We are delighted to introduce you to the members of our organising committee, which is made up of representatives of our three partner organisations and PCE Europe, and to our scientific committee.
Committees
Barbara Malinen
"I am a person-centred counsellor, supervisor, trainer and occasional mediator based in Edinburgh, Scotland. I moved to Scotland in 1997 to train at the Counselling Unit, University of Strathclyde (then based at Jordanhill).
Prior to training as a counsellor, I had been a painter/sculptor, a waitress, a fundraiser and PA in a small charity, and several other things but none of them were my vocation. I was lucky to discover counselling as my passion. Since qualifying in 1998 I have worked in the voluntary sector (in many different agencies – including women’s services, and drug and alcohol services); in primary care, and in student counselling as well as building and maintaining a private practice.
Somewhere along the way I have also been a trainer on the professional counselling Diploma at University of Edinburgh and become a supervisor (trained at Temenos 2007 -09). I was a member of the Co-ordinating Group of PCT Scotland in the early 2000’s and rejoined the group at the beginning of this year. My responsibilities involve working with others on creating a CPD programme and liaising on behalf of PCT Scotland with PCE Europe.
In the past few years, I have developed a particular interest in power and how we use it and misuse it; how this relates to the training of new counsellors; and to how we are with ourselves and others especially, but not exclusively, clients. I am involved in a group of independent counsellors exploring how to develop a different approach to PCA training in Scotland - one which attempts to hold these complex issues of power and difference at its heart.
I am above all a practitioner, and my passionate interest in all of this is to be with and connect with people – practitioners, colleagues, clients, supervisees. I am excited about the opportunities created by the PCE Europe Symposium for Scottish and UK practitioners to connect with each other and with those from other parts of the world."
Birgit Schroeter
"Having come from an academic background, I trained as a Person-Centred Counsellor in 2012, and have not looked back once. Volunteering and supervising for a charity that is close to my heart is very meaningful to me, and qualifications in supervision and training allowed me to integrate my professional background with my new identity. I joined the team at Strathclyde in 2022, and love watching the students grow and develop. I don’t have ‘special interests’ as such, as I find all of PCT intriguing, but if pushed would probably say transpersonal/spirituality."
Charlotte Farish-Edwards
"After an 18 year career in secondary English teaching, I am now in my final year of training as a person-centred counsellor. I currently work with counselling clients at a local women’s centre, where I have also written and delivered peer support and creative journalling groups.
I am a member of the APCCA board, and am an editor of the APCCA journal. I am also a member of the APCCA tutor team, helping to deliver the introduction and certificate courses online, and teaching the introduction course in-person. As an APCCA practitioner member, I am extremely passionate about offering person-centred creative arts as part of my client work.
I work alongside my wife Fleur as ‘Two Birds Therapy’. We offer monthly and seasonal creative therapeutic workshops, and also a monthly peer supervision group for newly qualified counsellors."
Fleur Farish Edwards
"As a person-centred and creative arts counsellor and supervisor, I bring over a decade of experience working with diverse clients and supervisees across a range of settings. I maintain memberships with the BACP and NCPS, run a small private practice and hold therapeutic creative arts workshops with my wife, Charlotte, as Two Birds Therapy.
Currently, I am a full-time lecturer at Edge Hill University, teaching on the undergraduate counselling and psychotherapy programmes for the past five years, with previous experience at the University Centre at Blackburn College. In addition to teaching, I am external examiner at two other universities, and I supervise both undergraduate and postgraduate research projects. I am also in the final stages of my Professional Doctorate in Psychotherapy Studies at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), where my research focuses on the experiences of adopted adults.
I am a dedicated board member and tutor for the Association for Person-centred Creative Arts (APCCA), actively supporting its growth and development, and my passion lies in integrating creative arts within therapy, teaching, and research. Personal development in counsellor training and practice is close to my heart, and my ongoing involvement in conferences and encounter groups is central to my professional journey.
