As Retreat Facilitator for the Depth Relational Process Training, Rich supports the in-person holotropic breathwork retreats, holding a safe and grounded space for participants’ experiential process and integration.
Bio:
As a student of literature Richard was drawn towards working in mental health after his involvement in a creative writing program in a jail in California. He completed an MA in Psychosocial studies at Birkbeck University and a foundation course at the Institute of Group Analysis.
Richard was a mental health support worker for people diagnosed with psychosis for over 6 years. He provided practical and emotional support, as well as running art and dance movement workshops. He completed an Advanced Diploma in integrative counselling at Minster Centre. Following powerful experiences with Ayahuasca Richard became intensely interested in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics.
Richard currently sees clients in his private practice and in a bereavement service at a hospice. He is due to be a guide in the upcoming trial of psilocybin for treatment resistant depression at King’s College. He has volunteered with Psycare providing welfare and harm reduction at festivals and has given training for volunteers on psychedelic integration.
Richard runs and co-facilitates an open, monthly psychedelic integration group. He is regularly awe-struck by the cross-pollination that takes place between different experiences and the capacity of the group to enable powerful channels of reconnection.
Richard works in an embodied relational manner and places a great significance on the body’s capacity to hold past experiences. He is passionate about a paradigmatic shift in mental health away from a reliance on a medical model of symptom management; towards inner-exploration and the promotion of health.
Richard is thrilled to be able to contribute to the IPT’s ever-expanding collection of knowledge and increasing know-how.