Magdalen Ser

Magdalen has over 30 years of clinical experience across the health, mental health, and education sectors in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore.  

She is a Psychotherapist, Family Therapist, Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, Accredited EMDR Practitioner, Neurofeedback Practitioner and Deep Brain Reorienting Practitioner.

 Her work is grounded in a strong commitment to addressing attachment and intergenerational trauma. Following  her undergraduate training in Social Work, she completed a Master’s degree in Family Therapy at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London. 

Before establishing full-time private practice, Magdalen held  senior clinical, management, and teaching positions. She trained   extensively in specialist trauma therapies and has a strong interest in working with attachment and  trauma across life spans.

She now runs a private practice, Illumine Psychotherapy and Counselling, in the beatiful  surburb of Wheelers Hill, in Melbourne, Australia.

In 2008, Magdalen experienced a defining shift in her clinical work after attending her first Small Figures Work training with Dr John Barton—medical doctor, psychotherapist, psychodramatist, trainer, and Balint Group Leader.

This approach resonated deeply with her systemic and relational way of working. Over the past 18 years, Magdalen’s passion for Small Figures Work has been sustained by the meaningful, often life-changing outcomes reported by clients, alongside consistent and affirming clinical feedback. This work continues to shape and inform her therapeutic practice today.

  Magdalen has maintained a close professional relationship with Dr Barton over the years, attending, organising, and co-facilitating workshops while continually refining and integrating the method into her clinical practice. 

Following Dr Barton’s retirement at the end of 2024, Magdalen is honoured to continue his legacy by training therapists to incorporate Small Figures Work into their existing therapeutic repertoire. 

Dr Barton attributes much of his learning of this method to Dr Carlos Raimundo, creator of Play of Life.

 More information of Play of Life can be found at www.playoflife.com.