The Revd. Debbie Ford
Assistant Chaplain
Debbie has been working with the Chaplaincy Team at Addenbrookes since 2003. After four years as a part-time locum chaplain, she was appointed as an Assistant Chaplain in 2007. She has studied a range of subjects at different universities (English BA Hons (Leeds); M Soc Sci (Birmingham); Theology Dip HE (Bangor); Post-graduate Diploma in Counselling (Cambridge), and has a particular interest in mental health and the neurosciences.
She has worked in generic Social Work; the Child Psychological Advisory Service (Education Dept); Divorce Court Conciliation; Counselling and Psychotherapy (the Young People’s Service, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mental Health Trust); Acute and Forensic Psychiatry (St James’ Hospital, Leeds and Fulbourn Hospital , Cambridge ) and in Spiritual Direction. She was also a ‘full time Mum’ to her three children during their formative years.
Debbie was ordained in the Anglican Church in 2003 and served her title (as curate) at St Bene’t’s Church, Cambridge .
Current interest and responsibilities include:
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Regular visiting, pastoral care and involvement on the Neuroscience wards and Critical Care Unit
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One day a week as Mental Health Chaplain at Kneesworth House Hospital (a specialist Psychiatric Facility)
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Training and supervision of students on placement with the Chaplaincy Dept.
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Writing and research (Paper ‘Remorse as a Moral and Spiritual Emotion’ presented at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Conference 2006, due for publication with OUP)
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Assistant Priest at St. Bene’t’s Church, Cambridge
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Regular preaching (at St Bene’t’s Church and as guest preacher at other churches and colleges)
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Interfaith Relations (including ‘Scriptural Reasoning’ – the study of scriptures between Muslims, Christians and Jews)
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Ely Diocesan Healing Advisory Group
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Membership (trainee) of the Cambridge Society for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and works as a counsellor and psychotherapist in private practise (individual and couples work).
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Spiritual Direction/Accompaniment.
The balance of life is important to her and dimensions include: reading; writing; prayer; silence; hospitality; family; friends; art; music; theatre; sport; gardening; dogs and travel.
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