Members of the Clifton Centre teaching team bring to their work a careful attention to the experiences of people’s lives – how people understand these experiences and their preferences for the kinds of lives they want to step into are central considerations to their work.

Each of the presenters has worked in a range of settings including government, and non-government and with children, young people, adults, families and groups. The diversity of their work includes work in the areas of domestic violence, sexual assault, programs for men connected with the courts and juvenile justice, drug and alcohol, mental health and schools.

Over a number of years they have trained under the guidance of Michael White, one of the key proponents of narrative therapy along with David Epston.

They are now offering training to others because they have found the narrative approach to therapy and community work provides opportunities for people to expand the possibilities in their lives and to embrace their preferred ways of living.

Clifton Centre is also attempting to respond to the increased interest of others wanting to learn more about a narrative approach to working with people by offering training and consultancy to health professionals across a wide range of areas.

Mark Gordon is the director of Clifton Centre. Mark’s work includes providing therapy, supervision and training. Mark believes strongly in supporting and working with communities and groups of people in responding to hardship and trauma. Mark also sees a broad range of possibilities for people joining together to address issues of injustice.

Mark Gordon, originally trained in science and social work, brings a range of experiences to his counselling and teaching. He has worked for a number of years with children, young people, families and adults in a range of areas including schools, youth specific agencies, juvenile justice system, grief and loss, mental health, hospitals, drug and alcohol services, family violence and non-partner violence. Mark has a particular interest in the meanings that people develop from their life experiences. He has presented aspects of his work at conferences and workshops in Australia, Mexico, Palestine and the United States.

Mercedes Martínez Cruz has an interest in working with people affected by trauma and in particular those who have experienced violence in their relationships. She considers that violence against women and children is a social problem that affects not only individual lives but also the lives of families and communities. Mercedes therefore believes in the importance of developing community responses to this problem that take into account issues of culture and gender.

Mercedes Martínez Cruz is originally from Mexico where she trained and worked as a psychologist and family therapist. Mercedes has presented at international conferences in Australia and Mexico. Working as a therapist and facilitating workshops, Mercedes brings to her work a particular interest in working with people affected by issues of violence in their current or past relationships. Mercedes is fluent in Spanish and English.

Clifton Centre also hosts workshops by presenters from Australia and overseas. In recent years we’ve been happy to have Shona Russell from Adelaide, Australia, Jill Freedman from USA, Art Fisher from Canada, Yishai Shalif and Rachel Paran from Israel and Esben Esther Pirelli Benestad and Elsa Almas from Norway.