Elizabeth Anscombe

Elizabeth Anscombe is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist based at Nightingale Hospital in London. She also holds the position of Lead Psychotherapist in the CAMHS Adolescent Eating Disorders service at the Royal Free London. Having qualified in 2009 following her training at the Tavistock and Portman Clinic, she brings many years of experience supporting young people, families, and adults facing complex emotional and psychological challenges.

Her work focuses on a range of conditions including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, anxiety, depression, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), panic attacks, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. She is trained in a variety of therapeutic approaches, including psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychotherapy, family therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). Her training in art psychotherapy also allows her to offer creative forms of engagement to support expression and communication.

Elizabeth is a senior honorary lecturer at the Tavistock Clinic, where she leads a one-year course for health professionals titled An Introduction to Working with Eating Disorders Patients - Psychodynamic Approaches. She also lectures and supervises at the Anna Freud Centre, the Society of Analytical Psychology, and the British Psychoanalytic Society, with a particular focus on eating disorders and attachment trauma. In addition, she is involved in ongoing research at UCLH, looking into attachment experiences in girls and those with autistic spectrum disorders.

Throughout her career, she has worked in a range of settings, including as a psychotherapist and art therapist at Mildmay Hospice in East London, where she supported adults, parents, and children living with HIV/AIDS. She is also trained in bereavement counselling and has facilitated reflective practice groups for staff working in hospice and trauma teams.

Known for her compassionate and thoughtful approach, Elizabeth places great emphasis on building trust with each person she works with. Her therapeutic work is grounded in the belief that a safe, non-judgemental space can help individuals explore their internal conflicts and develop healthier ways of coping with emotional distress.