I trained as a psychodynamic therapist, this means I sensitively help you look at how past experiences may be unconsciously impacting your current life and behaviours. Psychodynamic counselling endeavours to get to the root cause of your problems and address the symptoms and emotions they bring up for you now. Psychodynamic therapy can help you reconsider and reconnect with your past in a meaningful way. It gives you a safe space to consider how formative experiences might influencing your relating patterns now, giving you opportunities to consider ways to adapt and change. It is always your choice what you talk about, as your therapist it is my job listen and support you whether you wish to look at your past or explore an issue that is troubling you right now.

The session fee is £95. Sessions are usually once or twice weekly and 50 minutes in length.

I only support a small number of clients at any one time. By carefully limiting the number of clients I work with  I am able to provide more  attention and consideration to your therapy.

I aim to be, yes. Everyone’s needs are different, and I don’t assume I’ll get it right for you straight away. The only person who truly knows what works for you is you, and I welcome your guidance. If something in our sessions doesn’t feel comfortable, whether it’s the lighting, background noise, use of white noise, the length of sessions, or anything else,  I’m open to adapting where I can.

Some people like to have fidget toys or blankets to hand, others prefer quiet or movement, and all of that is fine here. My intention is to offer a space where you don’t have to mask or apologise for how your mind works, and where we can work together to shape the therapy environment so it feels more supportive for you.

I work with a wide range of difficulties and life challenges,  but there are certain presentations that fall outside the scope of independent private practice. In such cases, it is in your best interests to access services where there is specialist expertise and/or a multidisciplinary team.

Examples of issues I don’t work with independently include:

• Active substance dependence (unless you are also engaged with dedicated addiction services)
• Active eating disorders (particularly where weight restoration or medical monitoring is required)
• Psychosis or other untreated severe mental illness that requires psychiatric and multidisciplinary care (including postpartum psychosis)
• High and untreated risk to self or others, including active suicidal intent or behaviours requiring ongoing crisis intervention
• Complex neurodevelopmental or medical conditions where integrated assessment and management are recommended
• Severe or  treatment-resistant OCD (including Pure O) that require intensive or specialist input beyond individual therapy
• Court-ordered or forensic work (for example, therapy required for legal proceedings, custody disputes, or offender treatment), which is best managed by specialist services trained to provide reports and interventions in a legal context)

Yes, probably.  A diagnosis can sometimes be a helpful starting point, but it isn’t essential for us to work together. What matters most is how you experience things day to day and what you’d like to change.

If you already have a diagnosis or report, I’ll take that into account, if you would like me to, but our focus will always be on you as a person, not just a label.

The first session is a chance to meet each other and see if you feel we could work together, it is important that you feel safe and comfortable with your therapist. There will be time to ask any questions or concerns you may have. It can take time to find the right counsellor for you, you may wish to talk to several counsellors before making your choice and this is completely fine.

Yes, within the therapeutic room all that is said remains confidential. There are certain disclosures, for instance those relating to terrorism, female genital mutilation or where a child is at risk where confidentiality would need to be broken. This can be discussed when we meet if you have any concerns.

In the UK, formal psychiatric diagnoses can only be made by psychiatrists and some clinical psychologists with the relevant training and scope of practice, so I do not provide official diagnostic assessments. I am trained in certain screening and structured tools (such as the SCID-D), and while I occasionally use parts of these to explore specific symptoms, I do not carry out full diagnostic assessments.

If you are seeking a comprehensive SCID-D assessment, I can recommend specialist clinics where practitioners administer this measure daily and have more extensive expertise than I could provide. When clients come with such reports, I draw on my clinical experience to understand and integrate the findings into therapy. Not having a formal diagnosis does not prevent us from working together effectively, our focus will always be on understanding your individual experiences and tailoring therapy to your needs.

I do not generally provide detailed clinical reports. The only documentation I usually provide is confirmation of attendance (dates and number of sessions attended).

I specialise in working with clients over the longer term, and in my experience, it’s those who commit to regular weekly sessions who tend to see the most meaningful and lasting change. While short-term therapy can certainly be effective for some issues, there are no quick fixes or magic solutions (I know—I wish there were!). What I can offer is a consistent, supportive space to do the deeper work at your own pace.

Brief or short-term counselling usually provides support for a particular issue or situation, perhaps a job loss, a relationship breakdown or a bereavement. Typically, this would be between 12 and 24 weekly sessions. Longer term psychotherapy gives clients the opportunity to work on deeper issues with more time to work in depth. It is my job to help you identify issues and patterns of behaviour and work with you to understand how you came to be having difficulties. We can talk about how many counselling sessions you might need at the first session or at any point once we have started. You are always free to leave at any time.

