George Cumming-Bruce

I work as an existential psychotherapist, which means I'm interested in people as individuals, rather than as collections of symptoms or problems to be solved. I think our difficulties often make more sense when we begin to understand the wider context of our lives: our relationships, our histories, the expectations we live with, and the ways we've come to see ourselves and the world.

People come to see me for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes there's an identifiable problem, such as anxiety, depression, a difficult relationship or a significant change in circumstances. At other times, things might appear reasonably good from the outside, but there's a persistent feeling that something isn't quite right. You might feel stuck, overwhelmed, dissatisfied, or simply unsure of where you're going.

My approach is exploratory rather than prescriptive. I'm not especially interested in applying a particular theory to your experience, or assuming in advance what a successful outcome should look like. Instead, I want to understand what life is like for you, what matters to you, and where you might be finding yourself constrained or in conflict.

That doesn't mean our conversations will be without direction. I'll listen carefully, ask questions, share observations and sometimes challenge the ways you're thinking about things. I see therapy as a conversation in which we can be curious about aspects of your experience that might otherwise go unexamined.

I don't think every difficulty can be resolved, or that the aim of therapy is necessarily to become a happier or more efficient version of ourselves. Sometimes it's about coming to understand something differently, recognising choices we didn't realise we had, or finding a more honest way of living with the circumstances we face.

I work both short-term, where there's something particular you'd like to address, and over longer periods when there's more you want to explore.

I offer therapy in person and online, working with adults who are experiencing difficulties in their lives or who simply want to understand themselves better.

My approach is existential and phenomenological. In practice, this means I don't begin with a fixed idea of what your difficulties mean or how they ought to be resolved. Instead, we'll spend time exploring your experiences, relationships and circumstances, trying to understand how things have come to be as they are.

Our first session is an opportunity to talk about what has brought you to therapy, what you're hoping to gain from it, and whether you feel comfortable working with me. There's no expectation that you'll arrive with a clear understanding of what's wrong or what you want to change. Often, working that out is part of the therapy itself.

I'm an active and engaged therapist. I won't simply listen in silence, but will ask questions, offer observations and sometimes challenge your assumptions. I think a good therapeutic relationship should allow for openness, curiosity and disagreement, as well as the discussion of things that might be difficult to put into words.

Some people come with a particular problem they'd like to address over a relatively short period, perhaps six to twelve sessions. Others find it helpful to work over several months or longer, exploring their lives and relationships in greater depth. We can discuss what makes sense for you, and review how the work is going as we proceed.

Sessions last 50 minutes and ordinarily take place at the same time each week.

The first session is an opportunity to see how it feels to work together, and wether you want to commit to further sessions.

I am currently working in person in Battersea and Pimlico, as well as online and over the phone. 

My approach is grounded in existential psychotherapy, which means therapy begins with your lived experience rather than with diagnostic labels or predefined categories. Many people come to therapy feeling stuck in patterns they cannot easily shift — in how they think, relate to others, or experience themselves and their lives.

In practice, this means we pay attention to how you are actually living: the ways you respond to anxiety, uncertainty, difficult emotions, relationships, and the pressures or expectations that may shape your decisions over time. 

I work with people experiencing anxiety, overthinking, emotional disconnection, burnout, loss of direction, relationship difficulties, addiction, chronic pain, and periods where life no longer feels sustainable in the same way. I am particularly interested in how we make sense of ourselves and the world we're in. 

Alongside existential psychotherapy, I also draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), particularly in relation to anxiety, avoidance, chronic pain, and repetitive thought patterns. The aim is not to remove difficulty from life altogether, but to help develop a clearer and more workable relationship with it. 

I aim to offer a non-judgemental space where people can speak honestly about their experience without feeling pressured to present themselves in a particular way. Meditation practice is an important part of my life, and I hope that this infuses the work I do with my clients.

I offer psychotherapy sessions online and in-person for adults experiencing a range of emotional and psychological difficulties.

People often come to therapy when something in their life no longer feels manageable or meaningful in the way it once did. This can take the form of anxiety, burnout, emotional numbness, overthinking, relationship difficulties, addiction, chronic pain, or a more general sense of feeling stuck or disconnected from life.

My practice is grounded in the belief that therapy should feel collaborative rather than prescriptive. I aim to create a space where we can think carefully together about your experience, at a pace that feels manageable. Some people come for shorter-term focused work around a particular difficulty, while others prefer longer-term therapy that allows more time to explore deeper patterns and questions about how they are living.

Before training as a psychotherapist, I studied philosophy and psychology. I trained in existential-phenomenological psychotherapy at the NSPC in London and also have training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

I have worked in NHS services, charitable organisations, and private practice, including specialist work in chronic pain at St Thomas’ Hospital. I am a registered member of the BACP and UKCP and work within their ethical frameworks.

The first session is an opportunity for us to begin thinking together about what has brought you to therapy and whether working together feels useful.

There is no expectation that you arrive with a fully formed explanation of what is wrong or a clear sense of what you want from therapy. Many people begin with a more uncertain feeling that something in their life is not working in the same way anymore, or that they feel stuck in patterns they cannot easily shift.

The first session is conversational rather than heavily structured or assessment-led. I may ask questions to help build an understanding of your situation, your history, and what you are finding difficult, but there is no formal assessment process or preparation required in advance.

Sessions last 50 minutes and are usually held weekly. I offer both online and in-person sessions.

Some people use the first session to think about a specific issue they are struggling with, while others use it as an opportunity to get a sense of how therapy with me might feel and whether the space seems like a good fit for them.

My standard fee applies to the initial session. However, if you would like a free introductory call, we can schedule this to decide if we are a good fit. `