John Gillespie

I didn’t know what to write about me so I asked six friends and colleagues to help me….

“John is the only person of my friends whom I don’t hesitate to turn to with the most embarrassing things I’m going through at a specific moment. This is perhaps an important trait for a therapist in a contemporary culture where shame is so present. At the same time, when I share such myself with John, I can count on both seriousness and humour on his part. This mixture has extremely healing properties!”

“John to me is kind, supportive, clever, irritating, rude, and above all, my friend. He has a unique way of creating SUCH a strong holding and supportive space that it always feels okay to me - however I am. But he’s also challenging in a way that isn’t threatening. I suspect he smells of cat pee.”

“She is not wrong, you can be irritating and rude but in very rare circumstances… you don’t smell cat pee … your flat does!”

“John walked beside me during an incredibly traumatic period in my life. His compassionate support enabled me to trust I would survive when I felt my world was falling apart. John provided the deep, authentic and caring connection I needed to stem the loneliness and fear I experienced during this difficult time. John’s unique ability to hold me in a non-judgemental, understanding and empathic way created opportunities to increase my self-acceptance and meet the challenges I faced. He just gets it.”

“John is probably the most open person I know, often to his own detriment. I suspect this isn’t because he has less ego or shame than the rest of us, more that he would rather face his shame than the exile and loneliness that comes from hiding. Whatever the reason it is a gift, as it allows us to show our frailties and failings. He is also ridiculous, and can swing from deep existential considerations to absurdity and mirth, laughing with not at us. He is wonderfully playful, and (just so this is balanced) can be quite annoying - adolescent boy style annoying”

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Whilst I was training as a therapist I founded an organisation called New Gestalt Voices (newgestaltvoices.org). Its aims are to support the voices of those least likely to be heard in political dialogue. The NGV community seeks contributions that explore the role of power and associated oppression in modern societies.

Training & Experience

The Institute of Arts in Therapy and Education (IATE); Diploma in Integrative Arts Pyschotherapy, 2010-11.

Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, Gestalt Training Programme, 2013-14; Working with Physical Process, 2015-16. 

Metanoia Institute London, 2014-17.

London Gestalt Centre, MA in Gestalt Psychotherapy, 2017-19.

Albany Centre, Counselling Diploma, 2022.

Trauma & Addiction training, Rafael Cortina, Insight Therapy Group, 2022.

Therapy & group work Experience 

Trainee placements at Metanoia Counselling and Psychotherapy service, Tower Hamlets Mind, One in Four (works with childhood abuse), and London Friend (LGBT service) 

Mental Health Placement at Cassel Hospital, West London NHS Trust (Feb-Mar 2019)

Director of BowHaven mental health peer support service 2019-20 

Staffed OneinFour’s lockdown telephone helpline for childhood sexual abuse survivors 2020-21

Facilitated workshops on sex, and addiction, and writing, New Gestalt Voices/ UKAGP (2017-22)

Provided peer support for an older population, Age UK Sutton 2022