About me
Liz initially trained as a Mental Health Nurse (RMN) and specialised in the care of children and teenagers experiencing acute mental health problems. She then trained as a Registered General Nurse (RGN), worked in oncology and then specialised in HIV where she worked as an HIV/Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist.
Furthering her interest in Mind/ Body Medicine and Palliative Care, Liz trained in a range if CAM therapies and completed a BA Therapeutic Bodywork from the University of Westminster (1999). She then headed the Complementary Therapies Teams at St. Christopher’s Hospice then Harley Street Cancer Centre in London pioneering the use of CAM therapies in supportive care. Liz was responsible for audit of services, training and supervising volunteer therapists, contributed to the education programmes and the National Guidelines for Complementary Therapies in Palliative Care. Alongside this Liz joined the University of Westminster in 1999 as a lecturer in Practitioner Development & Reflective Practice.
Liz moved into education full time in 2003 as the course leader for the BSc Health Sciences: Complementary Medicine/Naturopathy and was responsible for developing a degree programme and teaching a curriculum for practitioners that mapped Professional Body criteria. With a specific interest in clinical teaching, practitioner development and reflective practice, she developed a Complementary Medicine clinic and provided clinical teaching and supervision for students undertaking placement in the Polyclinic. Liz gained a PGCHE and HEA Fellowship in 2010. During time as a clinical teacher in the Polyclinic Liz became more interested in the somatisation of emotional distress and trauma and embarked on Psychodynamic Psychotherapy training culminating in an MA Psychotherapy in 2011. She furthered this with PG Cert in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy & Mindfulness and a Certificate in Clinical Supervision.
Following maternity leave Liz returned to teaching part-time and works as a psychotherapist part-time in private practice and also within a university counselling service. Her experience with clients informs her teaching and Liz’s interests include therapeutic relationship, counselling & communication skills, reflective practice, personal & practitioner development, practitioner resilience & self–care through mindfulness. Liz integrated the use of clinical supervision groups in teaching therapeutic relationship skills, practitioner development and reflective practice to multidisciplinary and multilevel student groups leading to the development of students into professional practitioners.
Teaching
Module Leader & Lecturer in Clinical Practice/ Therapeutic Relationship L6. Lecturing, Tutoring, and Assessing in Therapeutic Relationship, Practitioner Development, Reflection/Reflective Practice.
Module Leader & Lecturer in Yoga & Meditation L4. Lecturing, Tutoring, Assessing an FST elective module open to home and International/European Study Abroad Students
Other Lecturing. Lecturing in Therapeutic Relationship, Practitioner Development, Reflection/Reflective Practice for L4, L5, L6, L7.
Group Facilitator of Supervision Groups (L4, L5, L6, L7). Reflective exploration of Clinical practice experience: turning experience into learning.
Other Roles include RPCL/RPEL (Recognition of Certificated & Experiential Learning Tutor) for Herbal & East Asian Medicine, Personal Tutor.
Research
(Interests only - No current work-in-progress)
Developmental process of reflective learning of students to practitioners – the value and place of tutoring / mentoring / supervision / preceptorship processes.
Cross discipline and level clinical supervision groups as a method of enhancing reflective process and reflective practice for CAM students.
Self-care practices to enhance student and practitioner resilience.
Publications:
Hawkins, L. (2015). The Mindful Therapist. ATH Journal. Winter: 5-8.
Hawkins, L. (2015). Reflection: what does it mean for Professional Healers. ATH Journal. Winter: 17-21.
Hawkins, L. (2014). Ever Mindful. International Therapist. January:
Hawkins, L. Polley, M. (2012). Supporting Patients with Cancer Using Complementary Therapies. International Therapist. April: 10-12.
Hawkins, L. (2003). Reiki. In Tavares, M., (ed.) National Guidelines for the use of Complementary Therapies in Supportive and Palliative Care. London: Prince of Wales Foundation for Integrated Healthcare.
Audits undertaken in healthcare:
2004 ‘Value of Clinical Supervision Groups for Oncology Nurses’ for Harley Street Cancer Centre, London
2004 'Evaluating Effects of Aromatherapy, Reflexology & Healing in patients undergoing treatment for Breast Cancer' for Harley Street Cancer Centre, London
2002 ' Evaluating the Effects of Aromatherapy in Palliative Care Patients' for St. Christopher’s Hospice, London
2001 ‘The effects of treatment with TEA TREE Essential Oil on fungating breast lesion infected with MRSA' for St. Christopher’s Hospice, London