Diana Groom

I shall not be available on Wednesdays and Thursdays during September 2021.

I qualified as a Psychodynamic Counsellor in 1994 and as a Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist in 2007.  I am also certified in CBT. 

I completed an 8 month course in Spiritual Direction in 1992.

I work with clients individually face-to-face or use the couch, if appropriate.  I also see couples for relationship counselling.

As many of the issues that clients bring are caused by experiences and relationships in their pasts, some from infancy, I take as detailed a history of each person as far back as we can go to obtain a sense of where the source of the issue might lie.  I allow the client to talk about whatever thoughts, feelings, experiences and dreams come to mind during each session and I make my observations of what has been said - consciously and unconsciously - that relates to the issues that led to the client coming into therapy.  As the relationship between us develops, some issues become reflected in that relationship and can be very helpful in identifying and adjusting difficulties that arise in relationships elsewhere.

I work with anxiety, low mood, stress, work issues, panic attacks, phobias, low self-esteem, maternity issues, current and historic physical and/or sexual abuse, trauma, bereavement, managing ill-health.  

I welcome clients of all ethnic heritage and of all gender identities.

I practice in a dedicated room in my own home which is isolated from the remainder of the house to ensure confidentiality.  It is at street level and is accessible by wheelchair.  Toilet facilities are also available.  

My home is close to public transport, train and bus.  There are free car parks nearby and there is easy drop-off.  Disabled clients can park outside my premises if the badge is displayed.

A normal session is 50 minutes duration but the first, assessment session can take up to one and a half hours.  At the first session I explain the boundaries of confidentiality and record keeping, length of sessions, how breaks are managed, how absences are managed and we negotiate the fee, agreeing how it should be paid. I then give a brief description of how I work.  If the client is happy to proceed, I then take a detailed history and we discuss anything that the client experienced as particularly difficult.  I then ask the client to talk about what brought him or her into therapy at this time.  Finally we agree the frequency and dates of future sessions.