of behaviour, and to be at our best with young people and one another.

I have worked with The Difference, delivering their Compassion-focused Coaching Supervision sessions with Deputy and Assistant Headteachers online, facilitated mixed groups of therapists and mentors with The Koru Project CIC, and now deliver reflective practice and training in the special school where I also work as a clinician. My main interests are the impact of attachment and trauma on learning, and the benefits of psychodynamic knowledge for teachers.