Dr Kathryn Kissell

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Dr Kathryn Kissell

Associate Tutor in Pastoral Studies

Kathryn Kissell is an Associate Tutor in Pastoral Studies at Ridley and teaches the Relationship and Emotional Management in Ministry module.

Kathryn is passionate about supporting students to apply psychological insights to their ministerial practice, both with respect to issues around self-care and well-being in ministry as well as navigating the complex relational dynamics of the church ‘family’.

Professional Career

Professional Career

Kathryn Kissell is a chartered counselling psychologist and Bowen systems coach. She works at Cognacity, a Harley Street clinical practise and she also runs her own private practise. Her clinical work combines insights from traditional individually focused psychological therapy (including psychodynamic, person-centred and cognitive behavioural approaches) with relational and systems approaches. The majority of her clients work in City consultancy, accountancy and law firms. Kathryn specialises in stress, anxiety, burnout and relational issues impacting work and personal life.

Kathryn’s work as a coach and consultant is rooted in Bowen systems theory’s insights into how relational systems fundamentally direct and control congregational and company life. She regularly coaches clergy as well as other professionals to enhance their leadership skills and establish engaged and creative teams.

Kathryn is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council and is a chartered member of the British Psychological Society.

Academic Background

Academic Background

Kathryn completed her clinical doctorate in Counselling Psychology at University of Roehampton. She also holds a BA(Hons) and MA(Oxon) in Experimental Psychology from Oxford University and an advanced diploma in Theological Studies from Trinity College, Bristol. Kathryn’s doctorate research project investigated the impact of Bowen group systems coaching on the work-related psychological health of Church of England clergy.

Kathryn continues to research the intersection of psychology and ministerial practice. Most recently she has been working as a consultant with the Susanna Wesley Foundation and her resource booklets which offer a relational systems approach to flourishing in ministry will be published in 2022 and form the foundation of a training course for clergy.

Ministry & Life

Ministry & Life

Kathryn has previously worked full-time in the Church of England as a children’s worker and has been married to a Church of England vicar for over 20 years. She has two children and loves nothing better than a walk in the woods, a good curry and being let loose on the dance floor.