With APCCA co-hosting the 2025 PCE Symposium in Glasgow, I am really excited to co-create an inspiring and transformative weekend with all of you!"
Hannah MacIntosh
TBA
Kiki Kentigkeleni
TBA
Paula Williams
Rachel McIlree
"My name is Rachel McIlree and I have been a counsellor for 20 years. In recent years I have been based in the Counselling Unit at the University of Strathclyde, returning to where I had once been a student myself, although in those days of course it was the Jordonhill campus. I now enjoy being part of the team of tutors on our MSc courses, here at Strathclyde.
Since qualifying as a counsellor I have been lucky to work with many fascinating people in a wide range of services - as a counsellor, a supervisor and as a trainer. Initially trained in the Person-centred Approach this continues to the be the theoretical base for how I practice and how I make any sense of myself, others and the world. I am also a qualified Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and until recently have been involved in delivering CBT training too, developing a special interest in respectful discourse among therapeutic modalities, learning from one another as well as noticing and valuing important and significant differences.
I think this outlook has grown out of my experiences in my first field of study which was Theology. This established an enduring curiosity as to how we might better relate to differences we meet in one another, and also within ourselves, whether these encounters are welcome, wonderful, baffling or particularly difficult. I am appreciative of all the folks and communities who have contributed to my own experiences in this along the way, for their generosity with their own experiences!
Now working primarily with students and supervisee’s, I am continually moved by how often the extraordinary is to be found in the ordinary and how 20 years on in this world of counselling and psychotherapy, I can still anticipate surprise and the unexpected."
Susan Stephen
"My name is Susan Stephen and I am a person-centred therapist, supervisor, trainer and researcher based in Glasgow, Scotland. I am a lecturer in counselling at the University of Strathclyde and director of our counselling and psychotherapy research clinic. I am also a member of PCT Scotland.
I trained in person-centred therapy at the University of Strathclyde twenty years ago and since then have had the opportunity to work as a counsellor/psychotherapist in a variety of contexts: primary care, third sector, employee assistance programs, private practice and the research clinic. I trained as a supervisor with PCT Professional Development in 2008 and began my journey into counselling research around the same time. I have worked on the professional counselling training programs at both the University of Strathclyde and the University of Edinburgh.
I completed my PhD in 2020, investigating if an instrument called the Strathclyde Inventory (originally developed by Elizabeth Freire) could be useful as a theoretically-consistent way to measure the outcome of person-centred therapy. One of the ways that I did this was through exploring the process and outcome of therapy using a series of systematic case studies. I am continuing to develop both research interests, for example through an international collaboration called the Strathclyde Inventory Intercultural Project.
I have been an active member of the local and international person-centred community for two decades, currently serving as a co-director of the journal Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies and as a member of the WAPCEPC grants committee. I have had many wonderful experiences at international person-centred and experiential conferences and symposiums and am very excited to welcome our PCE Europe community to Glasgow in November 2025."
Terry Daly
Terry works as a Person Centred therapist, supervisor, and trainer in Glasgow, and Edinburgh.
Terry originally trained in Social work and Gestalt therapy and continued his training with the Person centred approach in counselling , supervision and a MSC in counselling research.
He has a background in working with people over 40 years in Health, social work, the private and voluntary sector, and within University settings.
Xi Liu
"My name is Xi, and I am a BPS Chartered Psychologist, a counsellor registered with BACP and COSCA, and an EMCC-accredited coach. I am also a COSCA-accredited Counselling Skills Trainer and a Supervisor on the BPS’s Register of Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors (RAPPS). I hold a PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Sheffield and an MSt in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy from the University of Oxford.
I currently teach Psychology and Counselling at the University of Strathclyde, where I have also served as a Student Counsellor and Mindfulness Teacher within the Disability and Wellbeing Service. Additionally, I am a Panel Tutor for the MSt in Coaching at the University of Cambridge. At Strathclyde, I mainly teach on the BSc Psychology and Counselling course, which follows a person-centred orientation.
