Remembering Heward Wilkinson

We were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Dr Heward Wilkinson, a UKCP Honorary Fellow who had been involved with UKCP and its predecessor since the late 1980s.

Heward made an exceptional contribution to UKCP and the wider psychotherapy profession over more than three decades. A former UKCP trustee, he served three terms as chair of our Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy College (HIPC) and returned to lead the college on an interim basis in 2024.

Beginning his professional life in mental health nursing and teaching, Heward went on to become a highly respected integrative psychotherapist, trainer, supervisor and author. His academic background in psychotherapy, philosophy and theology informed work spanning poetry and the arts, Freud, Hegel and dialectics. His publications included The muse as therapist: a new poetic paradigm for psychotherapy, and he was a founding senior editor of the International Journal of Psychotherapy.

Jon Levett, UKCP CEO, said: ‘Heward brought remarkable intellectual breadth, independence of thought and a profound commitment to advancing psychotherapy. He will be remembered for his wisdom, command of language and ability to bring humour to complex questions. His contribution will have a lasting influence, and our deepest sympathies are with his wife, family, friends and colleagues.’

Pippa Donovan, chair of UKCP, said: ‘Heward had a profound understanding of UKCP’s history and was passionate about preserving the values on which it was built while ensuring that the organisation continued to develop. His commitment to dialogue across different approaches to psychotherapy, combined with his creativity and considerable professional experience, made him a distinctive and greatly valued voice within UKCP, and I have often been grateful for his wise counsel. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I extend my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved him.’

UKCP will remain deeply grateful for Heward’s many years of service, and his contribution to our organisation and the psychotherapy profession will not be forgotten.