At different points in our lives, we struggle with the feeling that our life has lost its sense of purpose or direction. This experience of aimlessness may lead to feelings of depression, anxiety or confusion.
Sometimes this lack of meaning arises after a sudden change in our circumstances such as the loss of a job, the end of a relationship, or or a bereavement. At other times, we may feel that over time our lives have drifted further and further away from what we’d hoped for ourselves.
As times like these, speaking with an existential psychotherapist can help.
ABOUT ME.
I am a London-based psychotherapist offering both individual and relationship therapy, online and in person. I have a passion for working alongside people to help them uncover what gives their lives meaning. My goal is to create a safe and supportive environment where we can explore the challenges you’re facing. Together, we’ll discover what a life well-lived looks like for you.
I initially trained in Integrative Psychotherapy at the Minster Centre in London where I learned to work in a number of ways including Psychodynamic, Somatic and Humanistic approaches. I continued my post-graduate training in Existential Psychotherapy at The New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling in London, and am currently undertaking further training in Contemporary Relationship Therapy at The Affinity Academy. I draw upon all of these schools of thought to create bespoke approaches for each and every client I work with, ensuring that our work is suited to your goals for therapy and your views of the world.
I also hold a BA in Gender & Sexuality Studies and a MA in Gender, Sexuality & Culture. Prior to my career as a therapist I worked in the arts and culture sector, specialising in supporting artists from marginalised communities make ambitious new work. Alongside my work as a therapist, I am an award-winning artist working across theatre, television, prose, poetry and mobile games.
About therapy
For those who are new to it, therapy can seem like a daunting process. Much of what we think we know about therapy comes from films and television. You may be wondering if we’ll spend much of our time talking about your childhood, or whether I’ll be able to solve your problems. The reality is that therapy is a collaborative process. We’ll meet on a regular basis (usually weekly) for 50 minutes. Through our work together, you’ll have the opportunity to reflect more deeply on your life – your relationships, your hopes and ambitions, and your dilemmas and challenges.
People often turn to therapy because they are suffering, or they want to make sense of their lives and the challenges they’re facing. Therapy is an opportunity to unburden yourself and explore your thoughts and feelings with a someone who is present and compassionate, but at a distance from your life. I am not a friend or a family member. From this critical distance, I can offer thoughts and observations about patterns of behaviour or faulty beliefs which may be difficult for you to see.
Above all, therapy is an opportunity to develop the skills we need to lead a rich and meaningful life: the ability to self-reflect, to be compassionate to ourselves and others, to act with authenticity, and to find beauty and joy in our life as it is now in this moment.
Some of the issues I work with include:
- Anxiety
- Bereavement
- Creativity
- Depression
- Issues related to class and class identity
- Issues related to race and / or cultural identities
- Issues related to sexual and / or gender identity (including LGBT, non binary, asexual and queer identities)
- Personal development
- Relationships and sexuality (including BDSM, ethical non-monogamy, polyamory and swingers)
- Religion and spirituality
- Stress
- Trauma
- Work related issues, retirement and redundancy
As a therapist I acknowledge both systemic and overt forms of oppression that people experience when moving through the world, and so I strive to be aware of (and challenge) how those systems might be replicated in the therapy room. I have a particular focus in working with clients whose identities may be informed by experiences of otherness including:
- LGBT, queer, and non-binary people
- People practicing polyamory or other forms of relationship diversity
- Working class people
- People of colour
These identities may or may not present issues that we look at in our work together, but working with a therapist who is sensitive to and knowledgeable about these identities can help you feel safer about being your fullest authentic self in the therapy room.
about Existentialism.
Existential Psychotherapy is deeply rooted in philosophy, primarily Existentialism, a school of thought which is concerned with what it means to be human. It emphasises the role we play in shaping our lives through the choices we make, our ability to create own meaning, and the importance of our relationships with others. Existentialism calls upon us to deeply understand our core beliefs and values and live authentically. Existentialists believe feelings of despair and anxiety arise when we refuse to accept how our lives are not in line with our core values, and suggests that by realigning ourselves with those values we can live full, rich, meaningful lives. As an Existential Psychotherapist, I’ll support you to discover and better understand your own personal core beliefs and to live more authentically. I’ll help you to consider the interplay between the choices you make and things which are outside of your control, which can lead to greater satisfaction in life.