Faculty
Meet the faculty, tutors and course leaders who contribute to learning across Emerson College and our wider educational network. Our educators, practitioners, artists, therapists and researchers bring extensive professional experience to courses and training programmes spanning Health, Education, Arts and Land. Through teaching, mentoring and practical application, they support learners in developing knowledge, skills and new perspectives for both personal and professional growth.
Anxiety & Depression Therapy
Dr Astrid Sterner has worked as a general practitioner in Berlin for more than 22 years and is a board member of the Anthroposophical Medical Society in Germany.
She has spent many years developing and researching the healing indications given by Rudolf Steiner and Ita Wegman, with a particular focus on externally applied medicines and treatments, including poultices and wraps, for use both in clinical settings and at home.
Dr Sterner is deeply committed to the therapeutic value of external treatments and has taught a wide range of these approaches over many years. Her work is rooted in the understanding that warmth is fundamental to healing, and that these therapies can help awaken self-efficacy by enabling people to take an active role in their own wellbeing.
Anthroposophical Psychology
John is a certified anthroposophic psychotherapist and a UKCP-registered psychotherapist, as well as a BACP Senior Accredited Practitioner and clinical supervisor. He works in private practice in both London and Sussex.
He is Chair of the International Federation of Anthroposophic Psychotherapy Associations (IFAPA) and a retired Associate Professor of Psychotherapy and Counselling at the University of Leeds.
John has written or co-authored more than fifty articles, almost thirty of which have been peer-reviewed. He is the founding editor of a Routledge journal, has edited a Routledge book series, and has edited or co-edited five books.
He designed the MSc in Therapeutic Counselling and served as Programme Leader for twelve years.
Marah is a trained and qualified art therapist, psychodynamic counsellor, anthroposophic biography worker and supervisor. She has over 25 years’ experience working in a UK residential clinic and a medical practice and therapy centre and has also served as a counsellor and interim Child and Family Lead for a leading organisation.
She has taught widely across the UK, the Philippines, India, China, Taiwan, Europe and America.
Marah’s current private practice includes therapeutic work with trauma, abuse, depression, anxiety, bereavement and relationship issues. She also provides supervision for clinical practitioners, art therapists and psychotherapists, including therapists in India, a UK-based refugee centre, and a men’s prison.
Ad is the co-founder of, and a lecturer on, the Anthroposophic Psychotherapy course. He is an experienced anthroposophic psychotherapist, registered with the LVVA (the Dutch Association for Psychotherapists), and a visiting lecturer at Witten-Herdecke University in Germany.
He is the retired Joint International Coordinator of Psychotherapy in the Medical Section of the School of Spiritual Science, subsection Psychotherapy, and a former President of the International Federation of Anthroposophic Psychotherapy Associations (IFAPA).
Ad has trained practitioners in anthroposophic psychotherapy across the world, including Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Israel, Brazil, Great Britain, Argentina, Russia, Chile and India. His specialist areas include psychotherapy for cult victims and the development of new methods of training in anthroposophic psychotherapy.
His key work, A Psychology of Human Dignity, has been published in several languages.
Henriette is the co-founder of, and a lecturer on, the Anthroposophic Psychotherapy course. She is an experienced anthroposophic psychotherapist, a visiting lecturer at Witten-Herdecke University in Germany, and is registered with the LVVA, the Dutch Association for Psychotherapists.
She recently retired as Joint International Coordinator of Psychotherapy in the Medical Section of the School of Spiritual Science, subsection Psychotherapy, and is a Board Member of the International Federation of Anthroposophic Psychotherapy Associations (IFAPA).
Henriette has trained practitioners in anthroposophic psychotherapy internationally, including in Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Israel, Brazil, Great Britain, Argentina, Russia, Chile and India.
She works at an anthroposophic therapeuticum in the Netherlands and specialises in working with personality disorders. Her research in this field has been published in both Dutch and German.
English Training in Anthroposphic Medicine
Course Lead
Michael is a certified Anthroposophic Physician and an experienced anthroposophic doctor and teacher. After 26 years working as an NHS GP, he now sees patients in private practice.
He leads the International Postgraduate Medical Training in the Philippines and is a faculty member of the UK Mental Health Seminar.
James studied medicine at London University, qualifying as a medical doctor in 1975. He co-founded the Park Attwood Clinic in 1979, where he worked for 25 years.
Since leaving Park Attwood, James has expanded his long-standing work in adult education, contributing to programmes in mental health, child development and general medicine. He has taught for many years on Biographical Counselling trainings and on courses in anthroposophic psychology.
James has been a faculty member of the Medical Section’s Mental Health Seminar (UK) since 1990 and has taught on the International Training in Anthroposophic Medicine since 2019. He has also contributed to courses and seminars on medical and psychological themes in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Croatia.
Matthew grew up in South Africa and Germany before moving to England to complete his schooling at Wynstones Steiner School. He went on to study at the University of Edinburgh, graduating with a BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences, specialising in Cell Biology.
Following this, Matthew moved to Glasgow to complete his medical training, qualifying with an MBChB. He currently works as a Resident Doctor within the NHS in Bristol.
