Sharon Bond, a pioneering social worker and family psychotherapist based in London, has passed away at the age of 77. Throughout her distinguished career, she was renowned for her dedication to inclusivity and empowerment within the mental health sector, particularly through the establishment of her own therapy, consultation, and training service named Chiron.
Early Career and Advocacy
Born in Kitty, British Guiana (now Guyana), Sharon moved to the UK with her family at the age of nine in 1957. Her commitment to social justice emerged early; during her youth, she became a member of the British Black Panthers and founded a Saturday supplementary school called "Heads" in east London. This initiative aimed to support black children who were underserved by the mainstream education system, reflecting her lifelong passion for challenging systemic inequalities.
Professional Journey in Social Work and Therapy
Sharon's formal career in social work began in 1985 after she obtained a qualification from Goldsmiths College in south-east London. She initially served as an education social worker for the London borough of Tower Hamlets before transitioning to the Hackney Child and Family Consultation Service in 1989. In this role, she worked extensively with families and children in mental health clinics, collaborating with teachers in schools to provide holistic support.
Her expertise led her to qualify as a family psychotherapist in 1993, and she quickly became a trailblazer in a field historically dominated by white male clinicians. Notably, Sharon was the first black woman to qualify as a family psychotherapy supervisor, breaking barriers and inspiring future generations.
Founding Chiron and Its Mission
In 1997, while still employed in Hackney, Sharon founded Chiron, a therapy, consultation, and training service. She left her position in 2003 to focus fully on directing Chiron, a role she maintained until her death, never retiring from her impactful work. The core mission of Chiron was to assist individuals who felt excluded by existing training institutions in family therapy, fostering self-belief among practitioners who had been discouraged from pursuing their goals.
Through Chiron, Sharon successfully brought numerous people into the family therapy profession who might otherwise have abandoned their aspirations. Her approach was rooted in empowerment, addressing racism and discrimination head-on to create a more diverse and inclusive therapeutic community.
Additional Roles and Academic Achievements
Beyond her work with Chiron, Sharon held several prestigious positions that underscored her influence in the field. She served as clinical director at the Kensington Consultation Centre in London, where she had completed her family psychotherapy training. Additionally, she was a visiting lecturer in family therapy at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust and acted as an external examiner for master's degree courses in family therapy at the Institute of Family Therapy in London and Birmingham University.
In 2006, Sharon achieved a doctorate in systemic psychotherapy from the Tavistock Clinic in London, further cementing her academic and professional credentials. Her multifaceted career demonstrated a relentless commitment to advancing mental health practices through education, supervision, and direct service.
Legacy and Personal Life
Sharon Bond is remembered as a strong, assertive woman with a gentle soul, deeply committed to empowering those facing adversity. Her passion, generosity, dedication, and spirit have enriched and healed countless lives, leaving an indelible mark on the fields of social work and family therapy.
She is survived by her son, Darren; a granddaughter, Nia; her siblings Yvonne, Mikloth, Sheril, and Eglah; and her partner, Alex Smith. Her legacy continues through the ongoing work of Chiron and the many professionals she mentored and inspired.