I have been practising as a counsellor since 2012, and my work is grounded in person-centred principles, which I integrate into individual counselling, coaching, and mindfulness teaching. I am particularly interested in how person-centred principles can—or should—be integrated into various therapeutic approaches."
Barbara Malinen
"I am a person-centred counsellor, supervisor, trainer and occasional mediator based in Edinburgh, Scotland. I moved to Scotland in 1997 to train at the Counselling Unit, University of Strathclyde (then based at Jordanhill).
Prior to training as a counsellor, I had been a painter/sculptor, a waitress, a fundraiser and PA in a small charity, and several other things but none of them were my vocation. I was lucky to discover counselling as my passion. Since qualifying in 1998 I have worked in the voluntary sector (in many different agencies – including women’s services, and drug and alcohol services); in primary care, and in student counselling as well as building and maintaining a private practice.
Somewhere along the way I have also been a trainer on the professional counselling Diploma at University of Edinburgh and become a supervisor (trained at Temenos 2007 -09). I was a member of the Co-ordinating Group of PCT Scotland in the early 2000’s and rejoined the group at the beginning of this year. My responsibilities involve working with others on creating a CPD programme and liaising on behalf of PCT Scotland with PCE Europe.
In the past few years, I have developed a particular interest in power and how we use it and misuse it; how this relates to the training of new counsellors; and to how we are with ourselves and others especially, but not exclusively, clients. I am involved in a group of independent counsellors exploring how to develop a different approach to PCA training in Scotland - one which attempts to hold these complex issues of power and difference at its heart.
I am above all a practitioner, and my passionate interest in all of this is to be with and connect with people – practitioners, colleagues, clients, supervisees. I am excited about the opportunities created by the PCE Europe Symposium for Scottish and UK practitioners to connect with each other and with those from other parts of the world."
Dr. Christina Michael
"Dr. Christina Michael, PH.D., C. PSYCH is the Founder and Clinical Director of the Cyprus Institute of Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT). She is an internationally accredited EFT supervisor and trainer. She received her Doctorate in Counselling Psychology at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU). Before she moved to Cyprus in 2018, she worked for 7 years in Scotland with a wide range of mental health difficulties and she was also an Associate Lecturer for the Doctorate in Counselling Psychology for 4 years. Dr Michael is now based in Cyprus and works as a Senior Counselling Psychologist at the Cyprus Institute for Emotion Focused Therapy. At the Cyprus Institute of Emotion Focused Therapy she splits her time in between seeing clients and supervising or training mental health professionals in-person and online. She works for universities in Cyprus and the UK as a Visiting Lecturer. Since 2017, she has facilitated EFT trainings in-person and online in the UK, the USA, Canada, Iran and Europe with Prof. Robert Elliott, Prof. Les Greenberg, Prof. Jean Watson, and others. She is a founding member of the Division of Counselling Psychology in the Cyprus Psychologists’ Association. Her research interests include grief, post-traumatic growth, therapy goals, and therapy micro-processes. Dr Michael has recently published the Greek translation of the book "Emotion-Focused Counselling in Action”. For more info on Dr Michael visit www.eft.cy"
Ellen Gunst
"Ellen is a professor of psychotherapy at the University of Antwerp and coordinator of the postgraduate integrative psychotherapy program at UA.
She is a clinical psychologist and client-centered-experiential psychotherapist and supervisor (VVCEPC) and integrative psychotherapist (VVGT) in Belgium. She is certified as a Focusing-oriented Therapist and Trainer (TIFI) and as an Emotion-Focused Therapist, supervisor and trainer (isEFT).
She also works at a forensic treatment unit (FIDES) in Psychiatric Center Sint-Amandus in Beernem, Belgium.
Ellen is particularly interested in (studying) experiential deepening and emotional change processes in psychotherapy. She published several papers and book chapters on these topics, especially with forensic and traumatized clients.
She is a member of VVCEPC, WAPCEPC, SPR, TIFI, isEFT and SEPI."
