Staff

Meet the team at Human Development Scotland (HDS) who work to improve the mental health and emotional wellbeing of people in Scotland.

Course leaders

Lynne Conway, Course Lead

Course Lead for Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

Email: [email protected]

Gillian Sloan Donachy, Course Lead

Course Lead for Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

Email: [email protected]

Joanne Young, Course Lead

Course Lead for Therapeutic Work with Children and Young People

Email: [email protected]cot

Liz Cairns, Course Lead

Course Lead for Human Relations and Counselling and Foundations of Human Relations and Counselling

Email: [email protected]

Volunteers

We employ a combination of full/part-time staff and tutors/counsellors on a contractual basis. We also value the time and commitment from volunteers for trustee roles, as well as for administration and marketing support.

Our wonderful office-based volunteer team currently consists of: Norman Rae and Paul Tait

Latest

HDS receives grant funding from the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Fund

Human Development Scotland (HDS) is delighted to have received grant funding from the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Fund set up by the Scottish Government and allocated through Inspiring Scotland.
Open Days

We normally have two sets of Open Days (Spring and Autumn) each year to help you find out more about our professional training courses. Can’t wait for the next Open Days? Here are some resources that can help you in your research and decision on whether to apply for postgraduate training with HDS.
Rise in mental health problems amid pandemic

Doctors are seeing a rise in people reporting severe mental health difficulties, a group of NHS leaders says. The NHS Confederation estimate that the rising demand will outstrip pre-coronavirus levels - perhaps by as much as 20%.
A crucial time for employers to invest in counselling

The impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on employees’ work and personal lives shows this is a crucial time for employers to invest in workplace counselling, according to a new report.

Counsellors

Meet our highly qualified counsellors who provide the counselling services at Human Development Scotland (HDS).
Tutors

Meet our highly qualified tutors who deliver the Human Development Scotland (HDS) training programme.
Board

Meet our Board of Trustees who voluntarily provide their expertise to support the effective governance of Human Development Scotland (HDS).

Masters in Human Relations and Counselling

Masters in Human Relations and Counselling. This three-year part-time training will lead to the award of MSc and is an advanced professional training for Psychodynamic Counsellors. The MSc has been designed to provide students with excellent clinical training, fully integrated with the knowledge, research and experience of the skills that will be necessary for those working in the modern NHS, the third sector and in private practice.
Therapeutic work with children and young people

MSc Psychoanalytic Observation and Reflective Practice: Therapeutic Work With Children and Young People. This modular course offers an in-depth understanding of infants’, children’s and adolescents’ emotional and personality development, the significance of primary relationships and their relevance to working with these age groups and their families.
Award winners

HDS received the Volunteer Friendly Award in recognition of the volunteering opportunities we provide.
Jobs

Human Development Scotland (HDS) employ a combination of full/part-time staff and tutors/counsellors on a contractual basis. We also value the time and commitment from volunteers for trustee roles, as well as for administration and marketing support.
Accessibility
Looking after our mental health in uncertain times

Infectious disease outbreaks, like the current Coronavirus (COVID-19), can be scary and can affect our mental health. While it is important to stay informed, there are also many things we can do to support and manage our wellbeing during uncertain times. Here are some tips from members of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) which we hope will help you, your friends and your family to look after your mental health.
Foundations of Human relations and counselling

An introduction to psychodynamic ideas about what it means to be human, together with experiential training in communication and counselling skills incorporating psychodynamic principles. This course gives unparalleled insight into the complexities of human interactions and is a foundation for the use of advanced communications and counselling skills.
Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

Professional Doctorate in Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. This is a practical and theoretical training course in psychoanalytical psychotherapy with children and young people.
Human relations and counselling

Post Graduate Diploma in Human Relations and Counselling. This part-time modular programme provides the opportunity for professional training as a Psychodynamic Counsellor, and includes: theoretical study, skills practice supervised clinical practice in a placement, development of a critical awareness of underlying relational dynamics, development of the capacity to work sensitively and constructively with issues of diversity and equalities.
Donate

Your donation will help relieve mental and emotional distress by increasing the availability of, and access to, high quality psychodynamic and psychoanalytic counselling and psychotherapy for all who need them.

Friends of HDS

Friends of HDS is our way of recognising groups of supporters who make a regular commitment to the work of HDS. Find out more about becoming a Friend of HDS. Read more

Becky Smith, Director

Jigjit Kaur Tait, Operations Manager

Lynne Learmonth, Academic Courses Administrator

Emma Baillie, Academic Administrative Assistant

Susan Gordon, Academic Administrative Assistant

Lawrence Sum, Marketing & Communications Officer

Course leaders

Lynne Conway, Course Lead

Gillian Sloan Donachy, Course Lead

Joanne Young, Course Lead

Liz Cairns, Course Lead

Volunteers