Joel Levy

I offer regular daytime/early evening sessions in south west London.

“The past influences everything and dictates nothing.”  (Adam Phillips)                

I am a fully qualified and accredited psychodynamic counsellor and psychotherapist.  I work in private practice and in the NHS across a wide range of issues and with people from many different backgrounds.

There are times in life when familiar ways of coping no longer seem to work. You may feel anxious, low, emotionally disconnected, overwhelmed, or stuck.  You might find yourself thinking,'I keep ending up in the same sort of relationship',  'I push people away when people get too close', 'I overthink everything', or 'I don't know why I react so strongly'. 

I offer a space to address these and other problems.

The psychodynamic psychotherapy that I practice is based on the idea that we are not always fully aware of the emotional forces shaping how we feel about ourselves and others, and why we do the things we do.  Often experiences from the past – especially those that happen within important relationships – continue to influence how we relate to ourselves and others in the present. Often this is in ways that are difficult to recognise on our own, and  so keep us stuck in our recurring patterns despite wanting  to change. 

Together we would explore the recurring patterns in your thoughts, feelings and relationships that may be contributing to your difficulties.

The therapy would not be about finding  "quick fixes" or simply managing symptoms, though relief from symptoms would be an aim.  It would involve developing a deeper understanding of your emotional life: why certain feelings or relationships become painful or repetitive, and why you may find yourself reacting, withdrawing, or getting stuck in ways that seem difficult to change, despite your best intentions.

I offer a thoughtful and confidential space where these difficult feelings and patterns of relating can become more understandable rather than overwhelming or pushed away.  As these patterns become more visible, they begin to lose their hold, making new ways of thinking, feeling and relating possible – opening up the possibility of lasting change.

At times the therapy may feel relieving or clarifying.  At other times it may feel more challenging, stirring up strong feelings of uncertainty, frustration, or even a wish to retreat from the work. Often those moments can become very important, meaningful and helpful parts of the process of change.

People come to therapy with me for many reasons.  Some are struggling with anxiety, depression, grief or relationship difficulties. Others find themselves caught in recurring patterns of loneliness, self-criticism, anger, emotional numbness, or obsessive thoughts and behaviours that seem difficult to change despite their best efforts.

I offer sessions between one and three times weekly, on an open-ended basis.

Fees are £80 per session.

Once you get in touch by email, text or phone message, we will arrange a brief conversation to clarify what you are looking for and whether it is something I can offer.

If we decide to proceed, we will meet for a 50-minute consultation. This provides an opportunity for you to experience how I work and for us to consider together whether ongoing psychotherapy is likely to be helpful.  Reaching that view may take more than one meeting.