The diocese now has a Counselling Coordinator, Anissa Chung, who will develop the counselling service we offer to clergy, licensed lay leaders and their families.
As the appointment was announced, Bishop Guli said: “I am delighted that Anissa has joined us and look forward to seeing her vision in action as we develop a more robust service, with a team of different counsellors able to support people in a variety of ways.”
“The various challenges and stresses of ministry in these times mean that we now need more of a team but we are thoroughly grateful to Joanna Dadge, who has been our counsellor for a number of years.”
Anissa has kindly told us a little about herself to help us get to know her in these socially distanced times.
Professional background:
“After a career in teaching Mathematics in secondary schools, I decided to follow my passion for pastoral care by entering the world of psychotherapy,” said Anissa.
“As part of placement in my early training days, I helped to set up and run a counselling service at Charnwood Community College, Loughborough. That lasted for five years until I became a British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) accredited counsellor in 2008 and developed my own successful practice.”
“Since qualifying as a UKCP supervisor and then graduating in 2013 with an MSc in Integrative Psychotherapy, I have expanded my practice as a United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) registered psychotherapist.
The additional training enabled me to understand human beings at a much deeper level, which in turn greatly enriched the psychotherapy, clinical and pastoral supervision I offer. My special interest is in loss, bereavement and trauma.
“Besides clinical work, I am also a trainer on a MSc in Person-Centred Experiential Psychotherapy Course at the Sherwood Psychotherapy Training Institute, Nottingham. I find it exciting to accompany both students and clients to explore their own journey to experience growth and transformation.”
Taking on this role in the diocese
“In the past five years, I have also been involved in training clergy, chaplains and those in pastoral ministry of all denominations in receiving and offering pastoral supervision at the Institute of Pastoral Counselling and Supervision, Nottingham.”
“It is through those connections that I have developed a strong desire to resource and support clergy, chaplain and other pastoral leaders in their tensions and struggles, as their own faith and inner strength are challenged by the constant demands of ministry, and especially during the Covid19 pandemic. This new post offers me an opportunity to do that.”
Faith life
“I committed my life to the Lord Jesus at the age of 11 through an Anglican school I attended in Hong Kong. My formative Christian faith was nurtured through the pastoral support offered by the teachers there until I came to the UK to continue with my education as a teenager.”
“My Christian faith is central to my being – it inspires but does not dictate the nature of my psychotherapy practice.”
“I have been an active member of my local Anglican church in Loughborough but have recently joined the new St Barnabas Church, a Resourcing Church plant, near where I live.”
Family
“I am married to Paul, an emeritus professor, and we have two grown up daughters. Kirsten, the elder one is an educational psychologist, and Catriona is a competitive swimmer.”
“Influenced by the family’s interests in sport, I have learnt to swim as an adult and enjoy going to swimming with Catriona on a weekly basis. During the lockdown, I’ve taken up running to keep active.”
Vision for the new counselling service for the diocese
“My vision is to set up a professional counselling service with a team of qualified psychotherapists working together to support clergy and their families, and lay licenced leaders to improve their psychological and emotional wellbeing.”
“I would also like to explore the relationship between mental health and Christian faith with clergy, so that we can gain a deeper understanding of that subject.”
“Enhancing clergy’s wellbeing is key – I would like the new service to help develop a level of robustness and resilience among leaders and ministers especially in this challenging time.”
You can contact Anissa on anissa.chung@leccofe.org or 0739 819 9392 and you can read more about Wellbeing provision for the diocese by clicking here.
