Robert Montagu (therapist)

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Robert Montagu (born 25 November 1949) is a British entrepreneur, therapist and author, founder and chairman of the Family Counselling Trust.

Early life

Robert Montagu is the youngest son of Victor Montagu, 10th Earl of Sandwich, who disclaimed the Earldom of Sandwich in 1964, and his first wife Maud Rosemary Peto [1]. Robert was educated at Eton College, which he quit age sixteen, then at the Centre for Communication Studies in Regent Street, now part of the University of London [2]. In later years he obtained a Master of Science degree in Systemic Psychotherapy with Distinction at what was the Kensington Consultation Centre</ref>

His memoir ‘A Humour of Love’ was published in September 2014.

Career

Robert’s early career started in business in 1973 with Guideline Communications Ltd, a company now dissolved that produced audiovisual productions and radio advertising. In 1974 he founded Imports from Tuscany which became The Olive Tree Trading Company in 1979 [6], importing Italian goods. He ran a Business Consultancy from 1995 to 1998 and became a director of International Wine and Spirit Competition between 1998 and 2002 when the business was sold to Harpers Magazine [7]

Following on his experiences as a school boy at Eton helping other boys who had suffered rape and other personal traumas, age fifty Robert decided to retrain as a therapist. He trained for four years between 2000 and 2004 and worked for three years as an NHS family counsellor in Hertfordshire and London [8].

Since 2007 Robert has practiced at the Poundbury Clinic in Dorchester and at Nethergrove House in Portesham, seeing individuals, couples and families [9]. As a systemic psychotherapist he believes in the recuperative power of all people to respond to life crises and overcome difficulties at every level. His work builds on the natural ability everyone has to rise to challenges even when they seem impossible. Robert has created a unique set of therapeutic games which he uses in his work as a therapist.

Robert is a member of The National Counselling Society [10]

Combining his business acumen with his own life experience and training as a family counsellor, Robert founded the Dorset Child and Family Counselling Trust in 2005. This became the Family Counselling Trust [11] in 2015 and is now operating in other counties including Wiltshire, Somerset and soon Hampshire. London will be the next step. The Trust offers a grant-supported service for children, adolescents and families where there are emotional, behavioural or other mental health problems. Robert is chairman of the Trust which has charitable status and is managed by a Board of Directors, supported by an advisory committee.

Since joining the debate on child abuse Robert has spoken in public at various events and published a number of books and articles, describing the effects of sex abuse on young children and the importance of mandatory reporting and law reform.

Books: - A Humour of Love, Quartet Books 2014 - Barbara’s Fall, White Glove 2014 [12] - A New Initiative in Child and Family Counselling, co-written with Dr A Macdonald, Context Magazine 2010 [13] - Coming to Terms, Anthony Blond/Quartet Books 1988 [14].

Speaking engagements: - Wall of Silence, Bournemouth University - July 2017 [15] - Lunar Club – July 2017 [16] - Gibraltar International Literary Festival – November 2016 [17] - Oxford Literary Festival – March 2015 [18]

Personal life

Robert Montagu married internationally known sculptor and artist Marzia Brigante Colonna [19] in 1970. They have four children and nine grandchildren and live in Dorset.

References

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