BodyPsych
enabling practitioners to create a safer environment for their patients and themselves.
Tiago & Nicky
BodyPsych is the brainchild of Psychotherapist Tiago Brando and Osteopath Nicky Ellis, who wanted to help practitioners develop their confidence when asking challenging questions around trauma.
Nicky Ellis
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Nicky trained as a dancer at Tring Park and the London Contemporary Dance School between 1985-1994. During her 15-year professional dance career, she was described as ‘powerful and stately’ by The Times, and ‘mesmeric and fascinating’ by the London Evening Standard.
After visiting an Osteopath early on in her dance career who suggested ‘how she may be feeling might be impacting on her body’, resonated strongly with her, and was the catalyst to inspire her to retrain as an Osteopath several years later.
Nicky graduated from British College of Osteopathic Medicine, graduating in 2005. During her studies she observed patients ‘opening up’ to her about personal trauma and noticed the correlation between their presenting symptoms and personal history. This solidified her belief that people’s past experiences both physical and mental were impacting on their physical systems.
Upon graduation, Nicky was invited to teach contemporary dance at many of Britain’s leading dance institutions, including the Royal Ballet School and English National Ballet School. She did this alongside steadily building her own private practice and developing a screening protocol for adolescent dancers in 2005 for the CAT Scheme at The Place. She led the team for 16 years providing the opportunity for young people to discuss both their physical and mental health.
It was during this time, she witnessed self-harm, disordered eating, plus victims of sexual and mental abuse. Nicky was able to hone her verbal skills and tackle these emotive subjects head-on. She learnt to support her patients, support herself and sign post where possible. She was also able to train new practitioners joining the team to manage these challenging situations directly, safely, and supportively.
In private practice, Nicky has developed over many years, a trusted group of practitioners she carefully refers to. She has developed a reputation for helping patients with significant emotional trauma in their past and the ability to hold a space for them safely. She has a vested interest in optimal biomechanical functioning, autonomic system regulation, alongside a trauma informed practice.
Aside from dance, Nicky has experience in martial arts, circus skills, climbing, running and gymnastics. In 2016 Nicky had the honour of being invited to be part of a group of ‘Inspiring Women in Dance’ at Sadlers Wells theatre, this is something she is very proud of!
Tiago Brandao
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Tiago Brandao (MSc Psych) originally trained as a Psychologist at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, one of the most renowned universities in his home country, Brazil. During his training he came across the Gestalt Therapy approach which fitted with his own views of human development, relations, and psychological healing.
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Upon completing his degree in 2004, Tiago decided to move to the UK to deepen his theoretical knowledge in Gestalt and at the same time experience living in a different culture. He now has a Dip. in Gestalt Psychotherapeutic Counselling and a MSc in Gestalt Psychotherapy by Metanoia Institute in London and is a registered member of BACP and UKCP. In 2015 Tiago also completed a Post-Graduate Diploma in Children and Young People Cognitive Behaviour Therapy with IAPT at UCL. He has also completed his training as a Psychotherapeutic Supervisor, which means that he oversees the work of other clinical and non-clinical therapists.
As a Gestalt psychotherapist, Tiago works with clients in a holistic way, supporting the exploration of psychological as well a physiological experience. This approach made him approach the Kennington Osteopaths & Physiotherapy clinic to set up his own private practice so that he could work alongside like-minded professionals. Tiago has also started teaching at the University College of Osteopathy in 2017, teaching Psychology to trainees osteopaths focusing on integrating psychological concepts and tools to osteopathy practice.
Tiago has also coordinated a team of counsellors providing therapeutic services to young unaccompanied minors in Croydon. During this time, Tiago became interested in deepening his understating around vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue, particularly how those impacted himself, his team as well as non-clinical professionals working with the same client group but without the psychological tools to support themselves. Since then, Tiago has continued his training and research in this field and now supervises and offers specialist training for several different professionals, including social workers, teachers, lawyers and doctors.
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Throughout his psychology/psychotherapy training and professional life he has worked at a wide range of services both in Brazil and in the UK, and have accumulated more than 15 years of practical experience of working with different client groups, from young refugees to high achieving finance professionals.
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