About me
I’m Christina Macadam. I spent many years as a teacher before deciding that I wanted to work on a deeper level with children and adolescents and adults. This led me to train as a psychodynamic psychotherapist.
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I completed my clinical training at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, qualifying me to work with children, adolescents, adults and families. Before this, I did a pre-clinical Masters at the Anna Freud Centre, which provided an in-depth understanding of development from infancy to adulthood.
Since 2015, I’ve worked therapeutically in a variety of settings and a range of emotional, behavioural, social and mental health difficulties. This includes working in a Tier 3 community NHS , third sector organisations, and primary and secondary schools. I also provide clinical supervision. Currently I work at the Nightingale Hospital and in private practice.
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I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP) and the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) and adhere to their strict code of ethics. I am also a member of the Tavistock Society of Psychotherapists (TSP). I have regular clinical supervision and personal therapy. This ensures that my work is of the highest standard.
I have coauthored an academic paper, published in the Journal of Child Psychotherapy, describing our work at a specialist under 5's service. More detail can be found here.
I have experience of working with a wide range of ages, identities and cultural backgrounds. My practice is welcoming, inclusive and LGBTQIA+ affirmative.
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Education
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University of East London/The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust
MA in Psychological Therapies with Children, Young People, and Families (awarded a Distinction)
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University College London/The Anna Freud Centre
MSc in Psychoanalytic Developmental Psychology
(awarded a Distinction)
My approach
My work is grounded in a psychodynamic approach, which helps bring greater awareness to feelings that are often kept inside and to the ways in which past experiences may be influencing present difficulties and behaviour. I also focus on what is happening in the here and now, working together to understand and unpack some of the challenges you may be facing. Above all, I take a flexible approach that places the needs of each child, youn person and young adult at the heart of the work.
How I work
As a therapist, I listen carefully and work alongside to make sense of your thoughts, feelings and experiences. Working through feelings with a professional can create deeper self-awareness and connection with others. Through exploration, we can begin to identify relational and behavioural patterns and unpick things that may be holding you back. Through reflection, we can bring about new perspectives and new ways of being can emerge. This can lead to a more balanced and integrated sense of self.
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Therapy is sometimes challenging. It can bring up difficult feelings, touch on parts of ourselves we may feel uncomfortable with or even unaware of. However, it can also be a powerful way of understanding ourselves better, an opportunity for emotional growth and for finding ways forward.
Key to this is the relationship that we build together in the sessions. Within a safe and supportive space, we can explore your experience and personal story.