The Cassel Hospital is a highly specialist, centrally funded NHS service for patients experiencing severe and enduring mental health problems, often with a background of complex trauma.

Patients work in a psychoanalytically informed therapeutic community on the difficulties that have marred their lives. Psychosocial nurses, a social worker, group and individual psychotherapists, psychiatrists, a community doctor, and the patients themselves all make a contribution to the running of this complex treatment setting which aims to engage patients at every level, from the healthy, functioning parts of their minds to the unconscious conflicts that wreak havoc from places beyond their rational control.

It is also a setting in which cups need to be washed, dinner cooked, food shopped for, meetings attended and so on. And it is itself situated in a much larger context with its own demands and expectations.

Where does authority lie in such a complex system? And what is its role? Does it help or hinder? Do we need it? Who needs it? Who exerts it? We will explore these questions from a variety of perspectives, theoretical, clinical and organisational.

Experienced Cassel clinicians will share some of their thoughts to begin a discussion with the audience:

1. Acting Out: Authority and responsibility in a therapeutic community

Emma Davson, Psychosocial Nurse & Simmi Protab, Clinical Nurse Manager

2.The Importance and Challenges of Holding Authority in a Complex Organisation

Dr Kimberley Barlow, Consultant Psychiatrist in Medical Psychotherapy, Clinical Lead Cassel Hospital & Dr Miriam Barrett, Consultant Psychiatrist and Medical Psychotherapist, Cassel Inpatient Service/ Psychoanalyst

3.Must we take ‘No’ for an answer? Authority, safety and (psychic) development

Ricardo Readi & Beate Schumacher, Psychotherapists/ Psychoanalysts

Join us in person at:

The Cassel Hospital, 1 Ham Common, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 7JF.

Register now.