Alongside his clinical work, Matthew has undertaken extensive anthroposophic medical training and serves as an Associate Faculty member on several programmes. He also co-carries the Medical Section in Great Britain.
Holistic Baby and Child Care
Course Lead
Dorothy Marlen originally trained as a Steiner Early Years kindergarten teacher and a counsellor and has over 30 years’ experience working with parents and carers of very young children.
Dorothy trained in the Pikler approach at the Pikler Institute in Budapest, achieving the level of Certified Pikler Professional. She also holds a postgraduate Diploma in Psychoanalytic Child Observation, which enriches her understanding of the developmental needs of the very young child.
For 16 years she has run Parent and Baby groups rooted in Pikler and Steiner principles at York Steiner School, where she also leads parent support groups and craft workshops.
Dorothy co-founded the Pikler UK Association and served as its Chair for seven years. She is currently the national Birth to Three representative on the Steiner Waldorf Early Years Steering Group.
She offers consultancy to mainstream baby and infant rooms, as well as to Steiner/Waldorf birth-to-three settings. Dorothy is the author of The Parent and Child Group Handbook (Hawthorn Press) and writes book chapters and articles for journals and magazines.
Sam is a Holistic Child Care teacher and early childhood specialist with a long-standing commitment to Steiner Waldorf Early Years education. She began her work in early childhood by establishing and leading Parent and Child Groups in London and later in Canterbury, which sparked her enduring interest in supporting young children and their families.
Sam has represented Parent and Child Group Leaders on the Steiner Waldorf Early Years Group for many years and has been actively involved in running workshops and conferences for professionals working with young children and their parents. She also writes regularly for Kindling Journal on early childhood themes.
She completed the London Steiner Waldorf Early Childhood Studies and went on to become a Kindergarten Teacher at Canterbury Steiner School. To deepen her understanding of infant and toddler development, Sam undertook the European Accredited Pikler Basic Training followed by the European Accredited Pikler Practice Guidance Training between 2012 and 2014.
Syenna has over 20 years’ experience in early childhood education and care, with a background spanning nannying, leading Parent and Child Groups, and supporting families in children’s centres. She has also worked in schools and kindergartens as both a teacher and a leader.
Her early interest in science led her to study biology at university, and she continues to share this passion as an Upper School science teacher. Alongside her work in early childhood, Syenna completed the London Steiner Waldorf Early Childhood Training Course while working in a kindergarten. She later served as Early Years Lead and Deputy School Lead at Ringwood Waldorf School.
Syenna currently represents Parent and Child Groups and kindergartens in the South West of England as part of the Steiner Waldorf Early Years Group. She also works as a school advisor and mentor, supporting educators and programmes across the region.
Tina has been running Ladybird Playgroup in London for the past eight years. This Steiner-inspired, registered home childcare setting welcomes six to eight two- and three-year-olds, attending three days a week throughout the academic year.
Tina is the mother of three children, the youngest of whom attends St Paul’s Steiner School in Islington. She completed her Level 5 Waldorf Steiner Kindergarten Teacher training in 2021. Before moving into early childhood education, Tina worked as a freelance travel photographer and holds an MA in Communication Design.
She is skilled in arts and crafts and is bilingual in German and English. Tina greatly values working collaboratively with her colleagues and especially appreciates the ongoing shared reflection that supports and strengthens their practice.
Mental Health Seminars
Course Lead
Mike is the Course Leader and an experienced Psychodrama Psychotherapist and teacher. He is a UKCP-accredited psychodrama psychotherapist and group psychotherapist, as well as a clinical supervisor.
Mike works as a clinical psychodrama psychotherapist at HMPPS Grendon and is the former Artistic Director of the Glasshouse Arts Centre. He is also an educational researcher (M.Ed.), mask practitioner, and international workshop leader.
His book MASK was published by Hawthorn Press in 2017.
Michael is a certified Anthroposophic Physician and an experienced anthroposophic doctor and teacher. After 26 years working as an NHS GP, he now sees patients in private practice.
He leads the International Postgraduate Medical Training in the Philippines and is a faculty member of the UK Mental Health Seminar.
James studied medicine at London University, qualifying as a medical doctor in 1975. He co-founded the Park Attwood Clinic in 1979, where he worked for 25 years.
Since leaving Park Attwood, James has expanded his long-standing work in adult education, contributing to programmes in mental health, child development and general medicine. He has taught for many years on Biographical Counselling trainings and on courses in anthroposophic psychology.
James has been a faculty member of the Medical Section’s Mental Health Seminar (UK) since 1990 and has taught on the International Training in Anthroposophic Medicine since 2019. He has also contributed to courses and seminars on medical and psychological themes in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Croatia.
Jane (Dip. Biog. Couns., MSc Psychotherapy, UKCP, AFT) is a Biographical Counsellor, Family Therapist and Systemic Supervisor with over 20 years’ experience working with individuals, couples, families, parents, teams and groups. She offers systemic consultancy, training and supervision across a range of professional settings. Jane has worked in a CAMHS service and previously served as Clinical Lead for a local child and family service. She was a trustee of the Biography and Social Development Trust and contributed to the Biographical Counselling Diploma course. She is a teacher and co-director of the Biographical Counselling Skills Course and also teaches and facilitates on the Mental Health Seminar.
