Martin Milton
Prof. Martin Milton CSci, CPsychol, AFBPsS, UKCP Reg, SFHEA, is Professor of Counselling Psychology at Regents University London. He also runs an independent practice in psychotherapy and supervision.
Martin gained his BA from the University of Natal (Durban), his BA (Hons) from the University of South Africa, his MA (Antioch) from the School of Psychotherapy and Counselling Psychology at Regents College and his DPsych from City University (London).
His research and specialist interests include Lesbian and Gay Affirmative Psychology and Psychotherapy and Existential Psychotherapy and new and burgeoning interests in eco-therapy and the therapeutic aspects of the natural world. In this regard Martin has been involved with the Education committee of the Jane Goodall Institute UK and on Bristol Zoo’s Advisory Group on the Social Sciences and has recently joined the editorial board of the new journal Ecopsychology and is associate editor of the new journal 'European Journal of Ecopsychology'.
As a practitioner, Martin worked in the British National Health Service with the Kingston and District NHS Trust and as Consultant Psychologist in Psychotherapy with North East London Mental Health Trust.
Martin has been involved in the British Psychological Society. He was Chair Elect of the BPS Division of Counselling Psychology 2004-2005 and Chair between March and November 2005. He was previously Course Directors’ representative to the Committee as well as having served as one of the Division of Counselling Psychology’s representatives to the Admissions Committee of the BPS. In addition he Martin was Chair of the Standing Committee for Professional Affairs of the Division of Counselling Psychology (1994-1998), and sat on the Executive Committee of the Division (1997-1998). Martin also served on the Committee of the BPS Lesbian and Gay Psychology section and was one of the co-editors of its Newsletter and Journal. Martin remains active in these organisations as a member of the Editorial Board for Psychology and Sexuality, Counselling Psychology Review, Co-editor of Research Digest, (a sub-section of Counselling Psychology Review), a member of the International Advisory Board to Psychology of Sexualities Review. He is also on the editorial board of the International Journal Ecopsychology.
Address: School of Psychotherapy and Counselling Psychology, Regents College, Inner Circle, Regents Park, London, NW1 4NS
UK
Martin gained his BA from the University of Natal (Durban), his BA (Hons) from the University of South Africa, his MA (Antioch) from the School of Psychotherapy and Counselling Psychology at Regents College and his DPsych from City University (London).
His research and specialist interests include Lesbian and Gay Affirmative Psychology and Psychotherapy and Existential Psychotherapy and new and burgeoning interests in eco-therapy and the therapeutic aspects of the natural world. In this regard Martin has been involved with the Education committee of the Jane Goodall Institute UK and on Bristol Zoo’s Advisory Group on the Social Sciences and has recently joined the editorial board of the new journal Ecopsychology and is associate editor of the new journal 'European Journal of Ecopsychology'.
As a practitioner, Martin worked in the British National Health Service with the Kingston and District NHS Trust and as Consultant Psychologist in Psychotherapy with North East London Mental Health Trust.
Martin has been involved in the British Psychological Society. He was Chair Elect of the BPS Division of Counselling Psychology 2004-2005 and Chair between March and November 2005. He was previously Course Directors’ representative to the Committee as well as having served as one of the Division of Counselling Psychology’s representatives to the Admissions Committee of the BPS. In addition he Martin was Chair of the Standing Committee for Professional Affairs of the Division of Counselling Psychology (1994-1998), and sat on the Executive Committee of the Division (1997-1998). Martin also served on the Committee of the BPS Lesbian and Gay Psychology section and was one of the co-editors of its Newsletter and Journal. Martin remains active in these organisations as a member of the Editorial Board for Psychology and Sexuality, Counselling Psychology Review, Co-editor of Research Digest, (a sub-section of Counselling Psychology Review), a member of the International Advisory Board to Psychology of Sexualities Review. He is also on the editorial board of the International Journal Ecopsychology.
