Leila Lawton is a Mum of four, a British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) accredited Senior Specialist Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisor, Equity Activist and Visiting Lecturer. Additionally, she chairs the South London & Maudsley NHS Trust psychology & psychotherapy (P&P) race equity working group and is Chair of the BABCP Equality & Culture group.

Leila’s passion for people and inclusive clinical and research practice has been cultivated through 18 years combined experience working with culturally diverse groups within primary, secondary care and the third sector. Ranging from Community Mental Health, Learning Disability & Youth Offending Teams, Social Services, Memory Clinics, In-patients wards and IAPT. Leila has lived experience of mental health difficulties as well as being a carer for others with mental health needs. Her research interests include reflexivity, trauma, anti-racism, intersectionality, power & whiteness. She contributes to the evidence-base and policy to empower communities to inform the systems response towards their healing. Leila is committed to developing solutions through education to address systemic and structural racism.