Linda first studied counselling in the 1980s while working in a mental health day centre, later training as an Attachment-Based Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist in the 1990s. She’s worked in mental health, with young people and in bereavement, had a private practice and been involved in therapy education for the past thirty years. As well as her therapy work with clients she has provided supervision for practitioners and trainees.
Linda has been involved in therapy education for more than thirty years including teaching (at Regent’s College, the Bowlby Centre, AGIP and the Wimbledon Guild, where she set up and ran a postgraduate diploma course), and providing training courses, seminars, workshops and conference presentations on the theme of Attachment to many different organisations.
Linda has authored various articles in professional journals and have ‘curated’, contributed to and edited four books so far. She is also Series Editor for an upcoming series of books to be published by Karnac in collaboration with UKCP. The first will released later in 2025.
Attachment Theory is backed up by decades of research that shows that approximately half the population is “securely attached” and these people do better in relationships, are more confident and less anxious or stressed. But the other half lacked some of the essential ingredients in early life that are necessary for a sense of security to grow. Instead they developed defences and behaviours that help them function but can lead to difficulties in relationships with others – and with themselves. While some children sadly do experience trauma and abuse, very many others simply missed out on the kind of care needed to truly thrive.
In recent years Attachment Theory has become familiar to many with a general interest, not simply psychotherapists, researchers, social workers and the like. It appeals because it resonates with people’s life experiences and helps to make sense of problems they experience, particularly in parenting and in couple relationships. But making sense of difficulties is not usually sufficient to bring about change.
Attachment-informed psychotherapy aims to help clients develop a core sense of security that benefits their wellbeing, relationships, their creativity and sense of purpose in life – to bring about profound and lasting change.
On Monday 25th November 2025, Linda will be speaking on “Therapists Attachment” at the Citygate Centre (Church), 138A Holdenhurst Rd, Bournemouth BH8 8AS from 9:30am – 4pm. Early Bird prices are £95 until midday on the 18th November 2025 or £125 thereafter. If you would like to make an advance reservation, please email events@starsdorset.org
