Professor Alessandra Lemma BSc., MA, MPhil (Cantab.), MSt (Oxon.) D. Clin Psych., Dip. Counselling Psychol. is a Chartered Clinical and Counselling Psychologist, Psychoanalyst and a Fellow of the British Psychoanalytical Society.
She has worked in the NHS and other mental health services sector for over 35 years specialising in the treatment of adults and adolescents with mild to severe mental health problems.
She is now a Consultant at the Anna Freud Centre and works in private practice at the Queen Anne Street Practice and the Regent’s Park/Primrose Hill Practice working with both adolescents and adults.
Until 2016 she worked at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust where she was at various points Head of Psychology, the Director of the Psychological Therapies Development Unit and Professor of Psychological Therapies (jointly with Essex University). She also worked as a Consultant Adult Psychotherapist at the Portman Clinic where she specialised in working with transgender individuals.
She is a Fellow of the British Psychoanalytical Society and Visiting Professor, Psychoanalysis Unit, University College London. In the past she has worked as a Clinical Tutor on the UCL Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and on the UCL MSc in Psychoanalytic Studies where she was Course Tutor between 2003-2005.
Her training and experience in a range of therapeutic modalities underpins her approach to assessing suitability for psychological interventions. Besides her training in long-term psychoanalytic interventions, she is also an experienced trainer, supervisor and therapist in a range of brief evidence- based psychological interventions such as Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), one of the NICE approved therapies for the treatment of depression, and Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT). She is a supervisor and trainer in Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT). Along with Professors Peter Fonagy and Mary Target, she led on the development of a new protocol for a brief psychodynamic intervention for mood disorders, Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT) which is now offered in the NHS in the UK and in several other countries (http://www.d-i-t.org).
Until 2020 she was the General Editor of the New Library of Psychoanalysis Book Series. Between 2008 and 2011 she was the Editor-in Chief of the Journal Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: Applications, Theory and Research. Between 2011-2018 she was one of the regional Editors for the International Journal of Psychoanalysis. Currently Chair of the International Journal of Psychoanalysis Management Board.
She was a recipient of the 2022 Sigourney Award in recognition of her inventive theoretical and clinical contributions to understanding body modification practices, the impacts of technology on psychic functioning and transgender identities as well as for her efforts to disseminate psychoanalytic thinking and applications worldwide.
She lectures extensively in the UK and internationally and has published several books on psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. Her clinical and theoretical interests are focussed on body image disturbances (particularly body dysmorphia and body modification practices), gender identity, trauma, the impact of virtual technology, adolescent development and applied ethics.
She has specialist clinical experience in the treatment of:
Mood disorders (depression and anxiety)
Body image disturbances (particularly Body Dysmorphic Disorder)
Eating disorders
Trauma
Self harm
Addiction to digital media
Problems related to gender identity (transgender) and sexual desire
In addition to direct clinical work, she has a background in applied ethics through her studies at the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics at Oxford University. She has an interest in supporting rational ethical reflection and dialogue on bioethical and clinical dilemmas and controversies. She offers consultancy to clinicians and institutions on ethical matters.
