Shila Rashid

Systemic Psychotherapist and Course Lead

Shila Rashid trained at the Tavistock and Portman in the 1990’s and worked as a systemic psychotherapist in the NHS for almost 26 years. After becoming increasingly interested in supervision and training, she became the course lead for the ‘Systemic psychotherapy (M6)’ course.

Interviewed in our 2022/23 prospectus, Shila talked about her early life and career. “Having grown up in the era of the Yorkshire Ripper (a serial murderer in the 1970s), and being an avid reader of French and English novels from my early adolescence, I have been always been intrigued by the many different tapestries of people’s lives, how our minds work and the life experiences that affect the ways we think and behave with others. This deep curiosity about people, coupled with being seen by my friends and family as a sort of ‘agony aunt’ from early on, I think it was inevitable that I would find my way into training as a psychotherapist, which I undertook at The Tavistock and Portman in the early 1990s.

I then worked as a Systemic Psychotherapist in the NHS for almost 26 years, and became increasingly interested in supervision and training, and, now, here I am, back at The Tavistock, in a very different capacity, as the Course Lead for the Systemic psychotherapy (M6) course!
For me, there is immense pleasure, privilege, and enriched opportunities for learning and growth when I connect with others. Whether family, friends, clients, students, supervisees or colleagues, people inspire me with their multitude and unique lived experiences and identities. Above all, I am constantly humbled by our ability to strive and thrive in the midst of difficult circumstances and suffering, whether through traumatic experiences, poverty, war, abuse, violence, being a refugee, dislocated from home and loved ones, or oppression and discrimination.

In my different roles as a therapist, supervisor, trainer and Course Lead, fore mostly, I enjoy working with others, being able to co-create opportunities for thinking, reflecting, problem-solving, and, sometimes, just sitting together with something quite difficult and challenging whilst acknowledging it may take some time for things to be different but we are in it together.

I have enjoyed all aspects of my professional journey, warts and all! I have learnt, and continue to learn, immensely from my clients, colleagues, mentors, supervisors, students and supervisees. Every experience, even the more challenging and traumatic ones, have contributed to my learning and growth. The possibility to make a difference to the lives of others – whether through therapy, supervision or training – is both a huge responsibility and a privilege, and is at the heart of what inspires and impassions me in my work.

I feel I have come to the Tavistock at a historical moment, when it is celebrating its 100 years of existence and contribution to the field of mental health – through provision of a range of psychotherapeutic disciplines, training and academic writing and research. Having trained at the Tavistock in the early 1990s, I was the sole ethnic minority in my course, with all my fellow trainees and trainers being white. Issues of race, racism and culture were rarely thought about, or held by others, unless I raised these matters myself, which was not always an easy process being a student! I am, therefore, excited to be working with others at the Tavistock at a point of history, following the death of George Floyd, where the organization has committed itself to becoming anti-racist, and making a visible and meaningful difference to the lives of clients, students and staff from ethnically diverse communities.

If someone is thinking about applying I would say that your doubts and uncertainties are welcome and free to be expressed. However, if you do decide to apply, be prepared for a rich experience of learning and growth, personally and professionally, being stretched beyond what is familiar and comfortable, in a stimulating environment, with a rich tradition of contribution to the world of mental health service provision and training, and with tutors, supervisors and administrators who are committed to supporting your development throughout your training journey!”