About

Rooted in a Story of Trauma Recovery

Founded by psychotherapist and author Benjamin Fry in 2012, Khiron Clinics was created to offer other people the groundbreaking trauma therapies that once saved his life. Since then, Khiron Clinics has become globally recognised as a leading centre in the treatment of trauma.

Deb Dana Bio Image

“It's a unique place that is really able to offer people something that will put them on the path towards healing and isn't available anywhere else.”

Deb Dana

A Global Leader in Trauma Recovery

Delivering Specialised Trauma Care in Both Residential and Outpatient Settings, We Guide Individuals from Crisis to Cure

Bio Picture of Dr Bessel Van Der Kolk

Our clinicians are informed, trained and supervised by some of the world's top trauma experts including Dr Bessel van der Kolk, Dr Janina Fisher, Dr Stephen Porges, Dr Dick Schwartz, Deb Dana, Licia Sky and Linda Thai.

A circular logo with a teal border. Inside, the text reads "Polyvagal Institute" at the top, "PVI" in large grey letters in the center, and "Polyvagal Informed" in smaller orange letters below, reflecting its dedication to mental health treatment.

We are the world's first Polyvagal Informed certified residential clinic, ensuring that every team member, from our gardener to the board, is well-versed in trauma.

A group of people sits in a circle in a well-lit room with wooden floors and potted plants. They appear to be engaged in a mental health treatment session or group therapy. Some individuals have their arms crossed, while others use hand gestures as they speak.

We deliver innovative neurobiological therapies which are at the cutting edge of trauma treatment in residential and outpatient environments which are specifically designed to treat trauma.

A woman with long dark hair is standing outdoors, smiling, and gently touching the face of a brown horse. Another brown horse is standing close by. The background, green with trees and grass, offers a serene setting that could aid in PTSD treatment - including equine therapy

We listen to what works instead of only following traditional therapies, which is why we also offer activities such as yoga, equine therapy, tai-chi, breathwork, cold water therapy, ecotherapy and more.

Two suitcases, one blue and one orange, stand in an airport with empty chairs in the background. A plane is taking off in the background against a clear blue sky. The scene suggests travel and departure, akin to embarking on a journey toward mental health treatment or PTSD recovery.

To make our life-saving treatment globally accessible, Khiron Clinics organises and pays for transport for all international clients to the residential clinics and home again, making sure they are supported every step of the way.

A flowchart with three interconnected blocks. The first block, labeled 1, is dark gray; the second, labeled 2, is light teal; and the third, labeled 3, is mustard yellow. The blocks are enclosed in an irregular shape. This design could be useful in visualizing processes at a trauma clinic or mental health treatment facility.

We have multiple levels of care, creating a pathway to ensure that there are suitable options all the way from an alternative to hospital care to weekly outpatient therapy sessions, either online or in-person.

From Breakdown to Breakthrough

How Uncovering a New Understanding of Trauma Allowed Our Founder to Rebuild His Life and Wellbeing, Igniting a Newfound Purpose to Provide Others With the Same Chance of Recovery

Note From Our Founder:

It was in 2009 that I finally had a breakdown, after what I later realised was an entire life spent running from what I call ‘the invisible lion’. Because of various incidents of childhood trauma I had experienced such as the death of my mother as a baby, I had a nervous system which was constantly reacting as if I was in great danger, as if I was being chased by a lion.

Ultimately, everything caught up with me, and after many failed attempts at recovery with a variety of treatments, including stays in famous residential treatment settings, I had the good fortune to meet a therapist who totally changed the narrative of what I was experiencing, and therefore paved the way for me to find true, lasting healing.

She explained how my reactions, thoughts and feelings were actually an entirely normal response to the perceived threat I was experiencing due to unresolved trauma in my life. This transformed everything for me, and the subsequent nervous system based treatment based on this understanding saved my life.

As my own life recovered, I knew very simply that I not only had to let others know about this groundbreaking approach to trauma treatment, but create a safe space where it could be experienced too. Something that didn’t exist then, and which I have yet to find to this day.

Today, Khiron Clinics stands as a beacon of hope for those seeking lasting recovery from mental health challenges who, like me, once felt hopeless.

A solid black square with no distinct features or discernible objects, reminiscent of the stark and often isolating atmosphere found in a mental hospital.
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Find out more about how we treat, what we treat, our clinics, pricing and more.

Meet the Team

“Unlike previous experiences, the therapists at Khiron honestly saved my life. They were there to hold my hand and help me to help myself. All of the members of the therapeutic team have a genuine understanding of trauma and how to treat it.” - Andrea

The clinical team at Khiron Clinics comprises world-class mental health and trauma treatment specialists. They have been informed, trained and supervised by some of the world’s top trauma experts, including Dr Bessel Van Der Kolk, Dr Janina Fisher, Dr Stephen Porges, Deb Dana, Dr Dick Schwartz, Licia Sky, Linda Thai and others.

Aside from the incredible therapists, we ensure that every member of our team from the board to the gardener speaks the ‘language of trauma’, creating a safe and supportive environment at all our clinics.

The Leadership Team

Romana Akram Managing Director at Khiron Clinics

Romana Akram

Managing Director

Romana Akram is the Managing Director of Khiron Clinics. She is based at the residential clinic. Prior to joining the Khiron Clinics team, she worked in a residential setting, caring for the elderly, and then she joined a publishing firm as a business systems coordinator. Romana has a special interest in implementing new procedures to maximise efficiency. Romana has an MBA and is a member of the Board of Directors.

