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GAIL SIMON, DProf (she-they)
UKCP reg. Systemic Psychotherapist and Supervisor, Prof.Doc Systemic Practice
 WORKING FOR THE PINK PRACTICE I work with LGBTQIA+ couples, polycules and other models of family or relationship and I offer supervision to queer systemic therapists. I am a founding member of The Pink Practice. So my experience of working with people in relationships goes back a few decades and I have experienced many changes during my life in the LGBTQIA+ communities and within the field of queer therapy services. I am a lesbian (she & they), gender affirming and experienced in working with most types of relationship problems or periods of change. RELATIONSHIP WORK Relationships change, people develop... and I've been talking with more and more people about how they can open up their relationship safely, ethically and well. I particularly enjoy working with non-binary, trans, genderqueer, gender refuseniks, people questioning their gender, and how this is affecting their relationships. I have a lot of experience in working with people who are neurodivergent and pay attention to how neurodiversity plays out in relationships - especially where partners are working on understanding and coordinating their neurodivergent needs. I have a particular interest in supporting queer families in the making and during times of change. My consultation model of therapy is quite conversational. This allows us all to work understand why some things feel stuck or particularly sensitive, and come up with some helpful ideas. Understanding people's strengths and life experince is really important and useful to thereapeutic process. WORKING WITH COUPLES, POLYCULES, FAMILIES AND NETWORKS When I first meet people for relationship work, it's useful to find out a bit about who I'm talking with. I need to know who you are when you aren't having struggles! It's important to understand what you're like in other areas of your life because you're likely to be able and versatile as a parent, colleague, employee or employer, friend, family member and partner. Relationship problems can impact on how you see yourself or feel seen by your partner(s) but it's not all of you. It can be useful also to get a sense of whether you and your partner(s) prefer reflective conversation or suggestions of new things to try. Either way, the aim is to have a collaborative, exploratory conversation so you feel you are influencing the focus as well as the way we work together. Over the years, I've found that therapeutic ways of working need constantly re-inventing to depathologise and decolonise professional ways of communicating, and to challenge our received values and attachments to certain theories. The Pink Practice has always been a place which recognises the importance of intersectionality, diverse and complex identities, such as racial, cultural and community heritage, gender and neurodiversity, preferred ways of speaking and relating. STUDY AND QUALIFICATIONS PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP I am a Registered Systemic Psychotherapist and Supervisor The United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) Email The Pink Practice |