Our Patron and Board of Directors

>  Board Terms of Reference   (PDF Download)

>  Board Structure and Governance, Recruitment and Training of Directors   (PDF Download)

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Sue Cook (Patron)

Sue Cook, as well as being a journalist and author, is one of the UK’s most experienced and popular broadcasters. Over a long career she presented programmes for both radio and television, notably, You and Yours, Nationwide, Crimewatch, Out of Court, and Children in Need with Sir Terry Wogan, and interviewed a diverse range of people from James Stewart to Archbishop Tutu.

Sue is supportive of the human givens approach to relieve suffering and its potential to bring much-needed clarity to all walks of human life

She is an honours graduate in Psychology from Leicester University, who also awarded her an honorary D. Litt in 1997 in recognition of her contribution to British broadcasting, an Ambassador for the Prince’s Trust and a patron of the Rainbow Trust, the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation, and the British Wireless Fund for the Blind.

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Joe Griffin, FHGI, co-chair

Joe Griffin is a psychologist with many years’ experience both in psychotherapeutic practice and in training psychotherapists. His influence on psychotherapy has been enormous among those who value effectiveness above all. As co-developer of the human givens approach to psychology and behaviour, thousands of health professionals have enjoyed his practical workshops and seminars on brief therapy for treating anxiety related disorders, depression, trauma and addiction. Many of these can be watched online. Since it is widely recognised that much mental distress comes from work related stress he is increasingly in demand by businesses to help them run more effectively by taking account of the innate needs of customers, employees, suppliers, owners and shareholders.

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Ivan Tyrrell, FHGI, co-chair

Ivan Tyrrell worked for many years as a psychotherapist specialist in brief therapy for depression and anxiety, and now spends most of his time lecturing and writing. In 1997 he co-founded the human givens approach with the Irish psychologist Joe Griffin, and together they have written numerous best-selling books on mental health and wellbeing, psychology, counselling, dreaming, depression, the origins of creativity and consciousness. He is the editorial director of the HGI's journal Human Givens, and a director of the Human Givens College.

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Elizabeth Nihan

After completing a degree in psychology, Elizabeth was a teacher and lecturer for over twenty-five years, gaining considerable experience of working with children, teenagers and adults. Elizabeth is an experienced human givens therapist, having spent many years in private practice and is also currently in the process of setting up a new school for young people with social, emotional and behavioural needs.

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Ashley Lamb

Throughout her 40-year administrative career, including 24 years in the Armed Forces, Ashley has always been in roles that prioritise the support and welfare of others. She now works as a project manager with PTSD Resolution, where she also supports the charity’s clients, reflecting her strong interest in the mental health of the Armed Forces community. Drawn to the Human Givens approach for its practical, proven, and effective methodology, she qualified as an HG therapist in February 2023. Alongside her work with PTSD Resolution, Ashley is also developing a growing private practice.

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Denise Winn, FHGI

Denise Winn was editor of the Human Givens Journal for 26 years. She has been a human givens therapist in private practice since 2000 and was also for many years a tutor for Part 1 of the Human Givens Diploma. Previously, she wrote regularly on psychology and mental health for the Observer, Sunday Times, Independent, Daily Mirror and the Daily Mail's health section, as well as for national magazines, and had columns in Cosmopolitan, She, and the Today newspaper on health or mental health. She was editor of the UK edition of Psychology Today and is one of American Psychology Today's UK expert bloggers. She is the author of 11 books on psychological topics for the lay reader, and co-author of the HG Essential Help in Troubled Times series of self-help titles on depression, addiction, anxiety, anger and liberation from pain.

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Jennifer Broadley

Jennifer Broadley is a Human Givens psychotherapist, supervisor and tutor for the Human Givens College. She specialises in couples therapy and in neuro diversity and, since 2012, has had private practices in Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh. In the past 5 years she has moved Healthy Chat fully online and now works with clients throughout the UK and overseas. In 2002 Jennifer trained as an executive and corporate coach and set up an independent, external coaching practice which has operated successfully since then. Previous to being a business owner, she worked for 15 years in the publishing and media industry both internationally and in the UK leading teams in the commercial, marketing, editorial and circulation sectors.

Jennifer was brought up in West Africa, educated in Scotland and lived and worked in Hong Kong, Australia and Indonesia before returning to a London base in the late 90s. She is a proud single parent, and in 2009 moved with her daughter to Scotland’s east coast where her non-working interests include wild swimming and masters squash.

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Abigail Darling

Abigail Darling is an experienced psychotherapist, supervisor and trainer using the Human Givens model. She runs a private practice in Leamington Spa and works in the NHS at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Birmingham on a persistent pain treatment programme. Abigail has special interest in treating post traumatic stress and works with military veterans via the charity PTSD Resolution.

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Graeme Layzell

Graeme Layzell is a highly experienced HG therapist and supervisor, currently working in private practice. He previously spent a number of years working in different coorporate environments in different parts of the world before qualifying initially as a hypnotherapist and later as a psychotherapist.

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Michelle Buckles

After gaining a degree in Psychology and Sociology Michelle worked in the NHS as an Assistant Clinical Psychologist for six years in the UK. Following the completion of a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) Michelle changed careers and worked in the private sector as an Account Director for a global security company.

Michelle now lives in Jersey, Channel Islands and completed her professional training in Psychotherapy with the Human Givens College. She is a fully registered practitioner in both the UK and Jersey and has a private practice called Oasis Therapy. In addition, Michelle is co-founder of Mind Matters, providing corporate wellbeing for the workplace with fellow HG psychotherapist Lydia Falle.

Michelle volunteers her time one day a week to Brighter Futures, a family charity where she is an ambassador and has set up and run a therapy clinic supporting clients who access the charity.