Team members of Lighthouse Clinic Swansea, Wales, UK

Our Team

Robert DeStefano

Robert DeStefano is a UKCP accredited Consultant Psychotherapist. Robert’s undergraduate degree is in Humanities and Philosophy (Rider, USA). His psychotherapeutic training began with a Post Graduate Diploma in Integrative Counselling from University of Wales College at Newport. He received a Diploma in Clinical Integrative Psychotherapy from the Metanoia Institute in London, and an MSc in Integrative Psychotherapy from Middlesex University. Robert’s clinical experience includes extensive work with Personality Disorders, Bi-Polar Disorder, Adult ADHA, Depression and Anxiety Disorders, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Substance Misuse and Addiction (including binge and compulsive eating), Pain Management, Panic Disorder and Phobias. Robert is an experiential practitioner who places prime importance on the Therapeutic Relationship as a means of change and healing.

Robert has worked in a variety of clinical settings, both privately and for the NHS. He lives with his wife and two children in Carmarthenshire.

Ludwig Esser

He moved from Germany to Britain in 2000 and trained there as a hypnotherapist and psychotherapist.

Psychotherapy related qualifications:

Diploma in Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy awarded by the National College of Hypnosis and Psychotherapy (2007)

Certificate in Counselling, awarded by the NCFE through Swindon New College (2002)

Main professional focus

Depression, stress related problems, performance enhancement, anxiety, phobias, life changes, sexual dysfunctions, chronic illness

Johannes Thome

Johannes Thome studied medicine, philosophy and social psychology and obtained his MD/PhD degrees from Saarland University.

After his training as a resident in Psychiatry and Neurology at the University of Wurzburg, he moved to the USA where he became a Postdoctoral Associate at Yale University.

After two years of intensive and highly successful research in the area of molecular neuroscience and psychopharmacology, he returned to his native Germany and worked as Consultant Psychiatrist and Senior Scientist at the Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim, University of Heidelberg.

In 2004, Johannes moved to Wales and settled in Swansea, where he is currently the Chair of Psychiatry at the University of Wales Swansea.

Claire Williams

Claire Williams has completed an undergraduate degree in psychology and masters in abnormal and clinical psychology. At present she is approaching the completion of a PhD in Neuropsychology. In addition to working as a psychometrist at the LightHouse Clinic where she conducts the neuropsychological assessments, she is also a research associate for the Brain Injury Research Group at Swansea University and St Andrews Healthcare, Northampton.

She has published a number of academic journal articles and presented at national and international conferences. Her main research interests include traumatic brain injury, emotional perception, anxiety, depression, cognitive ability, and psychosocial outcome.

Alison Gorman, MSc

Alison originally trained as a Registered General Nurse before going on to study psychology at undergraduate degree level at Swansea University. She completed an MPhil in psychological research into how people cope with grief.

She is a BPS Chartered Psychologist with doctoral level training in Counselling Psychology, a HPC Registered Counselling Psychologist and an Accredited EMDR Practitioner with EMDR Association UK and Ireland.

Alison has worked in the NHS for many years as a psychologist, currently specialising in treating trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder using EMDR and Trauma focused CBT. With Liz Brimacombe Jones, she will be running the PTSD clinic at LightHouse Clinic.

Liz Brimacombe, MSc

Liz is a BPS registered Counselling Psychologist who, like Alison, is also a BACP accredited Counsellor. Liz has also worked in the NHS for many years as a therapist. She is currently specialising in trauma focused work. Liz is a trained EMDR therapist and, with Alison, will be running the PTSD Clinic at LightHouse Clinic.