Dr Angela Kennedy is a long standing leader and innovator of Trauma Informed Approaches in the UK. She did her first Trauma Informed Systems conference talk in 2004. Angela set up the national network that was the forerunner of the CIC with Darren Archer, NHS-E manager, whilst Mental Health Lead for NHS-England’s Regional Clinical Network and programme lead for Trauma Informed transformation within a large mental health trust in 2019.

 

She is a clinical psychologist by profession specialising early in therapies for complex trauma and severe psychotic or dissociative presentations. Her promotion of this and compassionate leadership and coaching has made her a sought after workshop leader and conference speaker.

 

She has been a Trustee of trauma charities, including the Covid Healthcare Support Appeal and set up the region’s support hub for health and care staff during the pandemic.

 

As well as a focus on research, innovation, prevention and collective healing, Angela was a visual artist and now also brings her creativity to her Trauma Informed work, producing many films, including ‘Life Well Lived’, a documentary about how people find lives of meaning after a suicide attempt. 

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You can read more of Angela's research here.

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Motivation: 
I realised early in my career that there were pretty awful stories behind the real distress of severe mental health issues. Once you see that, it makes you motivated to work towards a safer, more supportive society. I have learnt so much about survival and thriving from people.