Payments can be made via Bank Transfer, electronic invoice (this is emailed to you with a link to pay by card) or cash. You will always be provided with a receipt.

Each session lasts 50 minutes. Sessions start and finish on time, this means if you arrive late you can still make use of the rest of the session, but we will finish on time.

I also work with longer sessions of 75 and 90 minutes, helpful for trauma processing, or if you need more support for a time.

I make use of regular supervision with a qualified supervisor who is also a therapist. Supervision is where I discuss my clinical work to ensure I offer the best possible support to my clients.

I have worked with clients in a variety of settings…

• A domestic violence charity with women who have experienced a variety of challenging domestic abuse, sexual abuse and with children who have been in a household where abuse was witnessed.
• In both primary and senior schools with children experiencing a range of emotional difficulties.
•  A hospice with clients approaching the end of their lives and their families both pre and post bereavement.
•  In a general counselling charity offering support for a wide range of emotional distress.
• Supervising groups of qualified and trainee therapists in low cost counselling agency
• On the steering committee of the European Society of Trauma and Dissociation (UK)

We can discuss this when we meet, some clients like to work on an open-ended basis this means they come each week until they feel they wish to stop, others prefer to come for a set 12 or 24 sessions. You are free to stop at any point should you wish.

That’s a really good question, therapist fit is really important and I might not be the idea psychotherapist for you. You are free to book a session without commitment to continue to see. Learn more about finding and choosing a counsellor or psychotherapist  here.

Here are few of things people have said when they sought therapy…

• Work-related problems, exploitation or discrimination.
• Problems in relationships
• Questions about identity.
• Interested in learning more about and improving myself.
• Problems around supporting children.
• Life just does not seem as worthwhile anymore.
• Sharing a secret which has never been shared.
• Confusion about the future or life path.
• Lack of confidence.
• Loss of identity after becoming a parent, or after retirement.
• recovery from Trauma, recent or historical
• getting past a creative block

• Therapy can help you understand how your past might be affecting the present.
• Counselling can also help you improve your self-esteem and confidence.
• Therapy can help you understand yourself more.
•  Counselling can help you understand how you communicate and connect in relationships, leading to better relationships in your life.
• Therapy can help support you in difficult periods of your life.

I see clients in Bromley,  London Borough of Bromley. Ideally located for South East London and North West Kent. See my Contact page for more information. I also see people over zoom video.

NHS provision for therapy is generally limited (typically 4-6 sessions) and can have long waiting lists. Seeing a private counsellor like myself gives you more flexibility in terms of choosing a therapist you like, location and time slots that suit, as well as choosing how long you seek support for. Your sessions are entirely private and do not appear on your medical records.

That said there are also lots of really good low cost agencies that make therapy more accessible , some concentrate on the local population, some are for specific support, e.g sexual assault or bereavement. See the resources page or google  for possible options.

No. It is entirely up to you what you talk about. The past often comes up but how much and how often you wish to focus on your present life or your history is up to you.

I view therapy as self care. It is neither selfish or indulgent to spend one hour of your week focusing just on you, your thoughts and feelings. It can also help us think more clearly and manage outside of the therapy room in our daily lives. Many people spend an hour or two a week in the gym to look after their bodies, counselling allows you to care in a similar way to your mind and mental health.

I do not currently offer home visits.

I am  unable to offer emergency help during times of crisis. If you require help urgently, please contact your GP or  NHS111 for advice, or go to your local A & E department. You might also find the  Resources page useful.

Your comfort is my priority. In our sessions, you have the freedom to choose what you want to talk about, and I won’t push you in any particular direction. If you find yourself in silence, I’ll gently check in with you to see how it feels. Sometimes, silence is a space to gather your thoughts before continuing. Other times, it might feel uncomfortable or awkward, and that’s okay. We’ll work together to decide when you might need a little support to keep going.

Unlike traditional psychoanalysis, where the therapist remains neutral and silent, my approach as a psychodynamic psychotherapist is warmer and more relational. I’m here to walk with you through whatever comes up, whether in words or in silence.

Yes, I have been in therapy for over a decade. My own lived experience of  benefiting from therapy was a significant part of my journey, and one of the reasons I chose to train as a therapist.

I continue to have therapy today, both to support my own wellbeing and to ensure that I can be fully present and grounded in my work with clients. Therapy can be valuable for anyone at different points in life, not only during times of crisis, but also as a way of deepening self-understanding and building resilience. If you are considering therapy, you are not alone, even therapists find it an important and supportive part of life.