Francis Gilbert
Trainee Member of the Human Givens Institute
Registration No. 190322
About me
I am a writer, educator, and Human Givens therapist in training. My therapeutic work is grounded in a practical, evidence based understanding of human psychology, and focuses on helping people move out of distress and back towards balance, confidence, and fulfilment.
Alongside my work as an author and Head of MA Creative Writing and Education at Goldsmiths, University of London, I am completing my professional training in Human Givens therapy. I also have a background in psychological approaches that support emotional regulation and attention, which informs my work but does not drive it.
My Training and Professional Development
I have completed Part 2 of the Human Givens Diploma. Human Givens therapy is a clear, integrative, and humane approach that draws on neuroscience, psychology, and an understanding of our innate emotional needs.
The approach focuses on helping people meet core emotional needs such as security, meaning, connection, autonomy, and purpose, using the natural resources we all possess, including imagination, memory, and pattern recognition. It is solution focused, collaborative, and respectful, helping people move forward without unnecessary dwelling on the past.
I am particularly interested in how Human Givens therapy can help people break unhelpful patterns, reframe difficult experiences, and restore a sense of agency and hope.
Supervised Practice and Free Therapy Sessions
I am now preparing to complete Part 3 of the Human Givens Diploma, which involves working with clients under supervision. As part of this stage, I will soon be offering free therapy sessions.
All sessions will be supervised by a fully accredited Human Givens practitioner listed on the Human Givens Accredited Register. This ensures that clients receive safe, ethical, and professionally guided support.
How I Work
I aim to create a calm, confidential, and structured space where clients can:
Clarify what is going wrong and what they want to change
Identify unmet emotional needs
Understand how current patterns have developed
Use imagination and practical techniques to move towards solutions
My background as a writer and educator means I am particularly skilled at helping people make sense of complex inner experiences, find language for what feels confusing, and develop clearer narratives that support change.
Get in Touch
If you would like to express interest in a free Human Givens therapy session, or would like to know more about how I work, please email me at sir@francisgilbert.co.uk
or use the contact form on my website.
I will respond personally and in confidence.
Qualifications
BA Hons (English Literature)
PGCE in English and Drama
PhD in Creative Writing and Education
Accredited Breathworks Mindfulness Teacher
Professional Memberships
Trustee of National Association of Writers in Education, member of Higher Education Academy (Senior Fellow)
Testimonials
“I came to Francis feeling overwhelmed and stuck in constant stress. What I appreciated most was how practical the sessions were. We focused on what was actually going wrong in my life and what I needed to change, rather than endlessly analysing the past. I left each session feeling clearer, calmer, and more able to cope.”
“Francis has a rare ability to listen deeply and then help you make sense of things in a very grounded way. He helped me understand how my needs for autonomy and meaning had been squeezed over time, and how that was affecting my mood. The work felt respectful, intelligent, and quietly transformative.”
“I felt safe straight away. Francis was calm, focused, and non judgemental. He helped me see patterns in how I was thinking and responding to pressure at work, and gave me practical ways to break those patterns. I came away feeling more in control and less exhausted.”
“What stood out was Francis’s clarity. He didn’t rush me, but he also didn’t let me stay stuck. He helped me reconnect with what mattered to me professionally and personally, and to make changes that felt achievable. The sessions were structured, humane, and very effective.”
“As someone used to thinking and reflecting a lot, I was surprised by how different this felt from just talking things through. Francis helped me use imagination and practical techniques to shift long standing habits. It felt purposeful and solution focused, without ever feeling superficial.”
“Francis combines warmth with intellectual rigour. He understands the pressures of working in education, and he helped me find language for experiences I had been carrying for years. I felt lighter, clearer, and more hopeful after our work together.”
