About Khiron Clinics

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.

“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

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.

Download the Brochure

Discover Our Innovative Trauma Recovery Pathway

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

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.

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.

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 initial consultations and admission. Angela is a qualified paralegal, having worked in the legal field for over twenty years.

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

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 Director - Residential

Lucy Allen

Lead Therapist

Lucy is the Lead Therapist at Khiron Residential Clinics, where she provides expert care for individuals recovering from trauma. As an Integrative Therapist, she embraces a pluralistic and holistic approach, tailoring interventions to each client’s needs. She is particularly passionate about using the body to integrate experiences, recognizing the vital connection between mind and body in trauma healing. Her expertise lies in working with Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD), dissociative disorders, and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). With a deep understanding of how trauma impacts the nervous system, Lucy incorporates neuroscience into her therapeutic work, ensuring that clients receive the most effective, research-backed care. Lucy’s extensive training reflects her dedication to the field. She is trained in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (Level 2), Internal Family Systems (IFS Level 3), Safe and sound protocol (SSP), and is a certified Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST) therapist. Additionally, she has Level 2 training in Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) and is a qualified ILF neurofeedback therapist, enabling her to provide advanced brain-based interventions to support emotional regulation and healing. She has had the privilege of being trained and supervised by some of the world’s leading trauma experts, further enhancing her clinical skills. Committed to ongoing professional development, she continuously integrates the latest research into her practice to provide the highest standard of care. Lucy’s role at Khiron Residential Clinics allows her to work closely with a multidisciplinary team, providing clients with comprehensive, evidence-based treatment. Her compassionate, client-centered approach empowers individuals to heal and regain control over their lives.

Tracy Ellis

Psychotherapist

Tracy is a psychotherapist at Khiron residential clinics. Her training includes, Foundation in Counselling & Psychotherapy, Diploma in Attachment Theory, SSP, Somatic Experiencing, Internal Family Systems, Polyvagal theory, Neuro Affective Touch & Janina Fishers Structural Dissociation training and Neurofeedback. She also integrates somatic attachment EMDR interventions into her practice. Tracy started mentoring teenagers in 2008, a role she found particularly fulfilling and has since worked in secondary education settings, providing counselling to vulnerable students. Tracy’s training allows her to work with the client’s mind in a verbal capacity and with their body in a nonverbal capacity. Through Somatic Experience work Tracy can help the body tell its own story, looking at the wisdom of the body as it clearly reflects our implicit memory from our past experiences.

Sasha Watson

Psychotherapist

Sasha is a psychotherapist at Khiron Day Clinic and our Outpatient Service. She is a registered Somatic Movement Psychotherapist with an MA in Dance Movement Psychotherapy from Roehampton University and is currently training to be a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. Her trauma sensitive, body orientated approach is compassionate and deeply relational, meeting each unique being where they are. She has additional trainings in Sensorimotor (level one), Internal Family Systems, Polyvagal Theory, Janina Fisher’s Structural Dissociation model and has also completed a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in Sivananda style. She is fascinated by the stories we carry in our bodies and about how an embodied creative approach can be used to create internal safety and gently uncover and liberate personal and trans-generational trauma. Her intention is to create spaces where all aspects of you feel welcomed and held.

Arielle Swann

Psychotherapist

Arielle is a registered Dance Movement Psychotherapist (ADMP) who has engaged in 6 years of training in psychotherapies including MA dance movement psychotherapy, Bachelor in Arts Psychotherapy and advanced diploma in Transpersonal Arts Psychotherapy.

Over the past 8 years, Arielle has worked with clients using a combination of therapeutic methods, including Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Arts Psychotherapy, Dance Movement Psychotherapy, Somatic Experiencing, Polyvagal Informed Therapy, and Trauma-informed stabilisation techniques. Her clinical practice center’s on both a combination of talk therapy psychotherapy approaches and somatic work. She has currently engaging in research exploring body-based regulation approaches for working with adults experiencing trauma.