Benjamin Fry Founder and Chair at Khiron Clinics

Benjamin Fry

Founder and Chair

Benjamin is a psychotherapist, accredited by the BACP, who contributes to the media in the UK and is politically active in lobbying for better access to better treatment for all sections of society, working with the Centre for Social Justice and through Khiron House’s social enterprise Get Stable. He set up Khiron House after experiencing serious mental illness in 2009 and not receiving effective treatment for it in the UK. He is the Founder of Khiron Clinics and the non-executive Chair of the Board of Directors. He is the Treasurer of Bessel van der Kolk’s Trauma Research Foundation.

Claire Parrish Clinical Lead at Khiron Clinics

Claire Ewart Smith

Clinical Director - Outpatients

Claire is the Clinical Director of our Outpatient service (in person, Children and Adolescent service and international online) and our London Day Clinic programme. She trained at Regent’s University on a master’s programme in Integrative Psychotherapy and Counselling Psychology and is BACP Accredited. Her core practice draws together Attachment and Relational Dynamics, Gestalt and Humanistic therapy. From a trauma perspective she is trained in MBSR Mindfulness, Internal Family Systems, Safe and Sound Protocol, Sensorimotor Level 1, Trauma Informed Stabilisation Treatment, Structural Dissociation, EMDR Levels 1,2,3 and ILF Neurofeedback. She has worked for 13 years in the NHS, charity sector and private practice, focusing on Complex PTSD, Dissociative disorders, grief, addiction and disordered eating. Her next step is to train with the BACP as a supervisor.

Angela Bent Intake Manager at Khiron Clinics

Angela Bent

Intake Director

Angela Bent is the Intake Manager at Khiron Clinics. Angela has worked for Khiron Clinics since 2013, beginning as a support worker and then moving on to become House Manager at the residential clinic. Angela now works as the Intake Manager managing initial enquiries, referring clients on for assessment appointments and admission. Angela is a qualified paralegal, having worked in the legal field for over twenty years.

Amber Knights Clinical Lead at Khiron Clinics

Amber Knights

Clinical Director - Residential

Amber is a psychotherapist at Khiron residential clinics and our outpatient service, She specialises in trauma, suicide prevention and sexual abuse. She also works with addiction, gender issues and depression. Amber has a Masters Degree in Gestalt Psychotherapy, a modality that is person-centred and has a strong focus on the therapist-client relationship, awareness and the body. Amber uses a combination of her skills in Gestalt therapy, the polyvagal theory, and her own creativity to facilitate supporting individuals in their journey towards healing. Whilst living in Malta, she was a casual lecturer in victimology at the University of Malta and managed a therapeutic service for victims of crimes. She is a member of GPTI. Amber has a great love for animals and began her career working with them alongside people. Whilst in the USA she worked at the Human-Dolphin Institute providing dolphin assisted therapy to vulnerable people.

The Clinical Team

Tracey-Lee Austin​ Service Supervisor at Khiron Clinics

Tracey-Lee Austin​

Service Supervisor

Tracey has a Masters degree and a Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology and is HCPC registered. She has a diploma in Schema Therapy and has completed Sensorimotor Training Level 1, Brainspotting Levels 1 and 2, Bodynamic Foundation Level, and BWRT level 1. She is a qualified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and has also complted training in wrking with trauma and the breath. Her background is in working with Complex PTSD, Dissociative Disorders, Mood and Anxiety disorders, Attachment disorders, Personality disorders, and Psychosis, drawing from a variety of approaches including Polyvagal Theory, Schema Therapy, IFS, Sensorimotor and Somatic therapies, Mindfulness, and Structural Dissociation. Tracey is the Service Supervisor at Khiron Clinics.

Amber Knights Clinical Lead at Khiron Clinics

Amber Knights

Clinical Director - Residential

Amber is a psychotherapist at Khiron residential clinics and our outpatient service, She specialises in trauma, suicide prevention and sexual abuse. She also works with addiction, gender issues and depression. Amber has a Masters Degree in Gestalt Psychotherapy, a modality that is person-centred and has a strong focus on the therapist-client relationship, awareness and the body. Amber uses a combination of her skills in Gestalt therapy, the polyvagal theory, and her own creativity to facilitate supporting individuals in their journey towards healing. Whilst living in Malta, she was a casual lecturer in victimology at the University of Malta and managed a therapeutic service for victims of crimes. She is a member of GPTI. Amber has a great love for animals and began her career working with them alongside people. Whilst in the USA she worked at the Human-Dolphin Institute providing dolphin assisted therapy to vulnerable people.

Claire Parrish Clinical Lead at Khiron Clinics

Claire Ewart Smith

Clinical Director - Outpatients

Claire is the Clinical Director of our Outpatient service (in person, Children and Adolescent service and international online) and our London Day Clinic programme. She trained at Regent’s University on a master’s programme in Integrative Psychotherapy and Counselling Psychology and is BACP Accredited. Her core practice draws together Attachment and Relational Dynamics, Gestalt and Humanistic therapy. From a trauma perspective she is trained in MBSR Mindfulness, Internal Family Systems, Safe and Sound Protocol, Sensorimotor Level 1, Trauma Informed Stabilisation Treatment, Structural Dissociation, EMDR Levels 1,2,3 and ILF Neurofeedback. She has worked for 13 years in the NHS, charity sector and private practice, focusing on Complex PTSD, Dissociative disorders, grief, addiction and disordered eating. Her next step is to train with the BACP as a supervisor.

a photo of Lucy Allen, Psychotherapist at Khiron Clinics

Lucy Allen

Psychotherapist