My wife, Norma Anderson Maple, who has died aged 73 of bile duct cancer, was a psychotherapist and indefatigable campaigner on mental health issues. A consummate practitioner for more than 40 years, she used her talents to help improve the training and practice of psychotherapy.
Norma was born in Pulborough, West Sussex, one of three daughters of Charles and "Bobs" Venvell. Charles worked for London buses, and when the couple retired they became caretakers at Holy Trinity Church in Guildford, Surrey. Norma and her sisters, Hazel and Ginette, grew up in Guildford, and Norma went to the girls' grammar school.
With her first husband, Jock Anderson, whom she married in her 20s, Norma ran a hotel in Kirkcudbrightshire. Following his sudden death from peritonitis, she started her career in mental health in 1970 as a social worker in Surrey, and would say she had learned more about the human condition as a hotelier than during her social work training. We met in Islington, north London, in 1976, and married shortly afterwards.
Norma then worked with Anthony Ryle, the originator of cognitive analytic therapy, at St Thomas' hospital in London, where she was a founding member of the Association of Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT). Thereafter she trained with the Institute of Group Analysis and was a pioneer in applying cognitive analytic therapy in a group setting successfully. She chaired the association's training committee for some years and continued, to the last, to be a passionate campaigner for the highest standards of care and practice.
She co-authored Women and Mental Health (1992) with Marian Barnes and among other published papers and contributions provided a chapter on group work in Ryle's Cognitive Analytic Theory (1995). She was promoted to consultant psychotherapist at Heatherwood hospital, Ascot, Berkshire, and continued to be a leading advocate of the use of CAT in the NHS.
Slowing down just a fraction, in 2004 she retired from the NHS and joined a private practice in Marylebone continuing with both group and individual CAT. A new book was in the pipeline, with her friend and colleague, Philippa Gardner who took over from her at Heatherwood.
According to her former colleagues, trainees and clients, Norma was perceptive, amusing and challenging. She inspired people to try things professionally and personally that they might otherwise not have the confidence or courage to do.
In her family life, she was equally inspirational, encouraging our children, Meredith and Hugh, to achieve their goals. She was always a rock to me.
She is survived by me, Meredith and Hugh.
