History

From Westminster Pastoral Foundation to WPF Therapy

The original vision of the Westminster Pastoral Foundation of providing skilled, affordable, in-depth psychotherapeutic counselling and training for those who sought it, was born in the mind and heart of a remarkable and inspirational man, my late husband Bill Kyle.

In the sixties, counselling as a means of helping people in emotional and psychological distress was virtually unknown, so at its opening in 1969 WPF was an exciting – and daunting – pioneering venture, which required creative imagination and not a little courage to make it happen, all those years ago.

Bill Kyle was a Methodist minister, informed by the best in the Christian tradition of compassionate service, who went on to train in pastoral counselling and then psychotherapy. It was appropriate that WPF began in the context of a church, the Methodist Central Hall, Westminster. We had a few windowless, subterranean rooms, extremely limited financial resources, a very small team (of which I was one) and a passionate belief that we had something effective to offer in response to need.

Gradually, we gathered others to join us, who had the necessary therapeutic skills to begin seeing clients, and others with a potential to be trained for the work. So, together with the counselling, training courses were established, and also centres in other parts of the country began where local people recognised the need to create a similar centre and adopted our model.

“Caring in the heart of the nation” was our motto, and our logo depicted our aim to minister to the needs of the whole person – emotional, mental, spiritual and physical.

When we outgrew our premises we moved in 1978 to the contrasting location of 23 Kensington Square, home of the Sisters of the Assumption, who became our gracious landladies, and whose lovely garden was a particular joy to clients, staff and trainees alike.

Sadly in 1980 Bill Kyle died, aged 54, and the transition from “founding father” ethos to the consolidation of an established and renowned centre of excellence continued to evolve, under the leadership of four subsequent directorships, with an expanded repertoire of services and training opportunities.

As it moves to new premises near London Bridge in 2008, WPF Therapy occupies a unique position in the world of counselling and psychotherapy and the story of the growth and developments over 40 years has been truly amazing. Although it started within a church WPF Therapy is now a charity independent of any religion and works with people, whether as staff, trainees or clients, of all faiths and none.

It is a source of thankfulness, wonderment and pride that the WPF Therapy of today, with its size, standing and reputation has been achieved from those fragile, idealistic embryonic beginnings of the Westminster Pastoral Foundation. It has taken commitment, expertise and dedication over the years by many people, as any worthwhile venture always does.

Benita Kyle, Co-founder of WPF Therapy with William Kyle
(head of assessment counselling 1970-1991)