Alistair D. Sweet

As a psychoanalytic psychotherapist with many years’ experience of training and teaching psychotherapists, counsellors, social workers and allied healthcare professionals, both nationally and internationally, Alistair's areas of expertise include: working with hard to reach patients, the addictions, suicidality and self-harm and the complex psychodynamics of the therapist/patient relationship.

Alistair’s research work has appeared internationally in a range of peer reviewed journals including The British Journal of Psychotherapy, The International Forum of Psychoanalysis and The American Journal of Psychotherapy. He has written and published extensively addressing such topics as the psychodynamics of addiction, early disturbances of attachment and defensive processes following trauma. These contributions have led to the description of original clinical ideas and concepts such as: mimetic fusing with primary objects, automata defensive states and the automaton personality.

Alistair is an Editorial Consultant for the American Journal of Psychotherapy, New York and for Psychodynamic Practice, London. He is also a member of the submissions review panel of the British Journal of Psychotherapy and an Editorial Reader for the International Forum of Psychoanalysis.

In 2006 Alistair received the annual Butler Trust Award for an outstanding contribution in the field of psychotherapy provision.

Alistair is also an Honorary Lecturer, Clinical Supervisor and Member of the Board of Studies for the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, School of Psychology, Queen’s University, Belfast.

adsweet@meridenpsychotherapy.co.uk

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