Our Interdisciplinary Team

We are a collegiate, select group of talented, very experienced interdisciplinary professionals with a shared, gender-neutral, culturally sensitive, child-focussed ethos.

We have a wide range of skills and experience spanning the separated family consultancy field. Disciplines include: consultant on Family Law Courts, family law and procedure, researchers, professional ethics and jurisprudence medicine; consultant child and adolescent psychiatry, psychology; specialist systemic family therapy; psychodynamic psychotherapy; counselling; play therapy; PACE therapeutic parenting therapists, Guardian-Ad-Litum; independent social work ISW parenting assessments, section 7 assessments and welfare reports; expert witness work; contact supervisors; family law consultancy; parenting co-ordinators; family mediators; McKenzie Friend’s and mentoring and coaching specialists.

We look forward to helping you.

Trish Barry-Relph

Founder Co-Parenting Matters, Child and Family Consultant

Professional Doctorate / MA Advanced Clinical Social Work (with merit), University of East London/Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust (2003 – 2011) / CQSW, Dip SW, Teeside University (1989 – 1991) / ASW (1983 Mental Health Act) Bournemouth University (1992 – 1993) / Practice Teacher’s Award, University of Portsmouth (1995- 1996) / AASW, University of London (2005) / Social Work England registered SW40704, CORU registered SW000395 / Nagalro registered 1594 / Consultant Independent Social Worker / ISW / Expert Witness / Specialist Systemic Family Therapist / Psychodynamic Psychotherapist / Play Therapist

CAMHS Psychodynamic Psychotherapist and Clinical Manager, Tier 2, 3 and 4 (2005 – 2016) / Learning and Development Lead Hampshire CAMHS NHS (2005 – 2010) / Tavistock & Portman NHS Trust Clinic, Psychodynamic Psychotherapist the Parent’s Service and the Adolescent Department (2005 – 2011)/Associate Group Analytic Society (2003 – 2007)

Family Mediator / GP Practice Counsellor BACP (2000 – 2014) / Clinical Training Humanistic Integrative Psychotherapist UKCP (1993 – 2003) / Bert Hellinger Family Constellations training (2006) / Group Relations Conferences (2003 – 2005) / Supervision and Mentoring University of West of England (2008), Balint Society Group training (2012 – 2014) / Visiting Lecturer, Bournemouth University BA Child Protection (1994 – 1999), Winchester University, GP Mental Health Refresher CPD (2000 – 2005) / Kingston University MA in Child Development and Observation Studies (2004 – 2010) / London Consortium of Universities MA Approved Mental Health Professionals 1983 Mental Health Act 2010 – 2020.

ABE Child Protection Social Worker (Emergency Out of Hours Services) (2000 – 2008) / Psychiatric Social Worker (Approved 1983 Mental Health Act), Community Mental Health Teams (1991 – 2004) / Elected UK Social Work Lead for Children and Families (Royal College of Psychiatrists) of The International Society for the Social and Psychological Treatment of the Psychoses (2000 – 2004).

Philip Marcus

Co-Parenting Matters, Judge (retired) Jerusalem Family Court; Jurist, Consultant on Family Courts, Family Law and Procedure,Researcher, Author and Lecturer on Child Law, Elder Law, Professional Ethics and Jurisprudence

LL.B. (Bachelor of Laws) degree at University College London, Advocate at the Israel Bar (1979); Judge of the Jerusalem Magistrates Court in 1995, and served as a Judge of the Family Court from its opening in 1997 until hisretirement in 2012. Master’s degree in Law (LL.M.) from Haifa University in 2008. Consultant to committees of the Knesset (Israel’sparliament) on all proposed legislation concerning children, the elderly and persons with disabilities. Member of national and international organizations dealing with
families in distress, with a particular focus on children who are affected by
parental separation and divorce and child-parent contact problems and
therapeutic jurisprudence He has lectured on five continents, and is consulted
by countries and organizations around the world about Family Court system
reform and prevention of parental alienation, including, where necessary,
proposals for changes in the law.

 Fiona Burke

Co-Parenting Matters, Principal Child Protection and Guardian-Ad-Litum Social Worker ISW, Social Work England registered SW42163

Commendation for Dedication and Professionalism, Merseyside Police 2006 for work in the Protection of Children. Edge Hill University, Liverpool, Consolidation of Social Work Practice PQ Award, Liverpool John Moore’s University, Diploma in Social Work, Wirral Metropolitan College, HNC in Social Care.

