What is humanistic psychotherapy?
As a humanistic psychotherapist, I believe that every person is striving towards the fullest expression of their own being.
However, the environment, external circumstances, social pressures and oppressions, and our life experiences may inhibit that expression.
The purpose of therapy is to generate a more complete awareness and acceptance of those inhibiting factors - external, internal and relational.
From that place of awareness arises possibility. The possibility of a metamorphosis, of movement towards blossoming and thriving: in our relationships, in our work, in our selves.
Face to face therapy in Hackney and Islington
My approach
“A good therapist must create a new therapy with every person they see.” - Irvin Yalom
I work within an integrative framework. That means that I incorporate various different therapeutic modalities into my work, depending on what best suits you and your needs. The theoretical pillars of my work are the person-centred, existential and gestalt practices: I can tell you more about these if that would be helpful. And I use a variety of different techniques - again depending on you, your preferences, and what you bring to our sessions. For example, as well as talking, our work together may include creative visualisation, gestalt experimentation, drawing and somatic (body) work.
What to expect from our sessions
Every therapy session is different. It’s shape and content depends on the unique alchemy of two people in a room together, at a particular moment in time.
At its heart, therapy is a conversation. Most of our work together will therefore consist of us talking. I will ask questions to help you to explore, understand, reflect on and process what you bring. I will attend to you with deep attention - both to your words and to what is unsaid, to what is expressed in your body and exists in the space between us.
My role is not to interpret, to explain or to diagnose you. But together we will identify your patterns - of thought, of behaviour, of relating. We will uncover insights and develop skills that can form the basis for meaningful change.
“…Out of pain, / and pain, and more pain / we feed this feverish plot, we are nourished / by the mystery.”
- MARY OLIVER
Frequently asked questions
Here are the answers to some questions that you may have about starting therapy.
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It is very important to me that I create a space and work in a way which is inclusive for people of all races, genders, sexualities, classes, and bodies. I am deeply conscious of my privileged position as a white, cis-gendered woman, and am committed to learning about and remaining open to the experiences of others, and to remaining mindful of my own positionality (including its inherent limitations) as we work.
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There are many similarities: both are based on the idea that talking about our lives and our difficulties with another person can lead to insight and change. Either can be beneficial.
Counselling tends to be shorter-term and is often focussed on a single issue. Psychotherapy is usually open-ended in terms of time, seeks to understand deeper patterns and encourages the processing of experience. Psychotherapy training tends to be longer than that for counsellors.
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I work primarily in person, but I do offer some sessions online.
Working on-line is different from working face-to-face. Some people feel safer and more able to express themselves in this setting. Others find that the screen creates an unhelpful barrier between them and their therapist.
Let me know if you would like to discuss this as a possibility.
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Yes! Therapy is all about the relationship between us, and so it is important that you are confident that I am the right therapist for you. I offer a free 20 minute introductory call in which we can begin to discuss what is bringing you to therapy. I can also let you know a bit more about my approach, and you can ask any questions that you have. You can then decide if you would like to go ahead: there is no obligation to do so.
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I offer open-ended therapy. If you are wanting to explore a specific concern or issue, it might last for just a few sessions. Or we may work together for months or years. If you want to go ahead after our introductory session, I suggest that we begin with a commitment to four or six sessions, and then review how the work is going at that point.
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Each session lasts for fifty minutes.
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My usual rate is £75.00 per session. I hold some spaces for lower-cost therapy, for those on low income or otherwise in financial hardship. Those spaces are currently filled, but if you are interested in working with me and cannot afford the full rate, do get in touch and we can discuss whether you would like to join my waiting list.
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I usually begin with an intention to meet weekly. However, if that doesn’t feel possible or right for you, let’s discuss what other options might be available.
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I practice in two North London locations: Hackney Therapy at 342 Kingsland Road, E8 4DA and HOMA Therapy Practice, 26 Lloyd Baker Street, Islington, WC1X 9AW.
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Please provide at least 48 hours notice if you need to cancel our session. I will usually charge the full fee for cancellation with less notice.
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Our work together will be entirely confidential. The only situation in which I may break confidentiality is in the unlikely event that you provide information which suggests that you may be a danger to others. Where possible, I would always discuss that with you in advance.
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If it is self-indulgent to want to know your own self better, then yes - therapy is wonderfully, fabulously self-indulgent! And yet, in the words of Dar Williams, ‘Oh how I loved everybody else, when I finally got to talk so much about myself’’. It is my belief that having therapy is a gift to those around you, as well as to yourself.