Our Team

Christopher began his career in training before completing a degree in Primary Education. He has taught in distinguished schools in Asia and and was the founding Principal of an international school in Vietnam. 

Chris manages our services at Survivors Unite and is passionate about moving forward our charity. He also takes a keen interest in technology and design. 

Tracy is a clinical social worker in private practice, primarily specialising in the intervention and treatment of addictive disorders and mental health. She has 25 years experience within this field, working in South Africa, the USA and London. Tracy's post graduate research focused upon the interface between addiction and trauma. She also has a passion for helping people establish and maintain true, holistic wellness in their lives.

Annalisa is an accredited counsellor with BACP having qualified as an integrated therapist in 2000. Her model is based on a psycho-dynamic understanding using Gestalt and Jungian concepts. She works with individuals with a range of lived experiences, including abuse and complex trauma. Annalisa works as both a counsellor and a supervisor of individuals and groups. Her approach to helping others is a holistic process which involves the body, as well as the mind and draws on ideas from ancient wisdom belonging to the eastern and western world. 

Rachel has over 20 years experience working therapeutically within the NHS,  voluntary and private sectors in the U.K and United States.

She has a Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work from Syracuse University, USA and specialises in Family Systems and Brief Strategic Therapy. Rachel is currently studying for a Post Graduate Diploma in Person Centered Therapy.

Rab has been working therapeutically for over 34 years. He qualified in counselling in the early nineties by completing a PGC in Counselling followed by a Diploma. In 2017 he completed a Certificate in Eco-Therapy. Rab aligns himself with the Person-Centred theoretical model. A way of engaging therapeutically which (he believes) understands the individuals’ need for a supportive, non judgemental, less intrusive, compassionate environment within which to explore and better understand themselves. This very humanistic way of engaging therapeutically, works well with the nature based working context of ecotherapy.

He has developed and run projects based in a wilderness setting, have worked for the psychiatric service, private sector, local authorities and academic institutions.

Susanne is an integrative counsellor, specialising in Transactional Analysis; a talking therapy where sessions are designed to explore an individual’s personality and how this has been shaped by experience, particularly those stemming from childhood TA. It is  designed to promote personal growth and change.

Susanne offers a safe, empathic place within the therapeutic relationship.

Karen is a UKCP registered trainee psychotherapist on placement with Survivors Unite. She retired from the NHS in 2019 after over 30 years working as a mental health nurse and in other mental health related fields. Since then she has qualified as a Mindfulness teacher with The Mindfulness Association and teaches locally for Health in Mind. She is a senior student with the Karuna Institute, training in Core Process Psychotherapy, which is an integrated Mindfulness based approach. 

Margaret worked as a Civil Servant for 23 years, 2 years in Social Care. As a Survivor of various traumas herself, Margaret is passionate about Survivors Unite. She is committed to her role as Peer Support. Margaret says it is a privilege to pass on knowledge & understanding with empathy and is a regular volunteer at our group. She now manages trauma in a healthy way, and understands that it can change a life as it has her own. Margaret also works as an administrator for a community transport provider that offers affordable wheelchair accessible transport in the central borders area to people who have mobility issues.

After studying Health and Social Care for three years, Sara became a Peer Support Worker for Survivors Unite. 

As a survivor of trauma, Sara is able to use her experience to support others to manage trauma in a healthy way.

Sara throughly enjoys her role and also works as an administrator for our organisation. 

"I am not only a survivor, I am a mother, a daughter, a sister and friend. I am so much more and so are you"

Ellen is the first point of contact for those who contact our service. She will guide you through the paperwork and provide  information about our services. 

Ellen brings with her over 21 years of experience in the NHS. She is also a panel member on the Children's Hearing Panel, and Secretary of both Hawick Reivers Festival and the Arches Action Group.

She volunteers as a Guider at her own Rainbow and Brownie units, works on the production team of Act1 Youth Theatre, and is a keen member of both Selkirk Musical Theatre Company and Two Rivers Theatre Company. 

And if she has any time left after all that, she loves catching up and creating wonderful memories with her family and friends.