2025 publishing successes

A year of scholarly excellence
at The Tavistock and Portman

Publishing and research have flourished at the Tavistock and Portman in 2025. Our staff, students and alumni have produced an extraordinary body of work – spanning peer-reviewed journals, groundbreaking monographs, and essential clinical guides. These publications represent not only academic achievement, but a genuine contribution to improving lives. From explorations of complex trauma to investigations of racial disparities in mental health services, from psychoanalytic theory to practical guidance for frontline practitioners, the Tavistock and Portman continues to advance knowledge and shape practice across the mental health landscape.

Here are some of the highlights.

Children, young people and families:
research that makes a difference

Our commitment to improving outcomes for children and families produced remarkable scholarship this year. Dr Eilis Kennedy, working with Katie Harron and Ruth Gilbert, published significant findings in PLOS Oneexamining the effects of the Family Nurse Partnership on all eligible mothers through a data linkage cohort study in England. This research contributed evidence to the debate about early intervention and family support services.

Dr Kennedy also collaborated with Matthew Fysh and Lauren Spinner on research published in Autism Research, examining gender identity profiles in autistic and non-autistic cisgender and gender diverse youth and their caregivers. This study sensitively addressed a complex and often contested area.

The experiences of Black and minority ethnic families received important attention. Dr Karla Jane Bates completed her professional doctorate thesis, ‘Understanding the journeys of Black Caribbean parents who have children with autism’ – research that illustrates the intersection of race, culture and neurodiversity in ways that can transform practice. Similarly, Tiffany Nelson and Hannah Lichwa published a paper in Educational Psychology in Practice exploring the lived experiences of masking and camouflaging among Black autistic girls in UK education. Their research gave voice to young people whose experiences are too often overlooked, with one participant’s words forming the article’s striking subtitle: “Before people see the autism, they see my race.”

Ariffa Yaqoob’s doctoral thesis examined the perspectives of secondary-aged students of British Pakistani background in seeking support for social, emotional and mental health needs. Her research title – ‘It’s better to be quiet than share’ – captured the barriers that cultural factors can create around help-seeking, offering vital insights for educational psychologists and school-based practitioners. Those interested in culturally responsive practice may wish to explore our professional doctorate in Child, community and educational psychology (M4).

Advancing trauma theory and practice

The Tavistock and Portman has long been recognised as a centre of excellence in trauma-informed care, and 2025 saw this expertise crystallise into several landmark publications. Dr Joanne Stubley, a leading voice in the field, was exceptionally productive. Her article in the BMJ, co-authored with Beverley Chipp and Marta Buszewicz, provided essential clinical guidance on the diagnosis and management of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) – a condition increasingly recognised as distinct from PTSD and requiring specialist understanding. This publication in one of the world’s most influential medical journals underscores the relevance of psychoanalytically informed approaches for mainstream healthcare.

Dr Stubley further added to the literature with two articles in Psychodynamic Practice. The first, ‘Complex trauma: the Tavistock model’, offered practitioners a sophisticated yet practical approach to working with survivors of prolonged trauma. The second, ‘Trauma and mourning: containment and interpretation’, explored the relationship between traumatic experience and the mourning process, demonstrating how psychoanalytic concepts such as Bion’s idea of containment can guide therapeutic intervention. Additionally, her thoughtful review of Judith Herman’s seminal work Trauma and Recovery in BJPsych Advancessituated contemporary trauma discourse within its theoretical foundations.

Complementing this clinical focus, Runa Dawood and colleagues published valuable research in the European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, presenting a comprehensive literature search of psychological trauma-related outcome measures for adult mental health services – an essential resource for services seeking to evaluate their effectiveness with traumatised populations.

