My Approach

Hello, I’m Stuart, a UKCP-registered existential psychotherapist and counsellor based in London. I work with adults on a one-to-one basis, both in person and online, offering short-term and open-ended therapy.

‘What on earth is an existential therapist?!’ people sometimes ask. In practice, it’s a way of working that means I encourage your reflection not only on what your challenges are and why they exist but also how they exist—that is, how they are uniquely experienced by you. We might examine them through the lenses of identity, meaning, choice, and uncertainty; explore how your present experiences are influenced by the narratives you hold about your past and imagined future; and consider how these past, present and (imagined) future experiences shape your relationship with others, yourself, and the wider world.

A trusting therapeutic relationship is at the heart of this process. I aim to provide a safe, supportive environment in which difficult thoughts, feelings, and experiences can be explored openly and confidentially. Drawing on my background in the arts, I see therapy as a creative, collaborative endeavour in which we can work together to find an approach that feels right for you. I won’t tell you what to do or offer advice, but I won’t be silent or passive either. Instead, I will:

Listen with compassion, curiosity, and empathy.
Help you understand and make sense of your experiences, difficult feelings and emotions.
Notice and explore recurring themes and patterns.
Encourage self-compassion and a more accepting relationship with past choices.
Help you clarify and question your values, beliefs, and assumptions.
Explore ways of responding to and coping with life’s challenges.
Help illuminate alternative choices and possibilities for living.

About Me

When choosing a therapist, I believe it can be helpful to know something about what drew them to their work.

After nearly twenty years working in the arts, I found myself wanting a new challenge—but one that maintained the values and interests that made that career so meaningful. Reflecting on this, I realised what had mattered most to me was storytelling, communication, collaboration, and creativity; exploring conflict, relationships, meaning, and motivation; examining people’s sense of themselves and others, and understanding their place in the world.

Pursuing these interests, the idea of becoming a therapist emerged. As I explored the different therapeutic approaches, I found myself increasingly drawn to existential psychotherapy—the approach that felt most deeply aligned with my values.

I work with

• Individuals

Types of Therapies Offered

• Existential Psychotherapist

What I can help with

• Abuse
• Addiction
• Anger Management
• Anxiety
• Bereavement
• Chronic Illness
• Depression
• Family
• Gender
• Identity Problems
• Mental Health Issues
• Relationships
• Sexuality
• Stress
• Trauma