Sandra Thompson

Hello and welcome.

I offer individual psychoanalytic psychotherapy and psychodynamic counselling for adults, both face to face and online based in London, close to Liverpool Street and Moorgate stations. 

I aim to provide a warm, supportive and confidential space where you can talk openly about whatever may be troubling you. Therapy offers time to explore your thoughts, feelings, relationships and experiences at your own pace, without fear of judgement. It can help you develop a deeper understanding of yourself and make sense of difficulties that may feel confusing or painful.

I recognise that everyone has their own experiences and reasons for seeking therapy. I do not make assumptions about who you are or what has brought you here. My aim is to get to know you as a person and understand your experience from your point of view.

Sometimes taking the first step to therapy can feel daunting, the idea of sharing your thoughts and feelings with a stranger can be anxiety provoking which is understandable. I work to support your first steps by taking the time to listen well without judgement. I respect individual and cultural differences and I take confidentiality very seriously. 

I aim to offer a therapeutic relationship based on trust, openness and respect. I understand that it can take time to feel comfortable talking about personal experiences, particularly when they are difficult or painful. I work at a pace that feels appropriate for you, allowing the relationship to develop gradually.

I value individual and cultural differences and recognise that each person's experience is unique. Rather than making assumptions or offering ready-made answers, I take the time to listen carefully and understand things from your perspective.

We are not always fully aware of why we think, feel or respond in particular ways. At times, we may find ourselves repeating familiar patterns in relationships, reacting more strongly than we expect, or feeling stuck in situations that are difficult to understand. Therapy offers an opportunity to become curious about these experiences and explore what may lie beneath them.

The relationship between us is an important part of this work. As trust develops, it may become possible to notice and explore feelings and ways of relating that emerge within the therapy itself. This can help us understand patterns that may also be present in other areas of your life.

My approach is not about analysing you or telling you what your difficulties mean. It is about creating the time and space to think together about your experiences, including aspects of yourself that may not yet feel clear or easy to put into words. Over time, developing a deeper understanding of yourself and your relationships may create greater freedom and choice in how you relate to yourself and others.

I offer an initial consultation before beginning therapy. This gives you an opportunity to talk about what has brought you to therapy, what you may be looking for and what you hope might come from the process.

It is also an opportunity for us to think together about whether I can offer the kind of support that would be appropriate for you. Just as importantly, you can get a sense of what it might be like to work with me. A sense of trust and safety is important to the therapeutic relationship, and the initial consultation is a first step in exploring whether we might be able to develop that together.

A psychoanalytic approach is not about analysing you or telling you what your difficulties mean. It is about creating the time and space to think together about your experiences, including aspects of yourself that may not yet feel clear or easy to put into words. Through this process, you may begin to understand yourself, your history and your relationships in new ways. Over time, this understanding can create greater freedom and choice in how you relate to yourself, to others and to the difficulties you encounter.