·  VV: How long have you been a TIR trainer?
Henry: I became a certified/accredited TIR trainer February 2004. However, I led seminars and TIR workshops (with supervision) regularly for a while before that.

·  VV: What inspired you to become a TIR trainer?
Henry: Taking TIR training myself. I was fascinated with the process of teaching others this extraordinary subject, as well as the amount students valued the training. I also love to share such knowledge and work in ways that empower others.

·  VV: What do you find rewarding about it?
Henry: The looks on people's faces when they let go of something that has plagued them for decades - especially when it's something they have already tried 10 different therapies on. Hearing the successes during supervision meeting with trainees who have only just started practicing, and seeing the delight that it brings them. Now that I have given regular workshops in this subject for a number of years, I can say that the comments I get from my students and clients continue to surprise and move me. For example a student recently told me how astonished he was when first of all, he had many new insights and was eager to write them done before forgetting them. However, he was even more astonished that the relief and change achieved naturally remained, in spite of forgetting what the insights were. This in behavioural psychology has been called ‘extinction’. Without the need for remembering new ways of thinking or acting, psychological and emotional problems can simply vanish permanently without the need for maintenance. This is very common indeed within TIR and Metapsychology practice. In fact the approach consists of a vast range of tools and strategies for achieving this with varying situations and client types.

·  VV: Are you willing to travel to deliver training, if so under what conditions?
Henry: Absolutely. I have already given workshops abroad. In French and Italian speaking countries I should not need an interpreter as I am familiar with those languages. I hope to get my Spanish good enough too. I have also already given workshops in New York City.  I am happy to travel but prefer shorter trips as I have a lot going on in the UK.

·  VV: Do you have a private practice?
Henry: Yes, I do. TIR UK has offices in London by the Oval on the northern line. I personally see clients most days and also supervise a number of other facilitators/counsellors who work from the same premises. I also run a government funded project for traumatised victims of crime in the London borough of Lambeth. This we do in conjunction with Victim Support Lambeth.

·  VV: Besides TIR, what other things are you interested in?
Henry: Music, competitive Latin dancing - I think the concept of the dance can be applied to enhance how we do many things. In the field of philosophy/personal development I like Eugene Gendlin's Focusing, Buddhist philosophies, Mindfulness meditation, Sufism, the Theosophical Society, the Scientific and Medical Network, cycling and a whole host of other things.

·  VV: Describe your professional background?
Henry: I have a Master of Science degree in Rational Emotive and Cognitive Behavioural therapy from Goldsmith’s College London and a bachelors degree from University College London. Soon after graduating with the MSc I wrote and published on the subject of case-formulated mindfulness-based cognitive behavioural therapy (click to see paper). I have a keen interest in the integration of mindfulness with cognitive behavioural theory. I think TIR and metapsychology have a lot to contribute to such integration. Previous to my cognitive behavioural training I was also a student of Humanistic and Gestalt related therapies (Pellin). Looking at my entire career, including before I was a therapist, a common thread has been teaching. I began with teaching English as a foreign language, and have since taught: Arabic, French, Italian, Spanish, Latin, Comparative philosophy, Rock singing, French literature, Piano and musical harmony. Doing all that was a great lead in to teaching TIR and other therapies. I have always greatly enjoyed teaching. I have also worked as a translator and in steel trading and exporting electronic components from the Far-East to Europe.

·  VV: What other courses are you currently teaching?
Henry: A one day introductory workshop to TIR. Thematic TIR and Unblocking - this workshop completes the level 1 TIRW training after the introductory TIR workshop. I also generally teach TIR within the context of mindfulness as this helps TIR facilitators understand why TIR is designed the way it is and what makes it work. I also regularly teach the Schema workshop - this is a metapsychology workshop that teaches procedures for clarifying goals/values and for aligning the various parts of ourselves and our environment, so that we can actually reach our goals/move in the direction of our values. When people see clearly a path to their higher goals/values it is a great motivator in life. Goals seem much more within their grasp. The training also clarifies the links between what is going on in one’s head and one’s world. Gerbode calls this the person-world polarity. I also teach cognitive behavioural techniques with Mindfulness.