Dr Elena Manafi

Biography

Elena Manafi is a BPS Affiliate member, a Chartered Psychologist registered with the HCPC registered and an Existential Psychotherapist with a UKCP registration. She has worked in the NHS and organisational settings and is currently running her private practice in North London. She obtained her BSc in Psychology at the University of Essex, her MSc in Theoretical Psychoanalysis at UCL, and her PsychD in Psychotherapeutic and Counselling Psychology at the University of Surrey. For the past 4 years she has been a Principal Lecturer as well as Programme Director of the Existential Phenomenological Doctorates in Counselling Psychology at Regent's University London where she continuous to work as a Visiting Lecturer. She is an active member of the BPS and HCPC working teams for monitoring and assessing CoP Doctoral Programmes and is currently the Chair of the Counselling Psychology Training Committee (TCCP). Elena has in depth knowledge and passion for existential, phenomenological, and postmodern philosophies as well as psychoanalysis and existential analysis.

Research interests

Ontological and Epistemological foundations of CoP; phenomenology, hermeneutics, embodiment, sexuality, intersubjectivity, and gender; critical psychopathology, existential philosophy and postmodernism; Eco-phenomenology and the therapeutic use of the natural world in CoP theory and practice.

Research collaborations

2012, Division of Counselling Psychology (BPS) - Annual Conference in Leicester: Building quality into the experiential aspect of training in counselling psychology: A discussion workshop for trainers, supervisors, placement co-ordinator and trainees. Presented by: Dr Elena Manafi, Dr Stelios Gkouskos, and Lucy Kerry

2011, Division of Counselling Psychology (BPS) - Annual Conference in Bristol: i) Day Workshop on the Existential Attitude and its Relevance to Therapeutic Practice; ii) Symposium - Therapy and Beyond; iii) Joint workshop on Accreditation through Partnership with Lucy Kerry (Quality Assurance Manager - BPS)

2010, 6th International Conference on the Dialogical Self. Presentation of Research Paper on the Notion of Self from an Existential/Phenomenological Perspective.

2010, 15th International Congress, Association of Psychology and Psychiatry: Joined Paper with Dr Filippopoulos on Counselling Psychology Training in the UK

2009, Society for Psychotherapy Research (SPR) - Bolzano, Italy

2008, BPS and British Psychological Society of Ireland: Joint Conference of the Divisions of Counselling Psychology: Symposium: Philosophy & Psychology; Paper on the Existential/ Phenomenological Contributions to CoP

Teaching

Philosophical Underpinning of Counselling Psychology.

Humanistic models of Therapy.

Critical Psychopathology and theories of Emotional Distress.

Ontology and Epistemology.

Qualitative Research Methods.

Research/Clinical supervision.

Departmental duties

Programme Director DPsych in Psychotherapeutic and Counselling Psychology.

Admissions Officer for the programme.

Senior Tutor, Research and Clinical Supervisor.

Affiliations

British Psychological Society (BPS) Division of Counselling Psychology: Affiliate Member

HCPC: Member

UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP): Member

Society for Existential Analysis (SEA): Member