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

Joint Course Lead for Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

Email: [email protected]

Gillian Sloan Donachy, Course Lead

Joint 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]

Liz Cairns, Course Lead

Course Lead for Human Relations and Counselling, Foundations of Human Relations and Counselling and Counselling Children, Young People and Families

Email: [email protected]

Annie Baikie, National Infant Mental Health Coordinator

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

ISE - Towards a Healthier Organisation

Book now for our next ISE (Intensive Study Event) on Wednesday 10 February. Drawing from Philip Stokoe’s new book, “The Curiosity Drive”, Susan Maciver will outline some characteristics of an organisation that is functioning well and discuss what so often gets in the way of organisational health. The subtitle of the book is, “Our Need for Inquisitive Thinking” – never more necessary than at this time of global crisis.
Embodied 'presence': working and living online

HDS Board Member, Mary MacCallum Sullivan, provides a review of an article by Dan Nixon. In ‘The body as mediator’, he foregrounds the embodied experience of the dis-embodiment we all currently share, as we sit glued to our screens because of C-19.
Facing a winter during a pandemic

It is expected that the recent lockdown measures in-place will take a heavier toll on people’s mental health. The Mental Health Foundation has outlined ten risks and ideas for protecting and supporting mental health this winter.
Discussing and addressing mental health in the workplace

In the second part of their, “There For Each Other” campaign, The Scotsman published an article about what support is available to Scottish employees and employers – and how can it help? HDS provides an Employee Assistance Counselling Service and we were invited to contribute to the article.

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).

Facing a winter during a pandemic

It is expected that the recent lockdown measures in-place will take a heavier toll on people’s mental health. The Mental Health Foundation has outlined ten risks and ideas for protecting and supporting mental health this winter.
ISE - Towards a Healthier Organisation

Book now for our next ISE (Intensive Study Event) on Wednesday 10 February. Drawing from Philip Stokoe’s new book, “The Curiosity Drive”, Susan Maciver will outline some characteristics of an organisation that is functioning well and discuss what so often gets in the way of organisational health. The subtitle of the book is, “Our Need for Inquisitive Thinking” – never more necessary than at this time of global crisis.
Award winners

HDS received the Volunteer Friendly Award in recognition of the volunteering opportunities we provide.
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.
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.
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.
Enrol for our postgraduate training

We offer postgraduate training courses for professionals working particularly in the NHS, social services, education, private practice and voluntary sector.
Privacy Policy

We respect the privacy rights of individuals and are committed to handling personal information responsibly and in accordance with applicable law. This notice sets out the personal data that we collect and process about you, the purposes of the processing and the rights that you have in connection with it.
Open Days

Thinking about studying with HDS? We normally have two sets of Open Days (Spring and Autumn) each year to help you find out more about our professional training courses. Sign-up for them here. 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.

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

At a glance: courses, prospectus, fees & applications

At a glance look at the professional training on offer from HDS. Information and links to course information, including: entry requirements, fees, timings, applications and enquiries. Read more

Becky Smith, Director

Jigjit Kaur Tait, Operations Manager

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

Annie Baikie, National Infant Mental Health Coordinator

Volunteers