Dawn Summers

Dawn Summers is an experienced Family & Systemic Psychotherapist with a background spanning over 30 years, including extensive experience as a nurse in the NHS. Having obtained her MSc in Family & Systemic Psychotherapy in 2016, Dawn's career has been shaped by her deep understanding of the complex dynamics within families, especially those dealing with trauma and life-altering experiences.

For the majority of her career, Dawn worked as a community palliative care nurse specialist, providing care and support to patients with advanced cancer and their families. This experience has deeply influenced her work as a therapist, giving her the skills and empathy needed to help families facing a wide range of challenging circumstances. After qualifying as a Family Psychotherapist, she worked with a charity, providing therapy to families and couples affected by violence and abuse. This role allowed her to further hone her skills in supporting families through crisis situations and difficult transitions.

Dawn specialises in family therapy, focusing on helping families navigate the inevitable changes in family life cycles, traumatic events, and difficult life circumstances. She works with families who feel stuck in negative communication patterns, helping them develop healthier ways of interacting and understanding one another. Family therapy sessions create a safe environment for family members to express their experiences, emotions, and perspectives, fostering empathy and improving family dynamics.

Dawn recognises that the term "family" is not restricted to biological relations but extends to anyone an individual identifies as important in their life, including children, partners, extended family, or friends. She offers therapy to all kinds of family structures and believes in the importance of inclusivity and flexibility in therapeutic work.

Understanding that therapy can feel like a significant and anxious step, Dawn ensures that she works collaboratively with families, particularly when young children are involved. She integrates art and play-based techniques to support younger family members in expressing themselves during sessions. Dawn is always happy to have a conversation with families before sessions to discuss the therapeutic process and to ensure they feel comfortable and informed.

Dawn is a registered member of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and holds a professional membership with The Association of Family Therapy. She is committed to ongoing professional development and engages in regular clinical supervision and training activities to ensure the highest standards of care for her clients.