Chris Brown, Director

Co Director/ HPD Course Coordinator & Tutor

Chris is a Person-Centred trained, BACP Accredited & UKRC Registered Counsellor and Psychotherapist who also works in Private Practice. As well as her Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling, Chris holds an MA in Counselling & Psychotherapy, a Certificate in Education, and an AEB Certificate in Counselling Supervision. She is currently involved in supervising her students’ research in Counselling and Psychotherapy and pursuing her own research into Diversity Issues in the Counselling profession; she has presented her research work on a number of occasions at national level; including research undertaken with LC&CTA Co Director Juanita Harriot.
Chris is a published author and has gained broad experience as a Counselling Trainer in FE & AE Institutions London wide. In her small Private Practice Chris also offers supervision to other counsellors.
Chris is a co-founder of LC&CTA and has taught in the Borough of Lewisham since 1996; she comes from a Working Class background and Italian immigrant heritage.

Linda Hafez

Person-Centred Counsellor

Linda is a qualified Person-Centred Counsellor and Group Facilitator who is in the process of gaining her Certificate in Education. She has worked as a Schools Counsellor since 2008 and believes in our innate human capacity to move toward all we can be and the self-defining process inherent in the person-centred psychotherapeutic approach. Linda runs a very small Private Practice because most of her professional time is spent working extensively with young people in the London Boroughs of Lewisham and Greenwich. LC&CTA trained, Linda's association with us began in 2006; currently she is one of our Lead Tutors on The Introduction Course and The Level 2 Certificate in Counselling. She also co-facilitates a number of our CPD Workshops in conjunction with Chris Brown (Co Director) and is now co-developing LC&CTA’s new short course in Counselling Skills for Health & Social Care Professionals which will be delivered externally for the first time in January 2012 to Six Form students at a College in Tower Hamlets. Over the past 5 years Linda has gained comprehensive experience in facilitating both Classroom and Therapeutic Groups and will be co-delivering The Facilitating Therapeutic Groups Course when it begins in March 2012. Linda is British with both English and Middle Eastern Islamic heritage.

Lyla Smith-Abass

Counsellor, Dramatherapist and Prevention of Domestic Violence Worker

Lyla is a qualified Dramatherapist and Person-Centred Counsellor who trained with the Northern Trust for Dramatherapy and at LC&CTA. Lyla believes that creativity in the form of art, story telling, using masks, role play, exploring myths, playing and/or moving to music are all important sources of personal and emotional expression that encourage and enhance profound self-understanding. She believes that such expression also supports an individual’s recovery and healthy psychological adjustment. As a therapist her work is centred around providing individuals and groups with a forum in which to address issues relating to their emotional and mental well being; her creative skills are used primarily as tools to help others self-educate but also as a source of healing. Currently Lyla runs Short Term Courses and Workshops at LC&CTA and works at TRYangle Project 2011 which is a Greenwich based domestic violence service for perpetrators who want to cease offending behaviour. In this capacity she facilitates groups for perpetrators of domestic violence and for young people who are affected by violence in the home. Lyla is of African Caribbean heritage with a strong interest in Black issues.

John Threadgold

HPD in Counselling Tutor/Focusing Teacher

John Threadgold describes himself as a 'Focusing-Oriented Person Centred and Integrative' therapist. He runs a private counselling and psychotherapy practice called New Focus Therapy. As well as holding Level 6 Diplomas in Humanistic Counselling and Psychotherapy, and Therapeutic Supervision, he also holds an MA in Focusing and Experiential Psychotherapy from the University of East Anglia. John is recognised as a Focusing Teacher and therapist by the Focusing Institute, and is a member of the Focusing Institute, the British Focusing Teachers Association, (BFTA) the British Association for the Person Centred approach (BAPCA) and the Association of Christian Councillors (ACC). He is also accredited for counselling and psychotherapy with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). John believes that Mindfulness and Focusing provide simple gentle, but powerful approaches to self development, and emotional healing and wellbeing for everybody. He is also passionate about promoting Focusing knowledge and skills to other therapists and supervisors.

Andrew Zap

Andrew has worked in the drug and alcohol field and homelessness for twenty five years. He has over five thousand hours of group-work experience being in and facilitating group process. During this time he has delivered and facilitated therapeutic training and relapse prevention groups. He has worked in a number of settings which include; Prison, inpatient rehabilitation services, 12 step and therapeutic street agency prescribing services, homeless outreach contact and assessment teams and statutory housing and medical services. He has a Msc in Drug and alcohol policy and practice from Imperial College, an ENB 616 Cert in Drug Dependence (Nursing). He has also has qualifications in number of related areas which include training for trainers, Gestalt therapy, process intervention and motivational interviewing. Although semi-retired he is a musician and a stand-up comedian who gigs regularly around the country, is involved in personal development and is currently involved in delivering an experiential therapeutic group-work module here at LC&CTA.

