Who we are
Our mission
At Solas Oxford, our mission goes beyond traditional training. We embrace the power of metaphor, story, and narrative to bring complex ideas to life, both in our training programmes and our therapeutic approaches.
This unique blend of storytelling makes challenging concepts accessible and engaging, while ensuring every training resonates deeply, leaving a lasting impact.
We understand the journey of supporting vulnerable individuals, families, and adults is filled with complexities. It is easy to feel overwhelmed. That is why our stories and metaphors are more than teaching tools; they are lifelines that connect, illuminate, and empower. They transform abstract ideas into practical strategies to make the path clearer. Through our on-going research and trials, we are building an evidence base to ensure that our programmes continue to deliver impactful results for families worldwide.
We aim to empower you to bring warmth and understanding to those you serve while our growing community ensures that no one has to navigate their challenges alone.
Gerry Byrne
BA, RMN, M Psych Psych
I have been working closely with children and families for more than thirty years now. My heart truly lies in understanding and nurturing parent-child relationships, especially focusing on attachment and trauma. In the NHS, my primary focus as a clinician, leader and designer of specialist NHS mental health services over the last thirty two years, was the expert assessment and treatment of families in which severe child abuse has taken place. For sixteen years I was Head of Attachment and Perinatal Services at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. I am passionate about Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT), because having witnessed its impact on parents, families, and adults I have worked with for many years now. I spend a lot of my time training and supervising MBT therapists around the world. I am also incredibly proud to be the creator and founder of the Lighthouse MBT-Parenting Programme. In 2021, I took a big step forward and founded Solas Oxford. This new journey allows me to continue my work and research, supporting vulnerable children, parents, families, and adults. It has been an amazing journey, and I am excited for what is to come.
Rory Bolton
BSc (Hons.), RMN, PhD
I have dedicated my thirty-year career in the NHS to trying to improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable individuals, who have often experienced complex trauma and consequently have struggled to function well within their social and interpersonal worlds. My journey has led me into many roles including Consultant Adult Psychotherapist, Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist, Dynamic Interpersonal Therapist (DIT), and Specialist Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT) Practitioner, Supervisor and Tutor, including more than fifteen years’ experience as a Clinical and Operational Lead of secondary care based Psychological Therapies Services in London. Since joining Solas Oxford as a Co-Director in 2021, I’ve felt invigorated by working closely with my long-standing colleague, Gerry Byrne, who’s helped me see the power of metaphor and narrative for engaging clients, trainees and supervises alike in grasping different ways of understanding the complexity of their experiences.
Rebecca Powell-Chandler
I first worked with the Solas Oxford team as part of The Supporting Parents Project (SPP). The trial involved 110 parents across five local authorities. My role was to coordinate the running of the project, ensuring data was collected and the project ran to time and budget. I am now project manager for the Navigating Pre-proceeding Project. I enjoy being the hub of communication, supporting colleagues, professionals, and parents alike.
Stefanella Costa-Cordella
Research Leader
I am a Clinical Child Psychologist, Professor, and Researcher. I completed my Ph.D. in Psychoanalytic Studies at University College London, under the guidance of Patrick Luyten and Peter Fonagy. Additionally, I obtained my master’s in Neuropsychology at the University Cattolica di Milano in Italy, where I also received training in Body Psychotherapy in Bologna. I have received training in different Mentalization-Based Treatments (MBT) with children, adolescents, and families at the Anna Freud Centre, as well as on the AAI, CAI, and PDI interviews. I currently live in Chile, where I’m a faculty member of the Psychology department at the Diego Portales University of Chile. I also work as a researcher in the Center of Neuroscience, the Center of Psychotherapy Research, and the Millennium Institute MIDAP. At Solas Oxford, I serve as Research Leader, where my primary aim is to contribute to the design, development, and coordination of research that can enhance the evidence-based roots of the treatments and training delivered by Solas Oxford, as well as their cultural relevance in the different countries where they are being adapted.
