Copyright © 2006/2010 Elke Lambers

Last modified:  24 April 2011                                                                                                           Powered by Counselling Works Ltd.TM

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Elke studied clinical and social psychology at the ancient University of Leiden in the Netherlands. There she was taught by professor J.H.van den Berg, whose work on a phenomenological understanding of  experience in general and of psychological distress in particular had a big impact on her. After graduation she worked as a clinical psychologist and trained as a client-centred therapist  with the Vereniging voor Rogeriaanse Therapy (Society for Rogerian Therapy, now VCgP).

 

Since 1975 she has lived in Scotland where she first worked in adult psychiatry, then from 1978-1993 as student counsellor at the University of Stirling, and from 1993 until her recent retirement,  in private practice as a counsellor, trainer and supervisor.

 

She has been actively involved in the development of counselling in the UK through her work with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

 

From 1974-1997 she worked closely with Dave Mearns and Brian Thorne on the development of the person-centred approach in the UK, in particular though the PCT Britain training courses in Person-Centred Counselling and Psychotherapy. She also developed a successful training programme in person-centred supervision which she ran in Scotland from 1993 to 2009.

 

On an international level Elke has played an active part in the development of the World Association for Person Centered and Experiential Psychotherapy and Counseling (WAPCEPC). She was a founding member in 1997 and was a member of the working group that developed the constitution of the association.  In 2000 she was elected as a board member  and then was Chair of the Board from 2003 until 2008.

 

She has published papers and articles on person-centred perspectives on psychopathology and on supervision.

 

Although she now has retired from private practice, Elke continues to have an interest in supporting person-centred practioners through  training, workshops and seminars, mainly on supervision and on developing a person-centred understanding of disturbance and working with clients who are difficult to reach and connect with. 

 

She lives with her best friend, most supportive and challenging colleague and husband, Dave Mearns, and is proud  of her daughters Kirsty and Tessa who are such interesting and talented women.

 

Her hobbies are learning to sing in choirs, learning Spanish and Gaelic, hill walking, horseriding, going to the horse races, gardening and cycling (as long as the roads are flat). She likes adventure and travel.