I see people as having rich and complex inner lives that cannot be fully captured by using diagnostic labels. That said, people often come to psychotherapy when their emotions begin to feel out of control or no longer make any sense. I work with this subjective experience of distress. For some, this may surface as anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, irritable and out-of-control. For others, it may be felt as disinterest, a lack of motivation, depression or hopelessness.

I approach these symptoms, diagnoses, and presenting concerns from a biopsychosocial perspective. Just as a headache can be triggered by anything from a common cold to a migraine, emotional distress can stem from multiple, interwoven causes. Psychotherapy is often the first place where one can begin to make sense of their experiences.

A few things that I have come to understand well include working with interpersonal conflicts;  with the pressures that notions of masculinity place on men and how these pressures affect both men and women; with those navigating the demands of modern work and productivity; with those who find their identity and relational experiences being impacted by tech, dating apps and social media; with abuse in intimate relationships; with experiences around infidelity.

It is important here to understand what qualifications exist in the mental health field.

A Psychiatrist is a doctor (MBBS, MD) who can prescribe medications, make diagnoses and may also offer psychotherapy.

A Clinical Psychologist (MSc/MA Psychology + M Phil) is qualified to make diagnoses and can administer testing/assessments (for example an IQ Test, assessments for depression etc) but cannot prescribe medications. They can also offer psychotherapy.

A Psychotherapist/Counselling Psychologist (MSc/MA Psychology) is someone that can offer counselling/psychotherapeutic services. They can neither prescribe medicines nor make diagnoses.

Note: I hold an MSc in Applied Psychology and I can neither prescribe medicines nor can I make diagnoses.

Psychotherapy with me will be on a once or twice weekly basis. I usually see clients at the same day and time every week (for example, every Monday at 4 pm). For those with unpredictable work schedules or other commitments that prevent setting a fixed time, I can offer a different time each week, provided there is still a commitment to weekly sessions.

This structure may feel inflexible or unaccommodating for some. If that resonates with you, you are welcome to reach out for a referral. I would nonetheless encourage you to consider once-weekly psychotherapy when the time is right. This is because study after study has shown that the most crucial factor in successful therapy is the depth of the relationship between therapist and client. This may sound trite, but it takes time for people to open up and reveal themselves meaningfully to a stranger.

In my view, meeting once a week creates the necessary conditions for a meaningful therapeutic relationship to form and deepen. 

This is something that will be unique to each person. I can however point to what the research says and offer some suggestions. Studies show that meaningful changes from psychotherapy take time, typically requiring a minimum of 20-24 sessions (i.e. once weekly psychotherapy for six months)

I therefore request clients to continue the once weekly arrangement for at least six months before considering termination. Beyond that, the question of how much longer is something to be explored in therapy together. The true measure of meaningful therapy is when its benefits continue to unfold long after it has concluded. 

Some people are also inclined towards long-term psychotherapy which can span a few years. While I do not see the therapist-client relationship as indefinite, in my experience, a few years of therapy often yields deeper, more lasting change than just a few months.

Donald Winnicott once said, ‘but psychoanalysis is no way of life. We all hope that our patients will finish with us and forget us, and that they will find living itself to be the therapy that makes sense.’ My aim will be to help you reach that place. 

This may not be a satisfying answer, but you discover ‘the right therapist’ only by risking a relationship to develop. My own therapeutic approach is grounded in psychodynamic theories, focusing on unconscious mental life. This means being curious about how you relate to others and how you feel about yourself. More importantly, I will pay close attention to the relationship we build within therapy itself – its ups and downs, its meandering path, the confusions, frustrations and hopes that will inevitably arise in any relationship of depth.

Contemplating these aspects about oneself, in the presence of someone that is non-intrusive and non-defensive is often central to the work of therapy. This is the experience I aim to offer my clients.

Yes, I am. I am also in my own once weekly psychotherapy.