Ariadna Pérez-Domingo
I am a psychologist at the Pere Claver Group Foundation in Barcelona. Since 2010, alongside my private practice, I have been working in a child and youth public mental health service. I hold a PhD in Psychology, with mentalization as my research topic of interest. In 2018, I discovered the Lighthouse MBT-Parenting Programme and underwent training with Gerry Byrne. Subsequently, I began leading Lighthouse MBT-Parenting Programme groups. With each edition I participate in, I become increasingly convinced of the programme’s utility and the imperative to extend its reach to as many families as possible. In 2023, I became the Solas Oxford representative in Spain and commenced supervising teams in the Spanish language.
Lina Gervinskaitė-Paulaitienė
I am a clinical psychologist with a PhD in Psychology. I work as an Associate Professor at the Institute of Psychology at Vilnius University, where I am also a member of the Developmental Psychopathology Research Centre. In my practical work, I provide psychological counselling, for adults and parents and deliver seminars and lectures on mentalization and psychological well-being to diverse audiences. In my clinical and research work, I am very interested in mentalization, attachment, and their roles in psychological functioning, as well as in mentalization-based interventions. By combining my experience as a researcher and clinician, I initiated the implementation of the Lighthouse MBT-Parenting Programme in Lithuania and led a study on it. I continue to facilitate the Lighthouse MBT-Parenting Programme groups and coordinate the programme’s implementation in Lithuania as a representative of Solas Oxford. Additionally, I am part of the Solas Oxford research team. For information about the Lighthouse MBT-Parenting Programme in Lithuania (in Lithuanian) see www.svyturiotevyste.lt
Anna Szczepaniak
I am a psychologist and a certified psychotherapist of the Polish Psychological Association. I am a supervisor and trainer for the Lighthouse MBT-Parenting Programme and have coordinated the development of the programme at branches of the Empowering Children Foundation and other clinical facilities across Poland. I have many years of clinical experience, working with children, adolescents and adults in clinical facilities in Łódź and Warsaw. My psychotherapeutic training is in the psychodynamic approach, complemented by ongoing training at the Anna Freud Center in London. In 2019, I completed a clinical internship within the NHS structures in Oxford. At the Empowering Children Foundation, the largest non-governmental organisation in Poland dedicated to child and youth trauma, I oversee the clinical team at the Warsaw Child Advocacy Center. I specialise in working with early childhood relational trauma in young patients who have experienced various forms of violence from close caregivers. I lead lectures and training on trauma, mentalization, and child and youth psychotherapy. I am the author of numerous scientific publications.
Our ethical commitment
At Solas Oxford, we believe diversity enriches our organisation and enhances our ability to serve our community. We are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute. We strive to foster a culture that celebrates differences and promotes equality of opportunity for all. We also regularly review our policies to ensure they reflect our commitment to inclusivity. We stand firmly against modern slavery and human trafficking in all its forms.We conduct our operations transparently and ethically and ensure compliance with the modern Slavery Act. We rigorously assess and manage risks, enforce strict standards, and regularly review our practices to ensure we uphold and advocate for the protection and respect of human rights. Our dedication to social responsibility and ethical practices is unwavering, as we continue to improve our systems and educate our teams to prevent any form of modern slavery within the communities we serve and the markets we operate in.
GDPR Policy
Solas Oxford Community Interest Company is committed to protecting personal and sensitive information through adherence to strict information governance and GDPR principles. This policy applies to all employees, contractors, and third parties involved with the company’s operations. Key points include:
- Data Collection and Use: Personal data is collected with clear consent and used explicitly for stated purposes. Sensitive data is handled with extra care under stricter controls.
- Data Security: Measures such as access controls, data encryption, secure storage, and proper data disposal are implemented to protect personal data.
- Data Subject Rights: Individuals have rights to access, rectify, erase, or object to the processing of their personal data. Privacy notices outline these rights.
- Data Sharing and Third Parties: Data is shared only when necessary and under compliant conditions. Third-party agreements ensure adherence to data protection laws.
- Data Breach Management: Breaches are promptly reported, with thorough investigations and responsive actions to mitigate harm and prevent future incidents.
- Staff Training and Awareness: Regular training and a culture of data protection awareness are promoted to ensure compliance with the policy.
- Policy Review: The policy is periodically reviewed to remain effective and compliant with legal and organisational changes.
For more details you can read our full policy here: Full GDPR and Information Governance Policy.