Mark Fish

A highly accomplished, compassionate Senior Psychotherapist, Trainer, and Clinical Supervisor with over two decades of international experience specializing in therapeutic groupwork, trauma recovery, and systemic leadership. Founder of Room to Heal, a pioneering therapeutic community for refugee survivors of torture. Proven track record of developing and facilitating therapeutic groups, reflective practice forums, and staff support initiatives in high-pressure conflict and post-conflict zones across the UK, MENA, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Expert at fostering collective healing, countering vicarious trauma, and training frontline clinicians in advanced group dynamics.

Director, Lead Trainer & Clinical Supervisor - Groupworks International CIC & Talkworks Therapy

(2018-01)

Founded this Community Interest Company to export the 'Room to Heal' group-based model of healing via global training and clinical supervision.

• Design and deliver individual and group psychotherapy to highly traumatized populations, including Tamil refugees relocated to the UK (2025–Present) and Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in Diego Garcia via Response-Med Kenya (2023)
• Lead multiple global capacity-building projects with UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture (UNVFVT)
• Facilitate intensive therapeutic groupwork training and clinical supervision for frontline NGO staff across the globe, including: Counselling Support Unit (CSU), Zimbabwe (2025); Women's Association for Victims' Empowerment (WAVE), The Gambia (2024); St. Andrew's Refugee Services (STARS), Egypt (2019–2022); The Refugee Consortium (RCK), Nairobi and Dadaab Refugee Camp, Kenya (2019–2022); Standing Voice, Malawi (2019)
• Facilitate monthly online reflective practice groups to improve therapeutic outcomes and mitigate vicarious trauma for teams like Refugee Legal Support (RLS) Calais (2023–Present), Standing Voice (SV) Malawi (2020-2026)

International Groupwork Consultant & Facilitator - Psychologues du Monde (PDMT) & OMCT - Tunisia & Global

(2014-01 - 2026-12)

Provided high-level therapeutic group support and clinical supervision over a 12-year period.

• Coordinated with Dignity-Tunisia and PDMT to deliver clinical supervision and advanced groupwork training to consecutive cohorts of Tunisian psychologists (2018–2026)
• Facilitated specialized groupes de paroles and support groups for senior organizational staff across Geneva, Brussels, and Tunis, as well as prison professionals (psychologists, guards, social workers) within the Tunisian penal system

Founder & Director / Lead Group Therapist - Room to Heal - London, UK

(2007-01 - 2018-12)

Envisioned, founded, and directed a highly respected human rights NGO centered around a holistic therapeutic community model for refugee survivors of torture.

• Served as the lead group therapist for over a decade, facilitating intensive therapeutic community groups to help exiled survivors process severe trauma and rebuild lives
• Managed organizational strategy, authored detailed Medical-Legal Reports, and served as an expert clinical witness in asylum interviews and court hearings

Senior Counsellor - Helen Bamber Foundation & Freedom from Torture - London

(2006-01 - 2018-12)

Provided trauma-focused psychotherapy for refugee survivors of torture.

Country Representative - Quaker Peace and Social Witness (QPSW) - Northern Uganda

(2002-01 - 2004-12)

Developed trauma healing programs and built grassroots peace initiatives within an active conflict zone.

MSc - Violence, Conflict and Development (inc. Refugee Studies) - SOAS, University of London (2005-01)

BA (Hons) - Philosophy - University of Warwick (1980-01)