Testimonials and feedback
”I attended a seven-day Mental Health First Aid train-the-trainer programme in April 2009, which Caroline facilitated and mentored me. Caroline is a skilled communicator and combines core therapeutic skills of warmth, empathy and genuineness with a highly professional style of delivery of training and a thorough understanding of the subject matter. She is able to deliver complex material and potentially emotionally laden subject areas in a safe way, with a lightness of touch and with humour. A winning combination!”
— Carolyne Kewn
Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Child and Family Service, Wirral CAMHS Division. MHFA England – train the instructor
“Our staff have found Caroline to be a professional trainer with personality and presentations that make them want to listen and find out more. Caroline can explain so that the whole room can understand and move forwards with the course. They comment that Caroline always refers to realistic examples and they feel they can apply the learning back in their roles.”
— Kelly Hilbert
Learning & Development Adviser, Selwood Housing. Bespoke training – course design
“I first went to see Caroline when I had a breakdown and my doctor advised me to have counseling. During the whole time I have been going I have always felt tremendously supported and cared for. I feel we have worked together at a pace that I have felt safe and comfortable with, in both slowly getting me off the anti-depressants I was taking and helping me to take the opportunity to find the positives that are also present but are so hard to see during very painful and difficult times. This has helped me become a stronger and more self-aware person. I can only encourage anyone in a similar situation to go and receive the help from Caroline that I have received and, to quote Caroline, ‘trust in the process’.”
— J.B, London
Person Centred Psychotherapy
“I have been working with Caroline since 2016, after having working with several other therapists over the years. For me she is by far the one that’s helped me the most. Whilst I’ve learned that it’s me that has done the work, her guidance and understanding have helped me to form a better relationship with myself and those around me. To say she has helped change my life, would be an understatement.”
— OA Lewes
“Caroline Hounsell is one of life’s good people. She is a warm person centred professional who understands the importance of good mental health, for the individual and society as a whole”
— Eleanor Miller, MHFA England
“I have worked with Caroline as trainer in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), as an instructor in MHFA and as a member of the MHFA England (CIC) National Training Team. I have the highest regard for her professionalism, integrity, and ability as a trainer. She is also fun to be with.”
— Chris Morgan, Founder and National Trainer, Mental Health First Aid England
Our founder
Caroline Hounsell
MBACP (Accredited) Psychotherapist.
MHFA England, Founder, Ambassador and National Trainer.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Consultancy.
Supervision and Coaching.
Leadership and Instructor Training.
Caroline was one of the first Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England Instructors to be trained by MHFA’s originator Betty Kitchener in 2006 and a founding member of MHFA England. Caroline joined the national MHFA England training team in 2007, taking on the role of MHFA England’s national Quality Assurance Lead in 2012. In 2015 she was appointed into a new role as MHFA England’s Director of Business and Partnerships, which evolved into the role of Director of Product Development, Partnerships and Training. She was awarded The Most Inspirational Person’ Award at the 10 year MHFA England anniversary event in 2017. In 2017 she was also invited by Royal Foundation to attend a special World Mental Health Day event at Buckingham Palace recognising and celebrating the outstanding achievements of herself & others in the field.
Caroline has designed and delivered mental health training to high profile clients, including senior politicians, senior business leaders, NHS England and Public Health England. She chaired the Expert Reference Group and led on the Schools programme (announced by the previous Prime Minister Theresa May) that brought mental health training into over 2000 secondary schools in the country between 2017-2019.
Following her success with MHFA England, Caroline is now an Ambassador and National trainer and offers psychotherapy, supervision, coaching, consultancy and training to individuals and organisations throughout the UK and abroad. Caroline sits on several key mental health governance groups spanning statutory and voluntary sectors. As an accredited British Association Counselling Psychotherapist (BACP) qualified in 2006, Caroline draws on the experience gained through her private practice to further develop her knowledge and skills as a mental health professional. She also has lived experience of being a young carer for a family member who had mental health issues. Caroline is also a regularly media mental health spokesperson and motivational speaker at conferences and is an all-round advocate of mental health and well-being.