Fleur Farish-Edwards
"As a person-centred and creative arts counsellor and supervisor, I bring over a decade of experience working with diverse clients and supervisees across a range of settings. I maintain memberships with the BACP and NCPS, run a small private practice and hold therapeutic creative arts workshops with my wife, Charlotte, as Two Birds Therapy.
Currently, I am a full-time lecturer at Edge Hill University, teaching on the undergraduate counselling and psychotherapy programmes for the past five years, with previous experience at the University Centre at Blackburn College. In addition to teaching, I am external examiner at two other universities, and I supervise both undergraduate and postgraduate research projects. I am also in the final stages of my Professional Doctorate in Psychotherapy Studies at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), where my research focuses on the experiences of adopted adults.
I am a dedicated board member and tutor for the Association for Person-centred Creative Arts (APCCA), actively supporting its growth and development, and my passion lies in integrating creative arts within therapy, teaching, and research. Personal development in counsellor training and practice is close to my heart, and my ongoing involvement in conferences and encounter groups is central to my professional journey.
With APCCA co-hosting the 2025 PCE Symposium in Glasgow, I am really excited to co-create an inspiring and transformative weekend with all of you!"
TBA
Kiki Kentigkeleni
Nike Oruh
"Experienced Therapeutic Specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the Health & Wellbeing industry. Skilled in non-profit organizations, communication, training, and Counselling Psychology. Nike is an experienced therapeutic specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the Health & Wellbeing industry. Skilled in non-profit organizations, communication, training, and Counselling Psychology.He contributed to the seminal counselling book First Steps in Counselling (5th Edition)(PCCS Books) and hisexpertise in the areas of Men’s Health, Race & Equality and emotional wellbeing have been sought out from Higher Education (Edinburgh, Stirling and Strathclyde Universities) to the Third Sector (Penumbra, ARCScotland).
Nike is the Clinical Lead Counsellor at Edinburgh Napier University with a Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) focused in clinical, counselling and applied psychology from University of Stirling. A qualified Dietitian (PgDip) via Queen Margaret University and over 20 years in the music industry, as an award-winning performing artist, label owner and promoter.
Elevator, Communicator, Motivator, VII Breaths is the platform for his various works. Nike’s passion is helping people to understand themselves and reach their true potential."
Paula Williams
Susan Stephen
"My name is Susan Stephen and I am a person-centred therapist, supervisor, trainer and researcher based in Glasgow, Scotland. I am a lecturer in counselling at the University of Strathclyde and director of our counselling and psychotherapy research clinic. I am also a member of PCT Scotland.
I trained in person-centred therapy at the University of Strathclyde twenty years ago and since then have had the opportunity to work as a counsellor/psychotherapist in a variety of contexts: primary care, third sector, employee assistance programs, private practice and the research clinic. I trained as a supervisor with PCT Professional Development in 2008 and began my journey into counselling research around the same time. I have worked on the professional counselling training programs at both the University of Strathclyde and the University of Edinburgh.
I completed my PhD in 2020, investigating if an instrument called the Strathclyde Inventory (originally developed by Elizabeth Freire) could be useful as a theoretically-consistent way to measure the outcome of person-centred therapy. One of the ways that I did this was through exploring the process and outcome of therapy using a series of systematic case studies. I am continuing to develop both research interests, for example through an international collaboration called the Strathclyde Inventory Intercultural Project.
I have been an active member of the local and international person-centred community for two decades, currently serving as a co-director of the journal Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies and as a member of the WAPCEPC grants committee. I have had many wonderful experiences at international person-centred and experiential conferences and symposiums and am very excited to welcome our PCE Europe community to Glasgow in November 2025."
Susanna Markowitsch
"Susanna works as a Person Centered therapist, supervisor and trainer in Austria.
Originally Susanna trained in translation (English, Italian) at the University of Vienna and has a background of working in middle management in various areas.
