Therapy

Navigating the world of therapy – with it’s jargon and “similar yet different” approaches – can be quite confusing. This is especially so when we are seeking out support at a time of distress. On this page I hope to provide some context to help you understand the way that I work, so you can start thinking about whether the way I work is right for you.

Western culture tends to operate in quite a transactional way. The medical model is a good example, where a patient goes to the doctor with symptoms and then expects a prescription of some kind. Some therapy disciplines have been influenced toward this model, and bring a similar issue-resolution mindset.

Psychotherapies which work at depth are more concerned with a process of unearthing, and enabling you toward the personal change that your current symptoms are pointing too. In this way, therapy will provide you with the necessary insight and strategies to resolve what is causing distress. The goal is to reveal a truer you, with a more solid foundation. A you who, if you like, has their own answers.

This not only resolves symptoms, but also seeks to remove distortions (usually adaptations made necessary by family or society) which have got in the way of you. This has broader benefits than simply fixing a problem, and tends to:

Build long-term resilience as you are better able to manage difficult emotions including trauma
Free you from the repeating patterns which unknowingly limit you
Help reveal your purpose in life and then, releases energy so you can orient toward that purpose

Please note: due to the nature of my work, spaces come up relatively infrequently. My current availability is displayed on the contact me page.

People most often come and see me because they:

Are seeking the resolution of difficult feelings (such as anxiety or depression), while also wanting to build confidence and resilience
Would like to improve their self awareness, especially around relationships and life purpose
Are aware they have underlying problems from childhood which have not yet been resolved
Might have had therapy before, but are now looking to go deeper, or are particularly interested a specific aspect of my approach.

The world will ask you who you are, and if you don’t know, the world will tell you.
C.G. Jung

Psychotherapies which work at depth require a certain readiness, as often, the darker corners of our psyche’s are not where we are inclined to go. At least not alone.

When we are ready, we often find there’s more good in that darkness than we realise.

more about my approach

availability & contact details

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “at depth” actually mean?

Working at depth or “depth psychotherapies” are therapies which incorporate the unconscious. This differentiates from cognitive, behavioural and solution oriented approaches which tend to look at surface level of symptoms and behaviour. Depth approaches focus on repairing the underlying structure of the psyche, and from that repair, symptoms are then resolved.

In practical terms, this means therapy is about learning things about ourselves that we do not currently know. These may be unexamined childhood experiences, or maybe dynamics in the here and now that we cannot see. It also means a key focus is on the relationship that forms between you and I. When we analyse this, we can unearth assumptions you have unknowingly made about the world and about relationships. Combined, these approaches make the therapy relationship quite unlike other relationships we experience in life. With over 100 years of research, evolution and development, influences of modern neuroscience and trauma approaches, depth therapies are particularly powerful at bringing about change.

If you are aware of the therapy world, you may know some of the jargon. Depth psychotherapy is sometimes described as dynamic, psychodynamic or psychoanalytic therapy. I don’t find these words particularly helpful because they may bring with them associations which may not represent the way that I work. I would describe my approach as being influenced by analytic thinking, though also integrating from trauma, somatic and transpersonal perspectives.

Does it work?

There’s a misconception that only a few therapies are evidence based, and that others are remnants from history. If you’re interested in the evidence for analytic therapies there are a number of meta studies which might be of interest.

Is your work embodied and trauma informed?

The short answer is yes. I work with methods that integrate trauma diagnosis and repair as well as perspectives around dissociative and difficult emotional states (sometimes called parts). The core of working with these is that mind and body are one. Depth perspectives understand the link between trauma, the unconscious and the body and indeed are the original underpinning of all trauma informed therapies.

How often would we meet?

The starting point is that we’d meet weekly and most often on the same day and at the same time. This regularity is important, as it creates a rhythm which increases safety and deepens exploration.

In some case, we might decide together to work more than once a week. This way of working is effective at working with deeply entrenched issues, and can lead to particularly profound transformation.

What are your fees?

The fee for any initial consultations is set at £95. In the first few sessions we can discuss the ongoing rate. This would be anywhere between £70 and £150 depending on your means. Please flag if you would be wanting a fee in the £70-£95 range as spaces at reduced rate are limited.

Do you work online or in person?

I offer sessions online and in person in central London. Depending on your preference, a “home slot” that is either online or in-person will be established. If on a given week, you’d like to work in the other format, that may be possible, pending availability.

If you are planning on working most online, please bare in mind that ideally we would meet in person at least a few times a year. This is important for the effectiveness of the therapy.

Is therapy confidential?

Everything you share with me is confidential. There are extremely rare situations where I, like any registered therapist, could be required to divulge information via a court order.

How long might my therapy be?

The way I work is open-ended. This does not mean that we would go on forever, rather that we begin without a firm end date. Ending can be explored at any time, and is considered part of the therapy. This, and the organic and unstructured nature of psychotherapy is important, as it creates a unique environment which deepens healing.

Do you work with spiritual or religious people?

The way I am trained encompasses spiritual perspectives. However, these are not “religious” in nature, rather they recognise that human experience has an essential core. That we are more than biology, and that individual consciousness is in itself, an aspect of a greater whole.

That said, I will respect your religious beliefs if you have them, including atheist and humanist perspectives. It is my experience that depth and transpersonal perspectives are inclusive rather than exclusive.

Is therapy with you right for me?

Only you can answer whether working with me is the right path for you. There are many therapists of differing styles and approaches, as well as many pathways to approaching a particular psychological issue.

If you are unsure about whether therapy with me is right for you, feel free to contact me. I am happy to make an onward referral if for whatever reason we do not end up working together.