Psychoanalytic theory:
new contributions to the canon

The Tavistock and Portman continues to be a crucible for psychoanalytic thought, and 2025 witnessed several distinguished additions to the theoretical literature. Dr Tomasz Fortuna published Bion’s Vertices: On Truth and Liesinitiating a new Contemporary Bion series with Karnac. Fortuna’s book is an exploration of Wilfred Bion’s conceptual framework that brought together a stellar international line-up of Bionian scholars that will be essential reading for analysts and therapists seeking to deepen their engagement with this foundational theorist. Lia Pistiner, of the Argentine Psychoanalytic Society called it ‘an innovative approach to the theoretical and clinical work’ of Bion. Dr Fortuna also collaborated with Priscilla Roth and Ignes Sodre on Mapping the Landscape: Explorations in Psychoanalysis, published by Routledge in the prestigious New Library of Psychoanalysis series.

Francesca Hume and Helen Barker contributed Learning and Unlearning through the Clinical Encounter: Becoming a Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist to the Tavistock Clinic Series. This book explores the intellectual, emotional and personal growth needed to become an effective practitioner, offering valuable insights for trainees and experienced clinicians. Those considering this path may find our Child and adolescent psychoanalytic psychotherapy (M80) training of interest.

Margaret Lush and Kate Robertson edited Exploring Psychoanalytic Concepts through Culture, the Arts and Contemporary Life, also in the Tavistock Clinic Series. It demonstrates how psychoanalytic thinking remains relevant beyond the consulting room, drawing on cultural observation to supplement clinical understanding.

Dr Inga-Britt Krause has published a thoughtful article in Ethos exploring ‘Grace and correspondence in ethnography and psychotherapy’ analysing methodological and relational parallels between the two disciplines..

Forensic mental health and criminal justice

The Portman Clinic, with its pioneering work in forensic psychotherapy, continues to inspire important scholarship. Professor Jessica Yakeley published a fascinating historical article in The International Journal of Psychoanalysis tracing the early history of the Portman Clinic and its contributions to the intersection of psychoanalysis, criminology and delinquency. This archival work illuminated the intellectual foundations on which contemporary forensic practice is built.

As well as contributing to an understanding of the Portman’s past Professor Yakeley also contributed to its future with a major piece of research published in The Lancet on how mentalisation-based treatment (MBT) can significantly reduce aggression in offending adult males with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) – a major step forward both for rehabilitation and public safety.

Professor Yakeley also collaborated with Felicitas Rost, Heather Wood and Safia Abid on research published in Personality and Mental Health examining the relationships between paraphilias, problematic sexual behaviours and personality disorder – clinically significant work that advances understanding in a challenging area of practice.

Alexandra Busse completed her doctoral thesis on ‘Psychoanalytic consultation frameworks in Forensic CAMHS’, exploring support for professionals working with young offenders. Guy Skinner and David P. Farrington contributed a chapter to the Handbook on Contemporary Issues in Health, Crime and Punishment, examining strategies for explaining and reducing the poor physical health of individuals who engage in criminal behaviour.

Organisational dynamics and leadership

Understanding the unconscious life of organisations remains a distinctive and valued part of our work. Nick Waggett published an interesting article in Organisational and Social Dynamics exploring ‘Digital transformations: Exploring the human-technology constellation in our entangled organisations’ – at a time when AI is shaking-up how we work.

Ian Leadbetter’s doctoral thesis, ‘Before and after Ofsted: The emotional and professional journey of children’s social care senior leaders who received an Ofsted judgement of inadequate’, explores the psychological impact of regulatory scrutiny on senior leaders. This research has immediate practical implications for supporting leaders through challenging organisational experiences. Those interested in leadership and consultancy may wish to explore our Master’s degree in Consulting and leading in organisations (D10).

Social work, social care and reflective practice

Lisa Bostock and Louise Grant made substantial contributions to the social work literature in 2025. Their article in the British Journal of Social Work, ‘”It’s a tough gig”: Can reflective practice groups support senior leaders in child welfare manage anxiety and provide containment for others?’, addressed questions about sustaining leadership in demanding contexts. With Laura Shephard, they also published research in Child & Family Social Work examining the knowledge and skills early career social workers need to practice effectively with children and families – essential reading for educators and employers alike.

