Amanda Williamson

Based in Exeter and working online across the UK, I have worked for many years with individuals and couples seeking meaningful and lasting change in their personal and professional lives.

This website remains online as a professional archive of articles, counselling information, ethical commentary and background developed over the course of my practice. Many of these writings continue to be widely read by both members of the public, journalists and practitioners within the counselling and coaching professions.

My current work is now centred primarily through Relational Best, where I offer relationship coaching, therapeutic coaching and consultancy. 

If you are looking for current practice information, new enquiries or details of working with me, please visit Relational Best with Amanda Williamson.

This information is retained as a matter of public interest.

In 2014,  a local (Exeter, Devon) therapist, Raymond Holland was removed from the register of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) following findings of serious sexual misconduct involving a client.

The published findings recorded that the client was an "evidently vulnerable client" and that Mr Holland had "threatened [the client] in order to prevent her from reporting the matter."

Following his removal from the UKCP register, Mr Holland subsequently practised under the name Ray Bott-Holland.

The public interest basis for publishing disciplinary findings relating to psychotherapists was considered in Raymond Bott-Holland v United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (2017). A professional text on regulation and sanctions for talking therapy practitioners records that His Honour Judge John Male QC, sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge, stated that he: 

"did not find it obvious that it was not in the public interest to publish a determination that a psychotherapist has entered into an inappropriate sexual relationship with a client during treatment"

and further stated: "Other members of the public are entitled to know as this informs them on their choice of psychotherapist."*

This page is intended to record matters that were the subject of published regulatory findings and related public proceedings. It does not seek to repeat allegations beyond those findings.

*Source: The Handbook of Professional, Ethical and Research Practice for Psychologists, Counsellors, Psychotherapists and Psychiatrists, citing Raymond Bott-Holland v United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (2017)