Address: School of Psychotherapy and Counselling Psychology, Regents College, Inner Circle, Regents Park, London, NW1 4NS
UK
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Books by Martin Milton
https://www.macmillanihe.com/page/detail/The-Personal-Is-Political/?K=9781352001709
It is also available from Amazon at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Personal-Political-Difference-Psychotherapy-Counselling/dp/1352001705/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1522012533&sr=1-1&keywords=martin+milton&dpID=510YkZNxI%252BL&preST=_SY344_BO1,204,203,200_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
Papers by Martin Milton
https://www.macmillanihe.com/page/detail/The-Personal-Is-Political/?K=9781352001709
It is also available from Amazon at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Personal-Political-Difference-Psychotherapy-Counselling/dp/1352001705/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1522012533&sr=1-1&keywords=martin+milton&dpID=510YkZNxI%252BL&preST=_SY344_BO1,204,203,200_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
In this public lecture Martin will be reflecting on psychological wellbeing and the ways in which it is
linked to courage and creativity. He will of course draw on insights from counselling psychology but
this will be supplemented by insights from a range of other areas, fields as diverse as the Harry Potter
stories, the sport of boxing and MMA and lesbian and gay psychology. Martin will explore and
question the place of such experiences as courage, risk, creativity and standardisation in relation to
psychological wellbeing in our age of ever increasing risk averseness.
Dr Martin Milton, University of Surrey
Synopsis of Talk:
Whatever the values in brief, time limited, internally focussed state provided psychological therapy, the current zeitgeist is actually working against human wellbeing - particularly human wellbeing that is relationally understood. I will argue that the state will not lead the way in assisting therapists in how to hold on to the important knowledge that a century of practice and research has offered us, nor is it invested in facilitating socially, politically and relationally oriented insights into human wellbeing. Therefore, as therapists, we must rely on ourselves and our relationships with our clients, be open to new and innovative developments based on good ethical practice.
This view has implications for therapists as political citizens, in our personal lives and of course in our therapeutic practice. I will offer some thoughts on the ways in which our practice may be informed and developed by exploring the wider political and relational world (quietly in our own minds and in dialogue with clients) and the ways in which an understanding of this can enhance, assessment, formulation, technique and the therapeutic relationship. While the argument is made from a range of fields (including lesbian and gay psychology), examples will be drawn from ecologically informed psychology.
Despite the advances we have made socially, economically and technologically there are costs involved. We are all very aware of the costs to the planet at the moment, but I think there is plenty of evidence – in disparate disciplines to show that there are costs to cultures, communities and to individuals too. And its not all doom and gloom either – there are lots of opportunities too. So I thought I would start to outline what some of these issues are. I should also note that although there is a lots of work – its in a range of disciplines and some say that applied psychologists have been blind to the use that they can make of this work and what contribution that can make.
This rather crude diagram, sums up a range of the issues that we are faced with at the moment and the fact that they are inter-related. I think we need a greater focus to begin to theorise models of how exactly this relationship works but these are some of them that I will comment on today. I am really looking forward to your comments and ideas. Of course, as is the norm of these meetings – I will give my own thoughts for a while and then hope to hear some of yours.
There remains a critical need to advance ethically based LGBT affirmative psychology and psychotherapy standards globally. Recently the United Nations concluded that prejudice and stigmatization “often combined with a lack of adequate legal protection against discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, expose many LGBT people of all ages and in all regions of the world to egregious violations of their human rights (UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, 2012, p. 7).
The purpose of this symposium is to examine and reenergize the role of professional psychology respective of LGBT social justice, human rights, and social science–specifically by:
1) reviewing the need for global LGBT psychology and psychotherapy standards;
2) examining the actions taken by psychological organizations to support LGBT social justice; and,
3) charting a path for global LGBT psychological and psychotherapy standards.
Name and institutional affiliation of the convenors:
Dr. Markus Bidell (Regent’s University School of Psychotherapy and Psychology & Hunter College)
Prof. Martin Milton (Regent’s University School of Psychotherapy and Psychology)
Chair: Dr Elena Manafi, University of Surrey.