In collaboration with Caroline Reid, Nasreen Ali and Fiona Factor, Bostock and Grant published in the International Journal of Integrated Care a conceptual framework for supporting health and social care students to stay and stay well through integrated care approaches in higher education – addressing the wellbeing of the next generation of practitioners.

Steve Mills, Laurie Preston and Heidi Trivasse have published a service evaluation in Adoption & Fostering examining reflective practice groups for foster carers, evocatively titled ‘Naming the unnameable’ – capturing the power of reflective spaces to articulate difficult experiences.

Expanding the evidence base

Several publications in 2025 contributed significantly to research methodology and clinical measurement. Dr Michelle O’Reilly, Dr Philip Archard and Dr Nikki Kiyimba published Qualitative Health Research: A Practical Guide for Clinical Practitioners, through Routledge – a valuable resource for practitioners seeking to engage with or conduct qualitative research.

Rodrigo Sanchez Escandon, course lead for our Psychodynamic psychotherapy (M58) training, wrote Contemporary Developments in Supportive Therapy: Principles and Practice for Palgrave MacMillan – a valuable contribution to understanding this therapeutic approach.

Susan Howard and Katrina Wynne published Skills in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy with Sage – a practical guide that will support practitioners at all stages of their careers.

Addressing health inequalities

Professor Mark Freestone and colleagues have published important research in SSM – Mental Health examining ethnic disparities as potential indicators of institutional racism in inpatient care within acute mental health wards. This review addressed one of the most pressing issues in contemporary mental health services, contributing evidence to support more equitable care. Professor Freestone also published in the Interactive Journal of Medical Research on subtyping service receipt in personality disorder services – a methodologically sophisticated work that can be used to inform service design and resource allocation.

New voices and emerging scholarship

We also celebrated the many contributions of our doctoral students, whose theses represent years of rigorous inquiry. Mischa Resnick’s interpretative phenomenological analysis explored how occupational histories can influence psychoanalytic child psychotherapists’ experience of their work offering valuable insights into professional identity formation. The current programme leads for UK qualifying level courses in family therapy, including Shila Rashid, Heidi Karamat Ali, Bob Williams and Fiona Crombie, contributed reflections on contemporary issues in training to Context magazine.

Finally, not shying away from difficult issues, there was the publication by a working group including Nadia Taysir Dabbagh, Mona Freeman, Kathryn Hollins and Cathy Troupp: How Do We Even Talk About Palestine and Israel? One Group’s Experience in Unspoken Territory. This brave work demonstrated our community’s continued willingness to engage with the most difficult conversations.

Looking ahead

The publications highlighted here represent just a selection of our community’s scholarly output in 2025. Each article, chapter and book embodies hours of clinical observation, theoretical reflection, empirical research, and careful revision. Together, they advance knowledge, improve practice, and ultimately enhance the lives of those who seek mental health support.

For nearly 90 years, the Tavistock and Portman has been shaping the future of mental health through research and publishing. Our work turns insight into impact – exploring the psychological and social factors that affect wellbeing and sharing ideas that transform care. From trauma and child development to psychotherapy and organisational dynamics, our publications have influenced thinking and informed practice worldwide. Landmark titles like Attachment Across the Life Cycle and Understanding Trauma: A Psychoanalytical Approach (from the Tavistock Clinic Series) have guided clinical training and advanced therapeutic approaches globally. Today, we continue to lead the conversation on emerging issues – from inequality and mental health to innovative psychoanalytic and systemic therapies. Through books, papers, and clinical guides, we connect theory with practice to meet the challenges of modern mental health care.

You can browse a full repository of staff publications via our library, and access thesis abstracts and texts from our professional doctorates in Advanced practice and research: consultation and the organisation (D10D) and Advanced practice and research: social work and social care (D55) via our website.

We congratulate all our authors on their achievements and look forward to the insights that 2026 will bring.