Rethinking Leadership for Clinical, Counselling and Health Psychologists

This pioneering book offers a bold, psychologically informed take on leadership for today's complex and evolving systems. Written for clinical, counselling, and health psychologists, it challenges traditional models and reframes leadership as a dynamic, adaptive, and systems-aware practice.

Amra Saleem Rao is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Organisational and Leadership Development Consultant, and Director of Psychological Horizons: a London-based psychological therapies and organisational consultancy. With more than 30 years' experience across UK healthcare and other sectors, and international contexts, she brings a distinctive integration of psychological depth, systemic awareness, and lived leadership to inspire change in people and organisations.

Foreword by Jon Stokes Introduction PART ONE: BUILDING THE GROUNDWORK: UNDERSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND ITS CONTEXT Stephen Murgatroyd Chapter 1: Leadership in a VUCA | BANI World Dr Simon Western Chapter 2: Eco-Leadership: Leading Clinical Change Ian MacRae Chapter 3: Theoretical Perspectives and Practical Approaches to Leadership: Identifying Potential, Organising Leadership Structures, and Managing Performance Dr David Lawlor Chapter 4: System Psychodynamics of Leadership Roles: Understanding Systems and Organisations PART TWO: RISING WITH THE TIDE: HARNESSING INFLUENCE FOR IMPACT AND TRANSFORMATION Dr Ashley Weinberg Chapter 5: Political skills in everyday leadership: What you need to know, but might be hesitant to ask? Dr Esther Cohen-Tovée Chapter 6: Responding to challenges and opportunities when "the only constant is change" Dr Lynne Taylor Chapter 7: Strategic leadership - translating vision into reality Dr Rachel Bradley and Dr Andrew Roberts Chapter 8: Clinical Leadership within systems: integrating theory into practice and building relationships to enable change Professor Aimée Aubeeluck Chapter 9: Fostering Transactional Business Skills, Creativity and Psychological Principles to Lead Well Dr Rosie Gilderthorp and Dr Amra Saleem Rao Chapter 10: How Business Skills Can Strengthen Effective and Impactful Leadership Professor Aimée Aubeeluck and Dr Elizabeth Jenkinson Chapter 11: What does good leadership look like? Interview with a Leader PART THREE: PHOENIX LEADERSHIP: NAVIGATING THROUGH CHANGE, RENEWAL, AND TRANSFORMATION Professor (Emeritus) Tony Lavender Chapter 12: A Model for Understanding Organisational Leadership and Change and Its Application in Health and Social Care Dr Adrian Neal and Dr Kathryn Walters Chapter 13: A View from the Inside: Leading as a Psychologist in Times of Conflict Gita Bhutani, Liz Kell, and Clare Baguley Chapter 14: Large Scale Change and Communities of Practice - Development of the Psychological Professions Network PART FOUR: A HEALTHY HIVE: FOSTERING THRIVING CULTURE & SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH THE TEMPEST Dr Amra Saleem Rao, Gita Bhutani, Dr Adrian Neal, and Professor (Emeritus) Tony Lavender Chapter 15: Wellbeing as Leadership: From Paradox to Collective Practice Professor (Emeritus) Reg C Morris, Gita Bhutani, Dr Amra Saleem Rao, Jeremy C Clarke, and Professor (Emeritus) Tony Lavender Chapter 16: The Composition and Wellbeing of the Psychological Professions in the Uk (2014 to 2021) Kerry Hinsby and Rajinder Dhanjal Chapter 17: Workforce Wellbeing across Healthcare Partnerships: A Systemic and Relational Approach Kalpita Kunde and Dr Lawrence Welch Chapter 18: Connections Jennifer Lees-Marshment Chapter 19: Leading wellbeing practices in Prime Ministers' Offices Dr Amra Saleem Rao Chapter 20: Hope in the Dark: Compassionate Leadership for High-quality Care Interview with Michael West Dr Amra Saleem Rao Chapter 21: Psychological Safety and Leadership: A Conversation with Amy Edmondson PART FIVE: BREAKING THE MOULD: RACE, CULTURE, AND IDENTITY-CAN LEADERSHIP TRULY TRANSFORM WITHOUT CONFRONTING POWER DYNAMICS? Charlotte O'Brien, King-Yin Chan, and Laura Anne Winter Chapter 22: How Can Psychologists Lead Well? Anti-Oppressive Leadership Principles and Practices for Practitioner Psychologists Professor Jan Hughes and Professor Gary Latchford Chapter 23: Identity and Leadership: Understanding the Meaning for Clinical Psychologists Dr Lorraine Gordon Chapter 24: Leading Antiracism in Health and Care Systems PART SIX: THE TAO OF LEADERHOOD IN PRECARIOUS TIMES: TOWARDS FUTURE HORIZONS Dr Anton Obholzer Chapter 25: A Relational Model of Leadership and its Risks Joanne Hemmingfield Chapter 26: Centering Leadership Around the Communities We Serve: Truth, Hearing and Ceding Power Stephen Murgatroyd Chapter 27: Leadership For an Anxious Future: Leading in a Technological Age Dr Olga Luzón, Dr Hannah Shaw, Dr Sarina Afzali, Charlotte Baribeau, Dr Arshia Choudhury, Dr Maryam Haghiran, and Dr Saim Kirhan Chapter 28: Why We Need a Paradigm Shift: Thoughts from Young Leaders PART SEVEN: EPILOGUE Chapter 29: The Leadership Odyssey - Key Insights & Reflecting Forward Glossary