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HISTORY OF WELLSPRING

Wellspring was founded in 1978 by a group of about two dozen people who shared a vision of a new centre where young and old could find understanding, and help in working out new and creative directions.

This group was chaired from it's beginning in 1979 by a university chaplain, Fr Marcus Lefebure and was convened by Dr Winifred Rushforth. She had founded Wellspring's precursor the Davidson Clinic in 1939. The first of it's kind in Scotland, the Davidson Clinic had fulfilled it's purpose when it closed 24 years later, NHS services for children and families having been established. This clinic had, however built in Edinburgh a solid base of interest in psychotherapy.

Wellspring's first director was Winifred's daughter, Dr Diana Bates, who after retiring from a GP practice in England, saw the first client in one room, generously lent by the Salisbury Centre. After eight years in a small flat, the Centre moved in 1986 to it's present premises at 13 Smith's Place.

In 1996, Wellspring was formed into a charitable company limited by guarantee; it currently has 15 contracted therapists and 6 students in training. The fully trained and highly committed staff possess a wide variety of skills, fulfilling the vision of 1976. Some have practised in Wellspring for many years, providing a bedrock of experience; others are more recently arrived, providing a continual renewal.