Chris Faulkner

Co-Parenting Matters, Counsellor and Psychotherapist, FdSC Counselling and Psychotherapy, University of Greenwich, MBACP (Accred) registered 379485.

BA Counselling, University of Greenwich, Counsellor and Psychotherapist at Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care, NCFE Counselling, Affiliate and Regional Manager, The Eaves, Psychology and Counselling Services. Bi-lingual (English/Spanish)

Dr Mehdi Mirkhani

Co-Parenting Matters, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

MD, MRCPsych. Consultant Child, Adolescent Psychiatrist working in the NHS and privately. He holds expertise in a range of psychiatric presentations, neuropsychiatry and neurodevelopmental conditions affecting children and young people. Dr Mirkhani had his basic training in psychiatry in South London and Maudsley and started working in the NHS in 2005. He acquired higher training in child and adolescent psychiatry in South West London and St George’s NHS Trust and awarded membership of Royal College of Psychiatrists and by General medical Council is on a specialist register as Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist.

Approved Clinician and S12 (2) doctor within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1983; certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Foundation year of MSc in Family Therapy. Trained administrator of Developmental, Dimensional and Diagnostic interview for assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (3di). Trained administrator of ADI-R; Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule administrator;Qualified for advanced QEEG assessment and analysis. Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists since 2012; qualified as appraiser of other medical professionals. Secured position on the General Medical Council Specialist Register in February 2016. Supporting the Care Quality Commission as specialist advisor. British Sign Language Level 1 award

Dr Orinayo Onabanjo

Co-Parenting Matters, Counselling Psychologist

(CPsychol, HCPC reg) Counselling Psychologist2015 – 2020 PsychD in Psychotherapeutic and Counselling Psychology, University of Surrey2013 CPCAB Level 2 Certificate Counselling Skills2009 – 2012 BSc (Hon) Psychology, University of Kent

Kayla Smith

Co-Parenting Matters, Therapeutic Family Support Practitioner

Yoga Teacher – BWY Trained (500hrs) specialising in Mindfulness and Meditation for children and Autism & ADHD. Holistic Therapist. Workshop Facilitator and Support Worker with special or additional needs and community mental health. NLP Practitioner. LSCB Safeguarding Children Certificate and Safeguarding Adults Skills Certificate. PBS Positive Behaviour Support (de-escalation techniques). BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts and LAMDA Voice & Speech.

Victoria Champion

Co-Parenting Matters, Integrative Counselling Psychotherapist

Level 5 Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling, National Counselling Society Accredited Member – NCS18-07333 and BACP 00954485. Diploma in Fundamentals of Project Management (2005). CPD Tailoring Clinical Interventions to Fit the Problem: Children’s contact with parent’s following parental separation (2018: Trish Barry-Relph), Trauma Defined: The Body Keeps the Score (Bassel van der Kolk), Global Caronavirus Crisis – Preconditions for trauma (Bessel van der Kolk), Anxiety and Caronavirus (BACP).

Dr. Rakesh Kapur

Co Parenting Matters, Principal Development Consultant

B. J. Medical College (MJMC), Doctor in Urology and Neurology, Indian School of Business (ISB), Post-Graduate Programme in Management, Founder & CEO, Augment Consulting, Co-Founder & Director Bambootree (NGO).

Karl Hedges

Co-Parenting Matters, Independent Social Worker,  ISW, Expert Witness, Social Work England registered SW 31649 

Experience as a Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) Family Court Advisor, Child Protection, Neglect, Domestic Violence, Risk Assessment, PAM’s Assessment, Learning Disability, Supervised Contact. 

Sandra Leighton-Carey

Co-Parenting Matters, Independent Social Worker, ISW, Expert Witness, Social Work England Registered SW 98780 

Bernard Mayake

Co-Parenting Matters; Advanced International Social Work Professional Practitioner and Consultant. IFSW.

Kirsty Bunce

Co-Parenting  Matters, Couples Counsellor, Counsellor for Children and Young People, Education Pastoral Care Counsellor, Lecturer in Counsellling, Research Counsellor Metanoia Institute Roehampton University and Clinical Supervisor.

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Ian P Buckingham, management consultant and mentor, is also the author of several books on brand, leadership, communications and marketing as well as a series of highly-regarded children’s books. A champion of our ethos, he has guided the values-based brand development and marketing work behind Co-Parenting Matters.