Tracy Christophi

Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist

We’re pleased to introduce Tracy Christophi, a highly experienced and fully qualified psychoanalytic child and adolescent psychotherapist, who has recently joined the team at COPE.

Tracy has over 25 years’ experience in specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in the UK. Earlier in her career Tracy undertook her Masters in psychodynamic approaches to working with adolescents at the Tavistock clinic, London. Tracy later undertook the six-year, doctorate-level clinical training in psychoanalytic child psychotherapy with the UK Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP). Tracy trained at the Birmingham Trust for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (BTPP) — one of only five accredited ACP training schools in the UK. The ACP clinical training in psychoanalytic child psychotherapy is directly derived from the original training in psychoanalytic child psychotherapy, developed by renowned pioneers at the Tavistock clinic in post war Britain.

Tracy is a full member of the UK ACP, and a guest member of the Association of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy for Western Australia (APPWA). Tracy also has full AHPRA registration as a mental health nurse (UK trained).

 What is psychoanalytic child psychotherapy?

Psychoanalytic child psychotherapy is a highly specialised, in-depth, evidence-based treatment which can address a wide range of emotional, behavioural, and mental health difficulties. This type of therapy is often sought when other therapies have been unable to help.

Psychoanalytic child psychotherapists are trained to observe and interpret subtle communications and emotions expressed by children. During therapy sessions play and / or creative materials may be used along with talking, to help children communicate their worries and feelings. Gradually the therapist develops an understanding of how the child sees and relates to the world. This is shared with the child, at a pace that is right for them. Therapy sessions provide a supportive space to explore and understand troubling feelings and worries.

Psychoanalytic child psychotherapy does not rely solely on spoken words, making this approach is particularly suitable for children who struggle to talk, or engage in more formal therapeutic approaches

Areas of Special Interest

Tracy has a particular interest in working with children who have experienced trauma and abuse. She has also extensive experience in working with children and young people who self-harm, and those in out of home care.

Tracy is able to offer…

• Individual psychoanalytic child psychotherapy to children of any age, including very young children
• Joint parent-infant / parent-young child psychotherapy
• Specialist therapeutic support for parents and carers.
• Specialist consultation, supervision and training for other professionals working with children with complex mental health problems
• Online therapy-if appropriate / depending on circumstances