Hi, I'm Ellis. Here's some answers to questions that might be of interest...
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What led you to become a therapist?I decided that I wanted to train in therapy after having therapy myself in my early twenties, that helped me get clearer about my own gender transition. That therapy was life changing for me and it fuelled a passion for my whole career.
Before starting my private therapy practice in 2011, I set up and ran the first LGBT Mental Health Service in Scotland (which is still going strong) and then undertook a large study on trans people's needs in therapy with Strathclyde University. That study ultimately inspired my publication called the 'Trans Compass' - which you can find in the Pink Therapy Guide for Practitioners, 'Relationally Queer' (2024) - which offers guidance to therapists on understanding trans people's identities and therapy needs. |
What have you done since starting your therapy practice?
I've developed my style of therapy a lot since starting my practice. My person-centred training has always been my foundation. The main aim of that kind of therapy is to help people become the most authentic version of themselves, and to really know their self-worth, and that is definitely still always my aim. But from working with lots of different kinds of clients, I came to develop a much more flexible style of delivery to meet different needs, and lots of extra training has supported that.
I also now offer supervision to other therapists, mostly those who support trans and non-binary clients or who are interested in learning more about it. I also run an online peer support group for trans and non-binary therapists.
I've written a few publications over the years. As well as the Trans Compass, I co-wrote a chapter for therapists called Trans Sex, all about about how trans people's relationships with sex and sexuality can evolve as we transition (published in a book called 'Erotically Queer', 2024). I've also written a couple of academic publications, including a guide for researchers on creating Trans Inclusive research. And most recently, I wrote the Transition Planning Tool, that I've made freely available here for anyone to use.
I’m an advanced accredited practitioner and Clinical Associate of the organisation Pink Therapy and I’m also professionally accredited with the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society.
I also now offer supervision to other therapists, mostly those who support trans and non-binary clients or who are interested in learning more about it. I also run an online peer support group for trans and non-binary therapists.
I've written a few publications over the years. As well as the Trans Compass, I co-wrote a chapter for therapists called Trans Sex, all about about how trans people's relationships with sex and sexuality can evolve as we transition (published in a book called 'Erotically Queer', 2024). I've also written a couple of academic publications, including a guide for researchers on creating Trans Inclusive research. And most recently, I wrote the Transition Planning Tool, that I've made freely available here for anyone to use.
I’m an advanced accredited practitioner and Clinical Associate of the organisation Pink Therapy and I’m also professionally accredited with the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society.
What about you, the person?
I live in a very green part of Manchester so I’m lucky that I get to walk a lot. I went to university in Manchester, so it’s been great to move back here and reconnect with old friends and places, as well as making lots of new discoveries. I lived in Edinburgh and London for a long time in between, so I still have a real fondness and sense of connection to those places too.
I have a long standing interest in Buddhist philosophy and practice and I’m currently training in Buddhist inspired care giving at the Sati Centre in California. Mostly I’m interested in Buddhism's messages of living with presence and kindness towards oneself and others and becoming more aware of what we cultivate in our lives through how we live.
I have a long standing interest in Buddhist philosophy and practice and I’m currently training in Buddhist inspired care giving at the Sati Centre in California. Mostly I’m interested in Buddhism's messages of living with presence and kindness towards oneself and others and becoming more aware of what we cultivate in our lives through how we live.