Department Staff

Gavin Emerson Principal - BST Foundation

Gavin Emerson is a founder member of the BST Foundation and has many years experience in the fields of clinical hypnosis and brief therapy. He has been instrumental in teaching mental health care professionals in these areas and is primarily responsible for designing the Diploma of Higher Education in Clinical Hypnosis. In conjunction with Dr Robert Dupe and Dr Tig Calvert he has also developed a number of specialist training programmes in clinical hypnosis and brief therapy that have subsequently been awarded post-graduate credits for Psychiatrists and other healthcare professionals. He is regularly engaged as a consultant in brief therapy for Medico- Legal cases of post traumatic stress and psychological distress that can arises in family law and child custody cases www.gelaw.co.uk.

Dr. Robert Dupe Medical Director BA, BSc, FRSM, PhD, FSBST, BCSHA, DCHyp

Robert Dupe is a co-founder and the medical director of the Foundation. Robert lectures in Brief Strategic Therapy and Clinical Hypnosis and provides relevant clinical input for the Foundation’s courses. He has spent considerable time in the field of cardiovascular medicine and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine. He also has a considerable experience in the pharmaco-biology of psychosomatic illness and applies the practice of clinical hypnosis within NHS and private settings.

Gavin Emerson and Robert Dupe are both engaged in an advisory capacity to national organisations on behavioural problems and appear on national television and in the press.

Dr Tig Calvert Programme Director BSc PhD CPsychol DCHyp

Tig Calvert is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at St Mary’s University College and is the Programme Director for the Diploma of Higher Education in Clinical Hypnosis. With a healthcare background and a PhD in emotional and behavioural problems following traumatic brain injury, she currently specialises in how the brain produces and responds to emotions, and the interaction between mind and body. She has a private hypnotherapy practice in Oxford utilising her academic and clinical skills to help clients to overcome anxiety based problems and develop their full potential in life. Tig is a regular specialist psychologist on a number of TV programmes including Paul McKenna and Diet Doctors.

Andy McCann Senior Lecturer BA Hons, MA Ed PGCE, DCHyp, MSBST

Andy is a Senior Lecturer on the DipHE in Clinical Hypnosis. He has a background in sport and education and has worked as a teacher and lecturer in both the school and university sectors. Andy trained in clinical hypnotherapy with the BST foundation and is a Licensed Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) Practitioner. He runs a private hypnotherapy practice in Cardiff and has a particular interest in the application of clinical hypnotherapy to sport and regularly works in collaboration with other healthcare professionals and sport coaches. Andy is also Director of AMCAN Consultancy & Training, which specialises in overcoming limiting beliefs and fulfilling potential. AMCAN’s clients include charities, corporate business, schools and individuals. In addition, Andy writes and has written an acclaimed healthcare book which has been released in the UK and US.

Dr Richard Martin MBBS. FRCA. DCHyp. MSBST

Dr Richard Martin is a Consultant in Paediatric Anaesthesia and an Honorary Senior Lecturer at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Having graduated with distinction from the foundation’s practitioner diploma course, he joined the department & associates as a medical education adviser. While maintaining an interest in general applications of clinical hypnotherapy, he has a particular interest in performance enhancement, anger and stress management. He has extensive experience and is an expert in the management of anxiety in children.

James Hutchinson. BSc (Hons.) Clinical Hypnosi.s DCHyp, A.Cert.CSHyp, MSBST

James lectures for the BST Foundation on the St. Mary's University College BSc in Clinical Hypnosis. He has over 8 years of private practice experience based in central London. James is currently coordinating manager for the Foundation and is a regular lecturer on Level 1 an on level 2 of the BSc (Hons.) in Clinical Hypnosis. He holds the BSc (Hons.) in Clinical Hypnosis and prior to this he completed the BST Foundation’s diploma in 2006. James has over 10 years of business experience. In that time he has managed teams of trainers and performance coaches in FTSE 100 companies; he left employment to launch several successful companies of his own which is why he plays a key role in the BST Foundation’s ‘private practice development programme’. James has a strong interest in self development and has attended many other courses that deal with behavioral change; he has a passion for helping others and looks forward to meeting new students from a wide range of backgrounds.    