Mehboob Dada, PPD Facilitator

Mehboob Dada is Person Centred trained, BACP Registered and Accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist. Mehboob has a PGCE and an MA in Health Promotion, Education and International Development from Goldsmiths and the Institute of Education, University of London.  As well as the Diploma in Counselling, Mehboob holds a Foundation in Group Analysis and Diploma in Group Analytical Supervision. Mehboob has been working with vulnerable individuals affected by drug use, asylum seekers and traumatized individuals.

Identity and belonging are areas of personal interest for Mehboob, who has worked internationally with the European Union, UNESCO, the NHS and third sector organizations. A skilled group conductor, Mehboob has since 2016 has been facilitating a group for the Black, Asian and African Therapy network (BAATN).

 In private practice Mehboob provides short and long-term therapy, as well as supervising trainee therapists and counsellors. Mehboob has a practice that respects working with diverse ethnicities, sexualities, and belief systems.  Mehboob was born in Uganda with Indian ancestry and sought asylum in the UK in 1970. 

Belinda Smith, Tutor

Belinda  is a qualified counsellor and tutor with years of experience working with people facing various challenges.

After qualifying from LC&CTA 2012 She went on to be a school counsellor for a few years. She now runs her own private practice based in South East London and has years of experience working with young people and adults therapeutically.

Belinda is a gentile, kindly woman with a warm and caring nature – she has known Chris Brown and Juanita for many years and is enjoying working with them at LC&CTA.

Belinda is of Black British Heritage.

Dorothy Dixon, PPD Facilitator

Dorothy qualified as a Person-Centred Counsellor at LC&CTA. 

She holds a higher professional Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy and is a member of the BACP.

Whilst training as a counsellor Dorothy worked and continues to work for Renaissance Horizon as a substance misuse counsellor.  Within this agency she has worked with a variety of different clients’ supporting them through their journey into recovery and now holds the position of Vice Agency Manager.

Dorothy comes from a Health and Social Care background and previously worked as senior Co-ordinator for Home-Start a global voluntary organisation supporting parents with young children who are experiencing difficulties.  She worked with refugee families suffering with mental health issues, loss and trauma; who were struggling to deal with resettlement and the stresses and strains of everyday life.  This work spurred Dorothy to become a counsellor as she recognised many people simply need a listening ear, support and encouragement in order to live a settled and fulfilled life.

Dorothy also works in private practice and is of Anglo Indian heritage; she loves people and loves to laugh; a kind and loving joker at heart!

Tina Corcoran, Co Director

Tina currently teaches the Level 3 CPCAB Foundation and is Co-Lead Tutor on our BACP Accredited HPD Counsellor Training Course. She also delivers, as Lead Tutor, our L6 Clinical Supervision Course.

Tina holds a Post-Grad Diploma in Integrative Counselling but developed her practice to become fully Person-Centred.  She is a registered member of the BACP and a qualified teacher holding a PGCE, Diploma in Counselling and a Masters Level Qualification in Clinical Supervision.

Tina has worked in a variety of roles, starting out as a Teacher in Secondary education, she moved into teaching in Pupil Referral Units, working closely with students with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs; she developed her skills in order to help children/young people with severe difficulties in managing their emotions and behaviour.

She moved on to work in the forensic field in both one to one and group settings in Prisons; this included working with issues around Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Trauma, Bereavement, Loneliness and Isolation, Anxiety, Depression, Relationships, Family Issues, Suicide, and issues relating to Childhood Sexual Abuse.

Tina became a Co-Director of LC&CTA in May of 2022 and is a wonderful asset to our LLP. She is British with strong links to her Irish heritage.

Jeremy Gordon, Group Facilitator

Jeremy (Jerry) is a person-centered counsellor, working in private practice in London. He is a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

Prior to becoming a counsellor, he spent over 25 years as an international business consultant, specialising in strategy and risk issues. He is also an experienced company director and charity trustee.

He obtained his Higher Professional Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy at LC&CTA, having previously studied at Birkbeck College, University of London. In addition to working in private practice, he has been a school and agency counsellor.

Jerry is of British heritage, and lives in South London.

Mahayla

Mahayla practises privately in London as a Person-Centered counsellor. She offers online, office based and walking therapy. She is also Registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

Prior to becoming a counsellor, she worked as a Customer Experience Specialist and teaching in English in Japan.

She studied a Higher Professional Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy at LC&CTA, and obtained counselling qualifications at Birkbeck College and the University of East London.

Mahayla is of British Caribbean heritage, and lives in South London.