Meet our academic team

Introducing the Connexus core team members

Patrick Brook

Academic Director, TA Trainer, Consultant and Core Tutor

BA (Hons), DELTA, MA, Dip.Couns, Dip Sup, CTA(P), TSTA(P), UKCP Registered Psychotherapist and Supervisor.

Highly recognised in his field, Patrick has worked in education for over 25 years as a teacher, trainer, principal lecturer and director of a university department, leading it to an international number one ranking. He is an internationally approved trainer, a UKCP registered psychotherapist and supervisor, and an NCS Senior Accredited counsellor and supervisor. He combines his natural aptitude for teaching with a passion for psychotherapy to make the learning experience at Connexus relevant, engaging and fun.

Lisa Bedford-Cooper

Clinical Director, TA Trainer, Consultant and Core Tutor

MSc.TA Psychotherapy, Dip Psych, Dip Couns, CTA(P), TSTA(P), UKCP Reg Psychotherapist and Supervisor.

e: lisa@connexusinstitute.com

Lisa has been a director of International Training and Management Development for multi-national corporations and held clinical leadership of a respected international psychology company. She has also been a Consultant Trauma specialist for one of the UK’s leading emergency service providers. Lisa holds an MSc in Transactional Analysis, is an internationally approved trainer, and is a UKCP registered psychotherapist and clinical supervisor. She combines her extensive knowledge of training and management development with her passion for TA, to make the learning at Connexus stimulating, inclusive and always relevant.

Mandy Atkinson

Core Tutor and Trainer

RGN, MA, Cert.Ed. (post compulsory) CeLTT, Dip Couns, Dip Sup, CTA (P), PTSTA (P) UKCP reg Psychotherapist

A committed educator, Mandy initiated and led the development of two new successful degrees in public relations for Greenwich University. She has been teaching for over 20 years in non profit, public and private sectors and was latterly a senior lecturer for 10 years for Greenwich University Business School. Here she led the undergraduate degree in Public Relations as well as mentoring colleagues in the Business School undertaking teacher training, before re-training as a TA psychotherapist. She is a visiting tutor at several colleges.

Liz Bingham

Continuity Tutor

Dip Couns,CTA (P), UKCP reg Psychotherapist

Liz has a passion for supporting students to build a bridge between the theoretical world of TA and clinical practice. She has particularly enjoyed involvement with the Theory into Practice (TIP) groups and being part of the exam and assessment team. She is a UKCP-registered psychotherapist and CTA (P) and runs a private practice based in Hove and Burgess Hill.

Mel Burgess

Core Tutor

MSc, Dip. Couns., CTA (P), PTSTA (P)

Mel is a UKCP Registered Psychotherapist working in private practice in Kent. Mel has a wealth of experience working with clients who have experienced loss, grief, and bereavement. Originally trained as a Nurse Mel spent over 30 years working in the NHS, private healthcare, Mental Health Services and Hospice care as a Senior Director supporting dying patients, bereaved families and the professionals who care for them.

Nancy Dalton

Continuity Tutor

UKATA Diploma in Transactional Analysis Practice.

Nancy has a corporate background and over 20 years’ experience in implementing health and wellbeing services within the private healthcare sector. Nancy trained in TA Psychotherapy and as well as her experience as a counselling skills tutor has presented bespoke courses to the business sector, and workshops within the field of mental health. As well as training at Connexus, Nancy has a thriving private clinical practice providing counselling and therapy services for individuals and couples.

Pippa Fairhead

Core Tutor

CTA (P), PTSTA (P), Dip Sup, PGCert HE, FHEA, UKCP registered psychotherapist and supervisor

Before joining Connexus, Pippa taught both TA and Humanistic psychotherapy at a respected training Institute in London. She qualified with a postgraduate certificate in Higher Education teacher in 2022 and became a Fellow of Higher Education in 2023. She is passionate about teaching and facilitating learning in the field of psychotherapy.

Justine James

Core Tutor

CTA (P), PTSTA (P), UKCP Registered Psychotherapist and Supervisor

Justine is a UKCP Registered Psychotherapist working in private practice based in Haywards Heath, West Sussex. Justine worked for a number of years as a bereavement counsellor in a hospice setting supporting families of terminally ill patients, as well as those who had been bereaved, offering either one to one or group sessions.

Anita Webster

Core Tutor

BA(Hons), CTA(P) PTSTA(P) Diploma in Relational Supervision

Anita has been an associate lecturer in a University and has several years’ experience of running personal and professional development groups. She has a busy clinical practice in East Sussex.

Vanessa Williams

Core Tutor

BA, MBA, CTA (O), PTSTA (O)

Vanessa is an executive coach, facilitator and business consultant specialising in leadership, team and organisation development (OD). During her career, Vanessa has also held several HR roles, including HR Director and Board member. She trains and supervises fellow practitioners and is the Organisational Transactional Analysis route programme leader at the Connexus Institute. Vanessa holds a Master’s degree in Business (MBA), is a Certified Transactional Analyst (CTA) and a Provisional Teaching and Supervising Transactional Analyst (PTSTA) in the Organisational field.