Gordon Paull Director of Supervision BST Foundation, Teacher BEd (Hons.), Dip HE, DCHyp, A.Cert.CSHyp, MSBST

Gordon Paull is Director of Supervision for the BST Foundation and a regular lecturer on the St. Mary's University College BSc Degree Course in Clinical Hypnosis. In addition he plays an integral role on behalf of the Foundation in the co-ordination and development of the clinical hypnosis department at the St Mary’s Clinic. Gordon was formerly an Assistant Head Teacher at a boys' school in South East London and was previously Head of English; he now teaches part time and is semi-retired. As a teacher of thirty-four years he is acutely aware of how language can be used to motivate people to achieve, accomplish and influence change in their lives in a variety of ways. He originally trained in hypnosis in the late 80's, but re-trained with the BST Foundation in 2007.He runs his own practice in South East London and Harley Street; he also receives referrals from local GP's. The Queen Mary's NHS Trust Hospital, SE London contracted Gordon to work in their pain clinic supporting patients with chronic and persistent pain. Significantly, the vast majority of these patients require a great deal of time in order to start the process of change and healing and this has led him to modify his approach to therapy.  He also reviews current literature on hypnosis for a publishing house. Gordon is interested in all aspects of hypnosis and treats a range of conditions and age groups.

Dr Lucy Atcheson. BSc. (Hons) MSc. Psych. PhD. C. Psychol. DCHyp MSBST

Dr Lucy Atcheson is an accredited brief strategic therapist, clinical hypnotherapist as well as a counselling psychologist, and a coaching psychologist. Dr Lucy has seven years of experience working as a psychologist, five of these have been working in independent practice. She is also a qualified as a critical incident stress management practitioner since 2003. She is a psychological specialist and external examiner. Dr Lucy runs her own practice in Harley Street, London. Lucy has written two books: Dr Lucy Atcheson's Guide to Perfect Relationships, and Free Yourself From Fear (both published by Hay House). Lucy specialises in working with panic disorders and has done a BBC program on overcoming phobias. In addition, Dr Lucy is a regular contributor on the radio and in the national press, she has also made several television appearances.

Lorna Damiani. BSc (Hons.) Clinical Hypnosis, BA (Hons.)

Lorna is a supervisor, lecturer and assessor for the BST Foundation.  In addition to working with the BST Foundation, Lorna is a practising hypnotherapist based in Kingston upon Thames and working across locations in London and Surrey. She is based primarily at The Groves Medical Centre - a combined General NHS and private medical practice. Lorna deals with a wide range of issues including anxiety, stress, fears, phobias, weight management, infertility and hypnosis for childbirth. Lorna first trained in hypnotherapy in 2007 after 20 years in media and corporate communications in the UK, Middle East and Asia. “I have always appreciated the power of words to influence, inspire and persuade people and I feel privileged to be able to explore and use communications as a tool in its widest form to help people to find healing solutions.”

Linda Bromage. BSc (Hons.), Clinical Hypnosis, DCHyp, A.Cert.CSHyp

Linda is both a supervisor and lecturer for the BST Foundation. She has been a dental professional for over 30 years and is extremely experienced in patient care and communication. For many years she also taught dental health programmes in Southern Africa. An instinctive approach in dealing with dental phobic patients led her to train as a clinical hypnotherapist with the BST Foundation. She completed the advanced practitioner’s course in 2007, and went on to complete the BSc (Hons.) in Clinical Hypnosis, gaining a first class degree. She also has considerable interest in the research of hypnosis and mind body healing and she has been awarded a PhD scholarship, undertaking research at St Mary’s University College. Her specialist areas of expertise include dental phobia, fear of flying, hypno birthing and weight loss.

