TF Advisory Board

Diana Woodhead, yoga and meditation instructor

“When I retired from a long career as a Nurse, Midwife, Heath Visitor, Advanced Nurse Practitioner and aesthetic business owner, I decided to dig deeper into yoga, so completed yoga teacher training, vinyasa /hatha and yin at basic and advanced levels at Yoga Hero in Leeds. I have also studied meditation with a zen master and recently with Swami Saradananda. Since qualifying I have also studied subtle yoga, qigong and recently undertook an advanced 100 hours in philosophy, chanting and Sanskrit.

I specialise in slow mindful yoga with a twist. I have a passion for western health; as well as eastern philosophies. My style of Yoga takes the best from east and west resulting in a balanced body and mind.

I feel strongly that yoga, meditation and qigong should be inclusive and relish the opportunity to be on the advisory board of Therapy Friends and be part of its evolution.”

Marilyn Kedwards, Group Analyst

Marilyn Kedwards is a group analyst and member of the IGA (International Group analysis). She says,

“Human beings are social beings: we grow up in family groups, live and work in groups. Therefore, when these groups fail us, we can get into difficulty. As a result, group work has been found to be a dynamic and effective experience that enables us to make changes in our lives within a supportive context.

Through working together, it offers group members an opportunity to understand themselves and to experience new ways of relating and of being in the world.”

Mike Caton, Group Analyst

Mike works in London based training institutions for psychotherapy. senior psychotherapist within psychotherapy services and in various consultant roles within the NHS and Voluntary sector. Says Mike, “The basic psychological unit for people is not an individual or dyad but a group. We participate and are permeated by group dynamics from the beginning to the end.

Exploring yourself from this perspective can only enhance your consciousness and relationships. We often resist joining a group, due to the uncomfortable feelings groups arise within us. However, these uncomfortable feelings offer the greatest opportunity to understand ourself and others better.” In his free time, it is bikes and boats for Mike.

Harshad Kamble, Startup specialist and IT guru

Harshad Kamble is an ex therapy user. He is also an IT man. He brings almost 15 years of start up experience with him. He is great with detail and technical issues and along with our website developer, Al James, who prefers to remain behind the scenes, they make an efficient duo.

He has worked/works for big names like EY, Deloitte, Diageo, Vodafone and Kantar and likes his coffee so you will find him at the coffee addicts’ group. In his free time, he likes to trim and groom the wisteria which can grow wild, if not looked after.

Raine Geoghegan, writer, poet and workshop facilitator

Raine has brought many qualifications and achievements with her. Her poetry and stories have won her acclaim and even, a theatre production. She is of Romany, Irish and Welsh Ancestry.

Her work has been published internationally in print and online with several Literary Journals, and can be found on her website. She founded ‘Writing from the Heart’ a writing and personal development programme in 2013 and has also devised workshops and courses for Adult Education in Assertiveness; Spirituality and Personal Growth work. She currently lives in the Malvern Hills in Worcestershire.

Smita Rajput Kamble, Founder & CEO

Smita is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist in private practice and also, clinical supervisor and CPD facilitator. She completed her Psychodynamic training at Oxford University and her Psychoanalytic training from London.

She founded TherapyFriends. She says, ” While growing up in India we heard different sounds and saw colourful sights. Different religions, festivals, life, death, colour, gods, demons….TherapyFriends is about bringing something of those sights, colours, and vibrant feelings.” The ability to incorporate difference allows for a more integrated mind.