Gordon McIntosh

I work 7am- 9pm inclusive  Monday to Thursday.

I take 6 weeks break each year, 2 weeks in August, 2 at Easter and 2 at Christmas/New Year.

Occasionally, I take other breaks for conferences or training, but will  discuss this well in advance.

About Me

I have amassed a 35-year vocation in the fields of mental health & social welfare, teaching, and psychotherapeutic work. I hold a Psychology degree from London University, Post Graduate Diplomas from the British Association of Psychotherapists and Oxford University , and an MA in Psychotherapy from Leeds Beckett University.

Personally, I am a down to earth, open as well as analytically and critically minded, I regard myself as patient, and pragmatic. I am often intense, and focused when it is called for, but can find and express humour, humanity, and a sense of ‘lightness’ in the work too.

Services offered & the process of therapy

I am dedicated to and passionate about engaging with people who feel ready to work through (at their own pace) their particular emotional, psychological, and interpersonal difficulties. For example, some of my clients experience debilitating anxieties, distress, and a sense of 'dread' or 'emptiness'   in their personal and/or occupational life.

To address these stressors and difficult feelings, by way of process, together, we would seek to explore and develop insight into how conscious and unconscious thoughts and feelings that on the surface may seem ‘intangible’ often tend to be situated in earlier relationships and experiences.

My primary practice method is ‘psychodynamic counselling & psychotherapy’, however, during and beyond the assessment I am fluid and adaptive towards meeting the particular needs of each individual client. This means being receptive to and carefully drawing upon an array of techniques and psychological methods that honours each clients unique self.

Psychodynamic psychotherapy does not provide a ‘quick fix’. Rather, it is a deeply invested, committed and enduring process. Psychotherapy aims to increase your self-comprehension, challenge maladaptive coping mechanisms, lower psychic defences, and liberate ones self toward enabling more informed choices.

Testimonials from former clients…

“Anyone who has Gordon as their psychotherapist needs to count themselves as very fortunate. With highly intelligent and agile mind and vast experience, he guided me to reconsider how I view many aspects of my life. I consider his passion for his work incredibly important: he is constantly training, researching all aspects of CPD and new fields.

I thought that unhappiness was simply something normal to live with every day. Over the time I saw Gordon, I learned that it isn’t. “.

N.L

“Gordon is an excellent psychotherapist. He helped me immeasurably over some tough times with workplace bullying and the stress of starting new jobs. He’s a skilled listener and remembers details week-to-week which really fosters trust and respect. I would wholeheartedly recommend his warm approach to family and/or friends”.

M.C

“Working with Gordon has been the best investment in myself I could have made. I always thought that I was quite a self-aware person, but he made connections that I simply hadn’t been able to see before and helped me see things from a fresh perspective. His thoughtful analysis has helped me overcome a very tough period of my life. The biggest surprise has been seeing how the changes I have made, have had such a positive effect on those closet to me as well. I will be forever grateful for Gordon’s help”.

J.M

“I attended therapy sessions with Gordon when I needed to work through some childhood issues in the lead up to adopting. The sessions were invaluable to me at that time, and I still think of some of our discussions when I am tackling various parenting issues. I found Gordon to be a great listener and he helped me look at issues from different angles. I have often said that if I hadn’t had the therapy sessions with Gordon before adopting, I might not be so mentally robust when dealing with the challenges that I face as a parent of a traumatised child.”

J.B

“Gordon is a fantastic therapist, calm, helpful, and very compassionate.”

C.S

The first session is an assessment session which will last for 50 minutes. In this we will discuss the reasons you are seeking therapy at this time, your hopes and perhaps concerns about beginning therapy and any other issues you want to bring.  

We will also discuss some practical 'housekeeping' matters such as the time of sessions, boundaries, confidentiality, holidays, breaks and cancellations.

I am a fully qualified trainer with a PGCE in post compulsory education and training.  I have taught Health, Social Care, Counselling, Psychology and Early Years Child Care from introductory to level 7 in colleges and universities. 

I have also been a conductor for experiential groups for trainee counsellors. 

I was training manager at the Medical Foundation for the Victims of Torture and have engaged inductions, initiated NVQ's and audited internal and external training at all levels.

I am a sole practitioner of psychodynamic therapy and my consulting room is based in Clerkenwell, Islington. 

I am able to audit any training program your organisation may need.  I can also construct a tailored program and deliver and assess as appropriate.