Not Suitable For Work

Therapeutic perspectives on critical yet unspoken workplace matters (that matter).

When it comes to workplace conversations, we’re encouraged to keep it clean; light, appropriate, thank you very much. Money, politics and religion are an absolute no. And actually, best to keep personal stuff off the table too. It’s simply Not Suitable for Work. Of course it’s terrible that Laura in Accounts has just lost her husband – but it’s not our business. Actually, it is.

Our event series, Not Suitable for Work, will shine a light on what has been dismissed, buried and shamed in the workplace.

Missed the last event?

Explore the conversations that push boundaries. Listen to the Not Suitable for Work podcast, now on Spotify.

We can help facilitate culture change

Whether we want to admit it or not, we bring our full selves to work, each and every day. The good, the bad, the seemingly inappropriate. We know it’s hard to have those conversations – and sometimes it feels easier to say nothing than to say the wrong thing. But the more we ignore or dismiss it, the more we implicitly say that it’s not OK to show vulnerability, weakness or distress here. It’s not OK to be human here.

The result is a broken workforce. A broken system. And, as crude as it may sound, a broken bottom line. We’re not doing our people – or our business – any favours by failing to address some of our most human and universal challenges.

Humanising the conversation

From addiction, stress, eating disorders, suicide, and parenting, to menopause, grief, living with a diagnosis and many more, we’ll offer therapeutic perspectives on addressing these challenging – yet entirely human – experiences in the workplace.

Through our even series ‘Not Suitable For Work’ we’ll share practical tools for leaders and managers, as well as therapeutic support for those facing these issues first-hand.

We won’t be holding back – but we will be holding your hand. We’ve got you.

Not Suitable for Work: Adoption, Identity, and the Workplace

We’re partnering with Adoption UK to confront what’s been buried, dismissed, and often shamed in the workplace. Adoption, and the identity it shapes, is an integral part of who we are – but it’s also an unspoken challenge that impacts our lives, especially our professional ones.

We’ll dig into the unspoken truths about adoption, how it shapes our identities, and how we bring that whole, complex self to work. Together, we’ll explore the untold struggles adoptees face and uncover practical solutions to make our work environments more inclusive, compassionate, and empathetic.

Meet our panelists

Chance Marshall

Chance is an MA, HCPC, BADth Lead Therapist and the co-founder of Self Space and has a grounded, creative and empathetic approach in working with clients towards self-awareness and real, lasting personal and interpersonal change.

He supports people experiencing a range of challenges including: anxiety, depression, alcohol and substance misuse, relationships, dealing with change, loss and work-related stress. Experienced in Adult Mental Health, Addiction Therapy and working with Refugee and Asylum Seekers.

Dr. Julie Elliott

Julie is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with over 25 years’ experience of working within Children and Family services across the NHS, Social Care, Education and the Independent/Charity sectors. As Clinical Director at Adoption UK, she is responsible for the clinical and therapeutic delivery and ensures that they have robust clinical governance around the therapeutic services they offer.

She manages the Psychology and Therapy Hub (PATH) which delivers a range of therapeutic programmes. Julie has previously also managed Psychology and Psychological Therapy services within the NHS.

Ans Aspden

Ans is an adopted adult who was cared for by foster parents at birth before being adopted by her loving family as a young baby. In her early 30s, after a decade-long search, she reunited with both birth parents. Inspired and supported by After Adoption during her search, she volunteered with Adoption UK Cymru for many years. As an ambassador, she ran peer support groups for adopted adults and spoke publicly at AUK events in order to help raise awareness of the complexities surrounding adoption.

Now, as a Trustee of Adoption UK, she works with a dynamic team, leveraging her background to support others on their adoption journeys and help shape the organization’s strategic direction as well as advocating initiatives that raise awareness of adoption.

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