Susanna finished her training as Person Centered Psychotherapist at APG.IPS in 2013, her training as Person Centered Group Psychotherapist in 2016.
Following is a table listing Susanna’s activities and functions since graduating as a psychotherapist:
2013 – 2018: member of the management board of APG propaedeutic training in psychotherapy in Vienna, Austria
2018: member of the Organizing Team of PCE 2018
2018 – 2022: chair of WAPCEPC
2019 until now: trainer at APG.IPS and head of the training association
2021 until now: lecturer at the University of Vienna for Propaedeutic Training in Psychotherapy
Susanna currently runs a private practice in Vienna and in a small town in the Austrian countryside and offers counselling and psychotherapy for individuals and couples as well as supervision for persons who work in the healthcare sector.
Apart from the duties of running an organization, in the training of students Susanna focuses on self-experience and facilitation of encounter groups, concerning lectures the focus is on old age/working with old clients as well as developing a diversity-competence for psychotherapists – it is a challenge and joy to familiarize students with the PCA and facilitate development of their identity of a Person Centered Psychotherapist."
Terry Daly
"Terry works as a Person Centred therapist, supervisor, and trainer in Glasgow, and Edinburgh.
Terry originally trained in Social work and Gestalt therapy and continued his training with the Person centred approach in counselling , supervision and a MSC in counselling research.
He has a background in working with people over 40 years in Health, social work, the private and voluntary sector, and within University settings."
Xi Liu
"My name is Xi, and I am a BPS Chartered Psychologist, a counsellor registered with BACP and COSCA, and an EMCC-accredited coach. I am also a COSCA-accredited Counselling Skills Trainer and a Supervisor on the BPS’s Register of Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors (RAPPS). I hold a PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Sheffield and an MSt in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy from the University of Oxford.
I currently teach Psychology and Counselling at the University of Strathclyde, where I have also served as a Student Counsellor and Mindfulness Teacher within the Disability and Wellbeing Service. Additionally, I am a Panel Tutor for the MSt in Coaching at the University of Cambridge. At Strathclyde, I mainly teach on the BSc Psychology and Counselling course, which follows a person-centred orientation.
I have been practising as a counsellor since 2012, and my work is grounded in person-centred principles, which I integrate into individual counselling, coaching, and mindfulness teaching. I am particularly interested in how person-centred principles can—or should—be integrated into various therapeutic approaches."
Yana Gololob
"My name is Yana Gololob, I am a psychologist and a person-centered psychotherapist, working with individuals, couples, families and groups for more than 20 years. I also offer therapy for kids and adolescents.
I am originally from Dnipro, Ukraine, but due to the aggressive Russian full-scale war in my country, I was forced to leave Ukraine and move to Germany in 2022. At the moment I share my life in two countries.
I received my master's degree in psychology in 2003, and at the same time I was trained as a person-centred therapist at the UUAP (Ukrainian Umbrella Association of Psychotherapists). I qualified both in client-centered psychotherapy and children and youth psychotherapy, along with this I opened a private practice which I still run.
After years of work I felt keen to share my professional experience and got qualified as a PCA trainer and supervisor at the UUAP and the lecturer of the Ukrainian Psychotherapy university where I provide trainings and learnings of practical and theoretical skills to those who decided to dedicate themselves to this profession. Currently I am allso a guest teacher at Dormund University of Applied Science and Arts providing both lectures and experiential learning of the person-centred theory and practical skills connected to it.
One of my main concerns is with the development of the person-centered approach both in Ukraine and worldwide. In this regard, in 2022, I joined the Board of the WAPCEPC and currently remain a Board member. Also I am an APCCA Board member since 2024."
Zaid Al-Nayazi
"I'm a MSc Counselling & Psychotherapy student at the University of Strathclyde. As a third-culture Iraqi from Edinburgh, I bring a rich multicultural perspective to my studies and practice. I'm passionaite about person-centred therapy and its power to support individuals in connecting with their authentic selves and making sense of their unique journeys."