David Martin

I have availability on Thursdays at the Psychosynthesis Trust, 92-94 Tooley Street, London Bridge, SE1.

I'm David, an integrative psychotherapist and Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner based in London.

Many of the people I work with are capable and high-functioning, holding demanding jobs and keeping things together, while feeling inside that something isn't working anymore.

Some find that their bodies are letting them know that things aren't sustainable, that continually pushing through is taking a toll.

Others come having already done some therapeutic work. They understand their patterns well, but understanding hasn't been enough to shift how they actually feel in themselves.

My interest is in the relationship between mind, body and spirit, and in the process of coming to feel at home in ourselves, of not having to override or disown parts of ourselves to live a good life.

I draw on psychosynthesis, a creative, integrative tradition that works with all parts of the self, and Somatic Experiencing®, a body-based approach to relieving the effects of burnout, trauma and prolonged stress.

I also have a particular interest in neurodivergence. I live with ADHD myself, which gives me both personal and professional understanding of what it means to move through the world with a differently wired nervous system.

Before retraining as a therapist, I spent twenty years as a creative director in advertising. I have a close understanding of the impact that high-performance environments can have.

Sessions are 50 minutes and weekly. Some clients continue in open-ended psychotherapy, taking time to understand themselves at depth. Others prefer time-limited work of 12 to 24 sessions, focused on a specific issue. We can talk through what might suit you.

My fee is £110 per session. I hold a small number of lower-cost places for those on lower incomes. Please mention this when you get in touch.

The first session is a chance to meet, for you to say something about what has brought you here, and for us to get a sense of whether working together feels right. There is no obligation to continue. I offer this initial session at my standard rate of £110.

If you would like to talk briefly before booking, I am happy to arrange a short telephone call first.

I currently have availability at The Woodland Retreat on Monday afternoons and Tuesday mornings, and at Finsbury Park and London Bridge by arrangement. I also offer online sessions.

I'm David, an experienced, integrative psychotherapist based in London.

Many of the people I work with have already done thoughtful work. They understand their patterns, maybe even why they're there. But insight alone hasn't been enough to change how they feel in themselves and their lives.

My approach is relational and embodied. I draw on psychosynthesis, a creative, hopeful tradition that works to explore and integrate different parts of the self, and on the psychodynamic and humanistic traditions it grew out of. I have a particular interest in the relationship between mind, body and spirit, and in the process of coming to feel at home in ourselves. This is often particularly worthwhile for those whose sense of self has been shaped by being unseen or marginalised, whether in family, school, or society.

I am also a Certified Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner. Somatic Experiencing®, developed by Peter Levine, is an approach to integrating and recovering from overwhelming experiences. Sometimes the body remains in a prolonged survival state long after the event itself has passed, and talking alone doesn't always reach it. Somatic Experiencing® helps the nervous system find its way back to resilience and flexibility. Some clients come for open-ended psychotherapy; others find that a focused piece of Somatic Experiencing® work is useful along the way.

Before training as a therapist, I spent twenty years in the creative industries, and I have worked with many clients who hold it all together on the outside while struggling inside — particularly those whose experience is shaped by ADHD or other forms of neurodiversity.

If any of this resonates, please get in touch. I offer a free initial conversation to see whether we're a good fit.

I offer in-person sessions at three locations in London, and online internationally. 

The Woodland Retreat, Queens Wood, N10 — a quiet cabin set in ancient woodland, a short walk from Highgate, Muswell Hill, and Crouch End (Monday and Tuesday daytimes). My home practice in Finsbury Park, N4. The Psychosynthesis Trust, 92-94 Tooley Street, London Bridge, SE1 (Thursdays).

I also work online via Zoom for clients who prefer remote sessions, or who live further afield.

Sessions are 50 minutes and weekly. Some clients continue in open-ended psychotherapy, taking time to understand themselves at depth. Others prefer time-limited work of 12 to 24 sessions, focused on a specific issue. We can talk through what might suit you.

If during psychotherapy I feel that a dedicated piece of Somatic Experiencing® work would be useful, I will mention it and we can talk it through.

My fee is £110 per session. I hold a limited number of lower-cost places. If cost is a barrier please mention this when you get in touch. 

Reaching out to a therapist can feel like a big step.

If you get in touch by phone or email, I will respond within a day or two to arrange a free initial conversation of around 20 minutes. This is a chance to speak briefly about what is bringing you to therapy, for you to ask any questions, and for us both to get a sense of whether we might work well together. There is no pressure to commit.

If we decide to go ahead, our first full session is a chance to meet more fully. There will be more space to talk about what has been happening, and what you are hoping for. Nothing in particular is required, and we will start wherever you are.

I do not use touch in my work.

If after one or two sessions it does not feel like the right fit, that is fine. I will happily suggest other practitioners who might suit you better.