In October 2024, Mark Linington (CEO), Emma Jack (Clinical Director) and Matt Bordonada (Deputy Clinical Director) attended the ESTD (European Society for Trauma & Dissociation) 9th congress in Katowice, Poland, entitled ‘From Diagnosis to Treatment: Recognising Complex Trauma and Dissociation’. In addition, CDS UK Associate Therapists Sally Urquhart, Denise Stowe, and Amanda Wells were also present at the congress.

Before the congress, all of the above CDS UK staff and associates visited the Memorial and Museum at Auschwitz-Birkenau, visiting both the prison and workcamp site. All in attendance agreed this was a very moving experience.

There were many excellent speakers and presentations, including by Bethany Brand who spoke about her TopDD research and the findings of a clinical trial of the ‘Finding Solid Ground’ programme that has come as a result of this research, which CDS UK would like to consider utilising in future for some patients.

The 10th ESTD congress will be held in October 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal. CDS UK intend to present at this congress, and we would be open to joint delivery of presentations with our Associate Therapists.

Notice Regarding COVID-19

CDS UK (Clinic for Dissociative Studies) remains open and our therapists and therapeutic teams continue to support their patients. In most most cases this will be online or on the phone. We are following all NHS and Government guidelines with regard to safer working.

We recognise that everyone is under more strain at this very difficult time. We know that this current situation will be having a significant impact on people’s mental health as well as potentially their physical health. We aim at CDS UK to continue to offer our support to people throughout this time.

We will continue to be available for contact with professionals and potential patients wishing to discuss possible referrals and we will continue to support funding requests to Clinical Commissioning Groups.

When funding for assessments is agreed, our clinical management team will consider whether we can offer an assessment on a case by case basis.In most instances we will have to delay assessments until the COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed. Online assessments will be considered, where appropriate safety measures can be put in place.

We are still accepting applications (via a CV and covering letter) for those professionals wishing to register to work with us.

Our accounts team may take a little longer to respond to queries. Calls to the clinic will still be answered. However, we may be able to respond more quickly to queries by e-mail at info@clinicds.com.

Referrals – Please send through all referrals via email to info@clinicds.com as our staff are currently working from home and the post will be checked less frequently than normal.

8th – 9th October 2020

Hayes Centre, Swanwick, Derbyshire

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Congratulations from all of us to Dr Valerie Sinason, CDS UK Founder and Former Director, who has just been made a fellow of the ISSTD – March 2018 – to add to her Lifetime Achievement Award of 2016. Fitting recognition to her lasting contribution to the field of complex trauma and dissociation.

on the award of her New Year’s honour for services to people with dissociative disorders. An excellent recognition of the hard work of survivor-led organisations for people with dissociative disorders – Well done Kathryn!

CDS UK is delighted to announce the appointment of two new members of the senior management team

Mr Mark Linington came into post as Clinical Lead on 8th January 2018 and Mr Peter Loble as Finance Director on 20th February 2018.

Senior staff from CDS UK again represented a substantial portion of the UK’s contribution to the international field of complex trauma and dissociation with presentations at the annual international conference in both the clinical and theoretical arenas.