Natalie Barnett

Natalie Barnett currently works as a teaching assistant in a special educational needs college in London. A provision specialising in Autism and complex behaviours in young adults, Natalie has adopted a dedicated attitude towards supporting young people with special needs and disabilities since her first job as a one-to-one carer for a young lady with downs syndrome at just 19 years old.

Natalie went on to broaden her horizons throughout her Psychology undergraduate degree at Aston University, Birmingham through travelling. She spent a month volunteering in Sri Lanka on a mental health placement, delivering special needs projects and English language lessons to rural communities and villages. Workshops she attended included Post-conflict Sri Lanka (Trauma and Resilience) and Meditation skills and Creative therapy (‘An Eastern Approach’). Natalie also volunteered in Thailand, teaching English as a foreign language in schools before embarking on a year-long trip to Australia post-graduation to live and work as an au pair for a family with four young boys.

Being able to connect and create understanding with individuals from all walks of life is undoubtedly important to Natalie. She hopes to use her inclusive attitude to encourage young people, particularly disadvantaged groups such as ethnic minorities and those with disabilities, to help create change in accessing opportunities and support.

Following her return from Australia in 2019, Natalie initially worked with young people in supported accommodation services before moving into her current role in special needs education. Through understanding the importance of a supportive work environment and therapeutic practice, particularly post-pandemic, Natalie was keen to further develop her skills and passion for human behaviour, thinking and listening by pursuing a masters in the field. Natalie is currently on the MA Working with Children, Young People & Families: a psychoanalytic observational approach at the Tavistock and Portman, with the hopes to continue training and studying for the professional doctorate in Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy.

“I am truly honoured to receive a bursary from the Stuart Hall Foundation. Without it, my chances of becoming a Child and Adolescent psychoanalytic psychotherapist would not be possible. Representation and being given a voice are so important to me, particularly being a mixed-race woman in society. I look forward to sharing my professional journey with a wonderful network of individuals and scholars alike.” – Natalie Barnett.