Arielle has worked in various clinical settings, including private rehabilitation center’s, the Blue Tree Private Psychiatry Centre, the Maggie Oliver Foundation, Barnet Integrative Clinical Services, Universities, Schools and private rehabilitation settings. Additionally, she offer’s consultancy services to corporate settings supporting individuals with performance, stress, anxiety, burnout, self-esteem, and career/purpose. Arielle has extensive experience working with clients dealing with trauma, PTSD, self-esteem, career/purpose issues, intimacy and relationship challenges, depression, anxiety, stress, and burnout.

Anja Frykegaard

Clinical Lead - Outpatients

Anja is a BACP accredited psychotherapist. She holds a BSc in Psychology, as well as a Master’s degree in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. She is a certified Neurofeedback Practitioner and is currently on her last year of SE training, working towards becoming a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP).

Anja’s therapeutic approach is rooted in a deep understanding of the mind-body connection. She integrates a wide range of therapeutic modalities, including Reichian Body Psychotherapy, Deep Brain Reprocessing (DBR), Internal Family Systems (IFS), the Structural Dissociation Model, Attachment Theory, and Mindfulness Practices. Additionally, she holds certifications in Somatic Embodiment and Regulation Strategies, Bodylistening, Dance of Awareness, and Trauma-Informed Breathwork.

She specialises in developmental trauma, loss, abuse, neglect, self-harm, identity issues, relationship difficulties, PTSD, and C-PTSD. Her approach is both creative and collaborative, ensuring that everyone receives a personalised treatment plan tailored to their needs.

Anja is passionate about creating a safe and trusting environment, using the therapeutic relationship to facilitate support and connection where it has been lost or damaged. She firmly believes in the immense capacity within each person to heal and grow, and she is dedicated to guiding her clients in their healing towards greater self-awareness, resilience, and well-being.

Lorena Balbinot

Psychotherapist

Lorena is a psychotherapist at Khiron Residential Clinics and Khiron Outpatient service. She is a trauma therapist with an MA in Integrative Arts Psychotherapy, a diploma in Humanistic Body-Centred Counselling, and she is a qualified Bioenergetics teacher.

Her work is informed by Psychodynamic & Humanistic psychotherapy, Attachment Theory, Object Relations, Gestalt, Transactional Analysis, Integrative Arts, Janina Fisher’s Structural Dissociation model, and Reichian Character Analysis.

She continues her professional development in cutting-edge approaches for trauma healing, including Somatic Experiencing (Level 2), Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (Level 1), Relational Trauma Therapy (Level 2), and Integral Somatic Psychology.

Practising in a relational, compassionate, and present-oriented way, she is committed to empowering clients by helping them understand the role of the nervous system in their global experience and offering tools to help them take charge of their wellbeing.

Lorena has worked in inpatient and community mental health settings within the NHS, addiction and family services in charitable organizations, and her own private practice.

Her experience includes working with PTSD & CPTSD, addiction, co-dependence, narcissistic abuse, stress, anxiety, depression, anger management, OCD, bereavement, grief, the LGBTQ+ community, low self-esteem, shame, racial trauma, attachment issues and disorders, dissociation, BPD, psychosis, self-harm and suicidality.

Lillie Perree

Psychotherapist

Lillie is a Therapist at Khiron Day Clinic. She has a background is in theatre which is where she first noted the impact creativity has on mental health and well-being, meaning she greatly values incorporating this into her practice. Lillie has experience working in the NHS as a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor where she supported people presenting with anxiety, depression, body image issues and eating disorders. She also worked as a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor for a trans and non-binary health and wellbeing service. Lillie has copious experience supporting clients with suicidal ideation within a residential respite centre, supporting vulnerable women and people with addiction, and has worked with a diverse range of clients who worked within the sex industry. Her training in this regard includes working with clients with HIV, Relationship issues, Sexual and Gender Diversity.

Sarah Paton Briggs

Psychotherapist

Sarah has practised as a counsellor and psychotherapist for over 20 years. She has trained in the two evidence-based trauma treatment protocols which are recommended by NICE: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) and T- CBT (Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy).

