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Biography - David O'Driscoll

An old black and white photo of Sigmund Freud

David works as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist specialising in loss and bereavement for Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust. This involves individual and group work with service users as well as training and consultancy to staff teams. He has had two periods as NHS Historical Worker in Hertfordshire in 2001 and 2006. He is also a Research Fellow at Centre for Learning Disability Research, Hertfordshire University. David has recently re-started the Hertfordshire history group with Professor Bob Gates. His background prior to working in NHS has been in social work with over twenty five years of experience. From 2003 David was a director for the charity, Respond. He is joint conveyor for the learning disability section of the Association for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy in the National Health Service (APP), founder member of the Institute of Disability and Psychotherapy (IPD) and is also a member of the Social History of the Learning Disability Research Group based at The Open University.

Writing (sample)

  • O'Driscoll, D. (2014 forthcoming) 'Anti-hate crime'. In Gates, B., Fearnes, D., Welsh, J. (eds) Learning Disability Nursing at a Glance, Wiley-Blackwell.
  • O'Driscoll, D. (2014 forthcoming) 'Transitions'. In Gates, B., Fearnes, D., Welsh, J. (eds) Learning Disability Nursing at a Glance, Wiley-Blackwell.
  • O'Driscoll, D. (2013) The death of Betty Smith - the account that was never heard: Oral history interview with Richard Smith, Community Living, 26(3).
  • O'Driscoll, D. (2013) 'English Heritage: A History of Disability from 1050 to the Present Day'. A website review: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk, Community Living, 26(3).
  • O'Driscoll, D. (2013) 'The hospital (Leavesden) was run on military lines'. Watford Observer. http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/nostalgia/memories/10345965._The_hospital_was_run_on_military_lines/
  • O'Driscoll, D. (2012) 'Sorry for your trouble': Loss and bereavement and people with Down Syndrome, Down Syndrome Journal.
  • O'Driscoll, D. (2011) A Short History of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy for People with Learning Disabilities, Advanced in Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, Vol. 3(4), pp. 4-10.
  • O'Driscoll, D. (2011) Book Reviews: Grey, R. (2010) Bereavement, Loss and Learning Disabilities: A Guide for Professionals and Carers; Tuffrey-Wijne, I. (2009) Living with Learning Disabilities, Dying with Cancer: Thirteen Personal Stories; Sinason, V. (2010, revised edition) Mental Handicap and the Human Condition: An Analytic Approach to Intellectual Disability, in Attachment: New Directions in Psychotherapy and Relational Psychoanalysis, Vol. 5(1), pp. 83-91.
  • O'Driscoll, D. (2010) Psychotherapy and Intellectual Disability: A Historical View. In Cottis, T. (ed.) Intellectual Disability, Trauma and Psychotherapy, London, Routledge.
  • O'Driscoll, D. and Cottis, T. (2010) Outside In: The Effects of Traums on Organizations. In Cottis, T. (ed.) Intellectual Disability, Trauma and Psychotherapy, London, Routledge.
  • O'Driscoll, D. (2010) Bereavement Services for People with Learning Disabilities, Community Care.
  • O'Driscoll, D. and Walmsley, J. (2010) Absconding from hospitals: A means of resistance? British Journal of Learning Disabilities, Vol. 38(2), pp. 97-102.
  • Delancy, P. and O'Driscoll, D. (2010) 'A Working Man's Life' working inside and outside Leavesden hospital: An oral history account, British Journal of Learning Disabilities, Vol. 38(2), pp. 110-111.
  • O'Driscoll, D. (2006) Past masters: Hertfordshire History Project, Community Care.

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About the Group

If you woud like to get in touch with the Social History of Learning Disability (SHLD) Research Group, please contact:

Liz Tilley 
Chair of the Social History of Learning Disability (SHLD) Research Group
School of Health, Wellbeing and Social Care
Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies
The Open University
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA

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