Natalie Airs. BSc (Hons.), MSc, PGCHE

Natalie is a graduate assistant at St. Mary’s University College as well as lecturer in Health Psychology, research methods and practical laboratory classes. Natalie is currently completing her PhD in men’s health, eating behaviour and body appreciation. Her areas of research include exploring differences in eating disorders, drive for muscularity and body image across genders and ethnic groups. Natalie works with Dr Tig Calvert on research in the field of positive psychology and in December 2010, Tig and Natalie were commended for their research in the area of positive psychology and were awarded a commendation from the Henry Walpole Prize. In July 2010 Natalie was awarded the Psychology Technician of the year award by the Higher Education Academy. Natalie is a supervisor of research and lecturer in this field for the BST Foundation.

Clarabella Gray. BSc (Hons.) Psychology

Clarabella Gray completed her BSc Psychology degree at St. Mary's achieving a first class honours classification and an undergraduate commendation award from the British Psychological Society. She is a currently undertaking postgraduate work at the Institute of Psychiatry and is interested in emotion-regulation, especially the relationship between cognition, emotion and mental health.  Clarabella works with Level 3 Clinical Hypnosis students on their dissertation research projects, particularly research design, methodology and data analysis.

Carol Rawlingson Plant .Supervisor. BST Foundation & BSc in Clinical Hypnosis at St Mary's University College

Diploma Counselling (Humanistic), HE Diploma Clinical Hypnosis (Distinction), Accredited Clinical Psychotherapist. MSBST, MNACHP, UKCHO ACCREDITED, MBACP, NMC, Registered Paediatric Specialist Nurse, RCN and a member of the Federation of Holistic Therapists. Carol is a practising counsellor, psychotherapist, clinical hypnotherapist and paediatric specialist nurse in the private sector. As a qualified designer she has taught, supervised and conducted student portfolio surgeries when an active member of the Chartered Society of Designers, worked as a clinical supervisor in nursing settings and currently practises clinically as an accredited clinical psychotherapist, hypnotherapist and specialises in clinical paediatric nursing in the private sector. She has clinics in Farnborough and Central London. Carol's interests lie in the power and process of patient constructed metaphors to implement deeper understanding of the self and solidly underpin therapeutic outcomes.

Dave Costello BA(Hons.) DipCOT DCHyp GPQH MSBST

Dave Costello has been an Occupational Therapist for 17 years, and has worked in a variety of clinical areas in mental health in the NHS. Dave is also a guest lecturer at the University of West of England. In recent years Dave has worked outside the context of the NHS, and has designed and delivered Condition Management Programmes for Depression through the New Deal, as well as providing rehabilitation and case management to the Insurance industry, supporting and enabling individuals to return to work following illness or injury. Dave regularly utilises clinical hypnotherapy in addition to employing more traditional therapeutic approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy and solution focused approaches. He is a teaching associate for the BST Foundation.

Glenda Lewis RGN DCHyp MSBST

Glenda is a Registered General Nurse with more than thirty years of clinical experience. For the past eighteen years she has worked in the primary health care sector as a practice nurse. Assessing the needs of clients with chronic illnesses is a major aspect of her role. This entails formulating and promoting positive life style changes to enhance clients’ health and well-being. She is a member of the R.C.N. (Royal College of Nursing) the N.M.C. (Nurses and Midwives Council) and the Society of Brief and Strategic Hypnotherapists. Glenda is a healthcare adviser for the BST Foundation.

Alison Holloway BSc (Hons.) DCHyp MSBST

Alison trained in Cardiff as a speech and language therapist. She is employed by North Glamorgan NHS Trust and also works independently in South Wales; based in Newport. She is a specialist in the area of stammering, public speaking, confidence building and self esteem issues. Alison includes hypnotherapy in her independent practice having studied with the BST Foundation who she has since joined as a teaching associate.

Dr Robert J D Beattie Administation BSc PhD

Bob Beattie is the administration manager for the BST Foundation providing professional administrative systems. He plays an integral role in the course admin staff. Bob also has 35 years wide-ranging consultancy and business management experience, with a successful track record in several different professional roles for clients in UK and abroad, including : project management; devising and effecting innovative IS strategies and results-orientated operating practices; development and expansion of a medium-sized, multi-disciplinary management consultancy.