She is also trained in other approaches to treating trauma because different methods suit different client needs. These include BEPP (Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy for Psych traumatology). Her hypnotherapy and NLP qualifications equip her with imagery-based approaches to treating trauma, including IRRT (Imagery Rescripting Reprocessing Therapy) and Matrix Reimprinting. Sarah is recognised by ITTI (International Trauma Training Institute, formerly IATP) as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional at the higher level (CCTP Level 2) for working with Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). Sarah supports Khiron residents with equine therapy with her horses.

Janie Rymaszewska

Psychotherapist

Janie qualified in 1990 as a creative arts therapist (MCAT) at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. She has 25 years of experience as a therapist with children and young people with relational trauma and was clinical lead for seven years with children in therapeutic residential care. Her approach is supported by modern attachment theory, neuroscience, and trauma-sensitive interventions.

Janie is a proficient Story Stem Assessment Profiles (SSAP) assessor and trained at the Anna Freud Centre for Children & Families.

The storytelling technique explores the workings of a child’s mind to understand how they perceive grown-ups. The approach permits an assessment of a child’s expectations and perceptions of family roles and relationships without asking direct questions about family, which could cause conflict or anxiety.

In 2005, Janie was commissioned to set up specialist play provisions for a children’s hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. She was a course tutor for a Master’s programme in play therapy at Liverpool Hope University. In 2006, Janie published Reaching the Vulnerable Child. Therapy with Traumatized Children. (Jessica Kingsley) and has published articles in Young Minds.

Rachel James

Yoga Teacher

Rachel is the Yoga teacher at Khiron Clinics. Rachel has been practicing Yoga for over 30 years and teaching since 2006. Rachel trained to become a Hatha Yoga teacher with the British Wheel of Yoga, graduating in 2009. Rachel has extensive training in Anatomy and Physiology, with a special interest in the Nervous System, the Brain and the Vagus Nerve. She follows a trauma-informed approach to working with the body and is highly skilled in adapting her yoga classes to clients with mobility issues. She has worked in many fitness centres, corporate businesses, educational settings, community classes and private practice. She holds regular workshops based on Longevity, Posture and the Chakras and has held yearly Yoga retreats in Tuscany since 2016. She held the role as Oxfordshire County Representative for the British Wheel of Yoga for 3 years (2013-16).

Alice

Psychotherapist

Alice is a HCPC registered Creative Arts Psychotherapist (Drama and Movement Therapy) and is also trained in EMDR. She works with somatic therapy tools, parts work, movement with touch and sound (MTS) and creative expression. Her dramatherapy training is underpinned in Jungian psychology, developmental psychology and Rudolf Laban’s movement analysis. Her professional experience has covered many aspects of mental health, with her areas of expertise being in identity difficulties, body image, eating disorders or disordered eating, bereavement, autism, PTSD, abuse, self-harm, neglect and developmental trauma. She has also worked with both adults and children/adolescents throughout her career. Alice believes in an integrative approach to therapy, drawing on her knowledge and experience of music, movement, visual arts and interpersonal dynamics to support a warm, authentic relationship with clients. She creates a safe space for people to explore what they might be struggling with and to bring parts of themselves that it may not feel safe to bring elsewhere. She is passionate about the importance of the mind-body connection and using creative ways to allow clients to express themselves beyond words. Alice works with the principle that the power to change is within you and her role is to facilitate that insight and trust in yourself, strengthening your inner resources. She views the therapeutic relationship as a collaboration in which you will feel empowered in your therapy process.

Shreya

Psychotherapist

Shreya is a qualified and registered Dance Movement Psychotherapist (RDMP, ADMP UK) with extensive experience spanning over 8 years supporting children, adolescents, and adults across educational, forensic, and community settings. She holds an MA in Dance Movement Psychotherapy from Goldsmiths, University of London, and has worked with diverse client groups, including neurodiverse individuals and those with complex mental health needs such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, dissociative identity disorder (DID), depression. Shreya integrates trauma-informed, psychodynamic and creative embodied approaches to support emotional expression, regulation, and healing. She was also the co-founder of The Yellow Oyster in India, an initiative for mental health awareness through creative arts therapies.