Individual Papers
1) LGBT Mental Health Disparities and Minority Stress
Dr. Joy Whitman (Walden University – USA)
From youth to old age, LGBT people living in western industrialized countries encounter strikingly similar forms of stigmatization and experience significant mental health disparities. For example, in the US and UK, LGBT individuals have disproportionately higher occurrences of serious psychological problems including mood and anxiety disorders, substance abuse, and suicidal behaviours compared with non-LGBT individuals (Elliott et al., 2014; Institute of Medicine [IOM], 2011). These elevated levels of mental health problems among LGBT individuals are now being connected to ‘‘a minority stress model that explains the higher prevalence of mental disorders as caused by excess in social stressors related to stigma and prejudice’’ (Meyer, 2003, p. 691). Increasing attention by professional psychologists is being given to LGBT issues and this paper explores current research that outlines the psychosocial disparities negatively impacting LGBT clients globally.
2) Current State of Affairs: Psychology and LGBT Affirmative Psychology
Dr Lyndsay Moon (Regent’s University London and Roehampton University – UK) and Prof. Martin Milton (Regent’s University London – UK)
LGBT individuals experience serious disparities and inequalities across broad health, psychosocial, and human service indices (Institute of Medicine [IOM], 2011). Currently, all Western psychological professional ethics codes and accreditation standards endorse LGBT affirmative psychology and psychotherapy. This paper examines the past and current role of western psychological societies respective of LGBT theory, research, treatment, and clinical standards of care. In particular, LGBT affirmative policy and position statements by leading western psychological societies are examined.
3) Why International Action is Needed
Christina Richards (West London Mental Health NHS Trust – UK)
Only recently have human rights and social justice organizations examined global psychosocial issues impacting LGBT people. Consider that it was only two years ago that the UN published its first report on LGBT global human rights. The report concluded that prejudice and stigmatization “often combined with a lack of adequate legal protection against discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, expose many LGBT people of all ages and in all regions of the world to egregious violations of their human rights . . . around the world, they are singled out for physical attack – beaten, sexually assaulted, tortured and killed . . . and in some 76 countries, discriminatory laws criminalize private, consensual same-sex relationships – exposing individuals to the risk of arrest, prosecution and imprisonment” (United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 2012, p. 7). This paper provides an overview of LGBT psychosocial issues and outlines the urgent need for psychologists to take a leading role in developing international LGBT psychology and psychotherapy standards.
4) Charting a Course Forward: International Declaration for LGBT Psychological Standards
Dr. Markus Bidell (Hunter College – USA & Regent’s University London – UK) and Dr. Pedro Alexandre Costa (William James Center for Research, ISPA-IU and Birkbeck, University of London)
The psychological professions initial aberrancy and stigmatization of LGBT people was founded chiefly on preexisting moralistic viewpoints based on outdated social views, discredited scientific theories, conservative religious beliefs, and public policy. Western psychological organizations now condemn such prejudicial perspectives and universally support LGBT affirmative treatment and research. As such, LGBT affirmative psychology and psychotherapy resolutely reject biased notions that LGBT people are mentally disordered based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Instead, LGBT affirmative psychology and treatment affirms LGBT people have a sexual orientation and gender identity that is normal, healthy, and legitimate (Bidell & Whitman, 2013). The preeminent role played by western psychologist and professional organizations to usher in these standards has been transformative not only for the field of psychology, but also for LGBT social justice. Based on the symposium presentations, this paper outlines concrete action for the development and adoption of an international declaration for global LGBT psychology and psychotherapy standards to advance LGBT human rights and ameliorate the serious problems, disparities, and inequalities negatively impacting LGBT people throughout the world.
independent practice as a Chartered Counselling Psychologist and psychotherapist. Martin has previously
served on the inaugural committee of the Section when it was first established as the Lesbian and Gay
Psychology Section and was keynote speaker at our 2015 AGM event. He is also a former Chair of the British
Psychological Society (BPS) Division of Counselling Psychology. In 2012 Martin received the BPS Award
for the promoting of equality of opportunity. He has published widely on the topic of sexuality in the context
of counselling and psychotherapy and his most recent book was entitled ‘Sexuality: Existential perspectives’
(Milton, 2014). I interviewed Martin in January 2016 about how he became involved in the Section, his
career as both an academic and practitioner and the relationship between homophobia and mental health.
What follows is an edited version of our conversation. The full issue of Psychology of Sexualities Review is available from: http://shop.bps.org.uk/publications/psychology-of-sexualities-review-vol-7-no-1-spring-2016.html