My Professional Biography

John Whitwell: A Brief Professional Biography

  • Formerly a UKCP registered Psychotherapist and a full member of the British Psychotherapy Foundation (BPF).
  • Formerly Chair of Trustees of the Gloucestershire Counselling Service and Trustee of the Planned Environment Therapy Trust and Trustee of the Mulberry Bush Organisation.
1999-2014: Managing Director of Integrated Services Programme (ISP)

ISP was the first independent fostering agency in the UK when it was started by a small group of foster carers in 1987. We provide therapeutic care in family settings, supported by multi-disciplinary teams of social workers, educationalists and therapists, for children and young people who need this specialised service.

1985–1999: Principal of the Cotswold Community

This was a pioneering therapeutic community for emotionally unintegrated boys, started by Richard Balbernie in 1967. I took over from him having worked there since 1972. We had some great consultants to advise us eg Barbara Dockar-Drysdale, Isabel Menzies-Lyth, Eric Millar and Paul Van Heeswyk. Action for Children decided to close it in 2011. The Cotswold Community continues to be a source of inspiration for the generations of staff who worked there.

1984: Completed Group-analytic Psychotherapist training with the London Centre for Psychotherapy
1977: Vice Principal and Head of Group Living at the Cotswold Community
1976–77: Bristol University – Senior Certificate in the Residential Care of Children and Young People (known as the Advanced Course)
1972–76: Unit Leader at the Cotswold Community
1969–72: Deputy Warden of Manor Lodge Probation Hostel. Old Windsor.
1969: Graduated from Hull University with an upper-second BSc (Hons) in Economics and Sociology