The Operations Team

Angela Bent

Intake Director

Romana Akram

Managing Director

Jess Lambourne

Registered Manager

Jess is the Registered Manager at Khiron Clinics, holding the CQC registration of the Clinic and Bungalow. Jess first joined Khiron Clinics in 2018 as a support worker and worked as a team leader and administrator in the clinic. Jess has worked in Health and Social Care since 2011. She has previously worked in palliative care and has experience supporting people living with dementia, Huntington’s disease, schizophrenia, personality disorders, and vascular injuries. Jess has been a dignity champion since 2013 and has a strong passion for ensuring that people are cared for as individuals. Jess has recently completed an Advanced Diploma in Child Psychology and is currently studying for a BSc in Psychology with Counselling and has additional qualifications in Health and Social Care, Business Studies, and Multimedia Studies.

Hannah Robinson

Clinical Assistant - Residential

Hannah is the Clinic Administrator at Khiron Clinics and is based at the 24/7 higher needs clinic on the residential site. Hannah first joined Khiron Clinics in 2022 as a support worker. Hannah’s role involves working closely with the Registered Manager to ensure that the clinic clients receive the best level of care. Hannah has a BSc in Psychology and worked as an Assistant Psychologist, working closely with mental health practitioners and nutritionists, and an SEN teaching assistant. Hannah is currently working towards a diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling.

Emilia Haanpaa

Clinical Assistant - Outpatients

Emilia is the Clinical Assistant for the outpatient services, including the Day Clinic, Outpatients, and Child & Adolescents. Emilia joined Khiron Clinics in 2023 after completing her BSc (Hons) in Psychology. She is responsible for managing all bookings for the outpatient services, as well as running and maintaining the Day Clinic daily. Her role includes doing admissions, supporting the therapists, serving as a contact point for all clients, and performing administrative tasks. Emilia works closely with the Clinical Director of the outpatient services and assists her with tasks such as initial consultations. Emilia has also completed Level 2 in Counselling Skills and an Evidence-Based Therapies course.

Nunu Samata

HR Coordinator

Nunu has a strong business background, with over 20 years of leadership experience in retail settings before transitioning to healthcare, where she worked as a People Services Coordinator.

Through her extensive professional experience and education, Nunu has developed a solid understanding of both internal and external business environments.

She holds a Foundation Degree in Business, Management, and Communication, is a qualified Human Resource Manager, and is an Associate Member of the CIPD.

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About

Rooted in a Story of Trauma Recovery

“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

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:

Download the Brochure

Discover Our Innovative Trauma Recovery Pathway

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 Leadership Team

Benjamin Fry

Founder and Chair

Romana Akram

Managing Director

Angela Bent

Intake Director

Amber Knights

Clinical Director - Residential

The Clinical Team

Tracey-Lee Austin​

Service Supervisor

Amber Knights

Clinical Director - Residential

Lucy Allen

Lead Therapist

Tracy Ellis

Psychotherapist

Sasha Watson

Psychotherapist

Arielle Swann

Psychotherapist

Anja Frykegaard

Clinical Lead - Outpatients

Lorena Balbinot

Psychotherapist

Lillie Perree

Psychotherapist

Sarah Paton Briggs

Psychotherapist

Janie Rymaszewska

Psychotherapist

Rachel James

Yoga Teacher

Alice

Psychotherapist

Shreya

Psychotherapist

The Operations Team

Angela Bent

Intake Director

Romana Akram

Managing Director

Jess Lambourne

Registered Manager

Hannah Robinson

Clinical Assistant - Residential

Emilia Haanpaa

Clinical Assistant - Outpatients

Nunu Samata

HR Coordinator

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Tracey-Lee Austin