Nose to Nose Clown L1
Vivian is the founder and director of Nose to Nose and has led hundreds of clowning workshops around the world. He divides his time between the UK and France, where he first began clowning in 1978, and is fluent in both French and English.
Vivian began teaching in 1988 as part of the Lifeways Festival at Emerson College. He trained as a facilitator with Bataclown in 1990, joined their team in 1991, and worked as a modern-day Court Jester (“Clownanalyst”).
He established Nose to Nose UK in 1990, Nose to Nose of North America in 2006, and later founded Fool View, a social clowning group. He has trained facilitators in the UK, USA, Germany and Italy.
Vivian continues to serve as an ambassador for the work, researching the applications of clowning in teacher training, medicine, conflict management, ecology and intercultural practice in countries such as South Africa, the USA, Senegal, Vietnam, India, Malaysia, Italy, Germany and Norway.
He sees clowning as a social playground for exploring our shared humanity.
Ali first encountered Nose to Nose in 2002 and immediately fell in love with the work. Since completing her training, she has been facilitating Nose to Nose workshops since 2016. She holds this approach in high esteem as a profound foundation for creative expression and for cultivating trust in oneself and in life.
Ali is a qualified and experienced teacher with over 25 years in education, delivering Performing Arts workshops in mainstream schools, special schools and older people’s settings. Having danced since the age of four, she brings a deep interest in movement to her facilitation, helping participants explore how physicality informs their clowning.
Her performing experience includes tap dancing and comedy in café-théâtre with Les Amuses Gueules in Lille, France, as well as Street Theatre and Theatre in Education with Inside Out Theatre Company in Hastings.
In her recent work with Nose to Nose, Ali has facilitated trainings for the Giggle Doctors (Theodora Foundation), Lis’n Tell Speech and Language Practitioners, Quantum Marketing in London, medical students at the University of Bristol, and social clowning sessions at The Imaginarium writers’ conference in Cambridge.
Ali speaks both English and French.
PGDip in Waldorf Education
Course Lead
Fiona completed a BSc in Computing Science at Imperial College and began her career in the computing industry before later training as a Steiner teacher and Bothmer/games movement teacher. She subsequently gained a PGCE in Secondary Mathematics through the Open University and has more recently undertaken master’s and doctoral research in mathematics education at Bristol University.
Fiona taught Pilates for several years before joining Hereford Waldorf School (later Steiner Academy Hereford), where she worked as a movement teacher, Class 7/8 teacher, and Upper School mathematics teacher. She has also taught mathematics in mainstream secondary schools and has carried out assistant teaching work at Bristol University.
Following her PhD research on emerging mathematics, Fiona continues to explore developments in mathematics education. She is also part of an ongoing research project at Bristol University focused on the design and facilitation of workshops for transformational leadership.
Trevor has worked in Steiner Waldorf education for 35 years, with experience spanning lower school and high school teaching, teacher education, and school leadership and management.
He spent several years working with the UK national schools’ movement (SWSF / Waldorf UK) and served as a member of the European Council for Steiner Waldorf Education (ECSWE).
Trevor also spent 12 years in the Faculty of Education at the University of Plymouth. He now works for the International Council for Steiner Waldorf Education, supporting schools and teacher education programmes in various parts of the world, including Europe, East Africa, South Africa and Southeast Asia.
Rythmical Massage Therapy
Course Lead
Aoine was born to artist parents and has lived and studied in the UK, Germany and the USA. She has over forty years’ experience in healthcare professions and more than thirty-five years as a bodyworker, specialising in Rhythmical Massage Therapy (as indicated by Dr Ita Wegman).
Her expertise spans practice, training, supervision and mentoring, and she has worked in both clinical and hospital settings as well as private practice. Aoine is currently involved in training programmes in the USA, UK, India, Israel and Thailand.
She works as a CPD consultant, supervisor, mentor and tutor, particularly within the broad field of bodywork education, and brings extensive knowledge of Rhythmical Massage Therapy to her work. Over the past thirty years she has developed a strong focus on group dynamics and organisational development, supporting teams through facilitation, mediation, conflict resolution and negotiation processes.
Aoine’s approach is grounded in an integrative philosophy of learning and informed by phenomenological study and practice.
Shashi qualified as a Rhythmical Massage Therapy Practitioner in 2007. Over her 16-year career, she has gained extensive experience working in neurological rehabilitation hospitals, NHS clinics and colleges for young adults with learning disabilities and autism. She has provided therapeutic support for a wide range of conditions, including fibromyalgia, sleep disorders, rheumatic arthritis, chronic fatigue, post-Covid stroke rehabilitation and ADHD.
In addition to Rhythmical Massage Therapy, Shashi is trained in Rhythmical Einreibung (Embrocation), Hydrotherapy and Brushing (oil dispersion baths), and external applications, which she integrates into her therapeutic practice.
In October 2016, she joined the Rhythmical Massage Therapy Teacher Training in the UK.
Step-by-Step Biodynamic Gardening
Faculty bio coming soon