My Approach

At the core of my clinical framework is a profound understanding of intersubjectivity and mutual recognition. Drawing from my specialised training in relational psychoanalysis, I create a therapeutic environment where patients' emerging sense of self can be witnessed and validated. This relational matrix becomes the foundation upon which meaningful psychological development can occur.

My relational approach integrates multiple psychoanalytic traditions - from object relations to self psychology and intersubjective systems theory - while maintaining the centrality of the therapeutic relationship. This allows me to work effectively with the complex transferential and countertransferential dynamics that emerge within the therapeutic dyad.

I am particularly attuned to the intricate ways in which early attachment patterns, implicit relational knowing, and procedural memory manifest in present relationships. Through careful attention to the here-and-now of our therapeutic engagement, I help clients recognise and transform maladaptive relational templates.

In our work together, patients experience a safe, validating space where their emotional realities are approached with empathic attunement and genuine concern. This non-judgmental stance facilitates the exploration of unconscious processes and the integration of dissociated aspects of experience.

Finally, I utilise the rich symbolic language of psychoanalysis to explore how past and present traumas, losses, and relational difficulties impact psychological development, always understanding these elements within the context of our evolving therapeutic relationships.

Practice Description

In my relational psychoanalytic practice, I am not a neutral observer but an active participant in our therapeutic journey together.

You can expect that:

I. We'll work together to understand your experiences, patterns, and unconscious processes within the context of your relationships - both past and present.
II. Our own relationship will become a meaningful space where patterns can emerge, be recognised, and transformed. I'll openly acknowledge my own subjectivity rather than claiming a position of objective authority.
III. We'll continually influence each other in our interactions. Your experiences affect me, and my responses affect you - this bidirectional process becomes a powerful tool for insight.
IV. While we'll explore your past, we'll pay particular attention to what unfolds between us in the present moment.
I'll strive to be genuine and emotionally attuned rather than maintaining rigid professional boundaries that might recreate harmful power dynamics.

My approach views the self as fundamentally relational - we develop and heal in connection with others. Through our work together, you'll gain deeper understanding of yourself, your relational patterns, and new possibilities for genuine connection in your life.

About Me

I am an experienced Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist and the Director of Relational Psychoanalytic Therapy with extensive clinical expertise developed through years of private practice, clinical supervision and university teaching and training positions.

I completed my training in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy at Goldsmiths (University of London) and a 4-year training in Relational Psychoanalysis at the National Institute for the Psychotherapies (NIP) in New York. I have also an MA and PhD in Psychoanalysis from the University of Kent. I am a member of the Forum for Independent Psychotherapists (FiP) and the SITE for Contemporary Psychoanalysis - I served as an Acting Chair and Member of the SITE's Council and Training Committee.

I have been teaching and training psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors at various universities and private training settings for the last 25 years. I have written numerous journal articles and books, with the most recent one titled "The Sublime in Everyday Life"

I work with

• Couples
• Individuals
• Private healthcare referrals

Special Interests

Like all UKCP registered psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors I can work with a wide range of issues, but here are some areas in which I have a special interest or additional experience.

Types of Therapies Offered

• Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist