About Elizabeth McCormick

I have been interested in the patterns of human dialogue and the paths and dramas of human relationships since my early twenties. This has led me to seek to understand the nature of suffering more deeply.  In my late twenties I became a Samaritan volunteer and was moved when the person interviewing me said ‘basically what we do here is to share people’s pain.’  My work as a volunteer was an excellent grounding in the art of deep listening, and to my later work as a psychotherapist. Now retired, I was in private practice for over 40 years and worked also in the NHS.

I chose to study firstly Transpersonal psychology which celebrates our capacity to have a relationship with meaning, spiritual capacity, love, beauty. Then I took a Master’s degree in Humanistic Psychology. This school of psychology aimed to ‘put the individual back into psychology’ at a time when it had been dominated by psychoanalysis. My training in social psychiatry and clinical psychotherapy took me to Guy’s Hospital in London where I also trained in Cognitive Analytic Therapy. I became a founder member of the Association for Cognitive Analytic Therapy in 1997

In 2001 I began practising mindfulness each day based upon the tradition of the Vietnamese Zen Buddhist Thich Nhat Hanh. I also trained in MBSR at Bangor university.  This helped me to integrate the art and practice of mindfulness into psychotherapy.

My self help books reflect this growing interest in the individual journey to find meaning.

My three novels also try to explore different journeys with patients from very different backgrounds and the work of the therapist, Dr Max Maxwell.  He is a skilled professional but also vulnerable, wounded with unlived life inside.

Talks 

I am available to offer informal talks or discussions on subjects such as the integration of mindfulness and therapy; creating stories and characters in fiction.