Maya Grudnowska

Currently available for new enquiries.

Hours:

Thursday 10 - 5pm

Friday 10 - 5pm

Some evenings available, please enquire 

Hello and a warm welcome. My name is Maya and I'm an Integrative psychotherapist, working in person and online in central London.

I aim to provide safety, warmth, compassion, acceptance, and a sense of collaboration in my work. Everybody has a story to tell and I believe therapy is a unique space where you can tell your story to someone who is truly listening, without judgement or expectations, and can help you make sense of yourself and the events of your life. 

I am informed by my background in English literature and the idea that we are social beings who use stories to make sense of ourselves and the world around us. These stories can be outdated and might need a renewed, fresh perspective. 

In therapy, we can together create new stories that allow us to see ourselves in a clearer and more compassionate light and to take or leave responsibility where it belongs. It's also a place to unburden ourselves and let go of performing, where feelings are accepted and validated, without judgement. We look at present ways of relating and behaving, past experiences, and how it all weaves together. 

I also integrate concepts from Mindfulness, Interpersonal Neurobiology, Polyvagal Theory, and Somatic Body Therapy to support my practice and make sense of the mind-body connection and how our nervous system impacts our mental health.

My work is relational and underlying my approach is a belief that each person is unique. I take into account your preferences and work collaboratively with you to identify what will help most. 

Engaging in a therapeutic relationship means being an active participant in your own story.

You are the agent of change, and I am here to hold, support, and contain the difficult parts of your process. Together, we explore what it is that is holding you back, and with new insight and understanding, you can rebuild yourself as the person you truly are.

As an Integrative therapist, I integrate ideas and philosophies from three main therapeutic frameworks: Humanistic, Psychodynamic, and Cognitive Behavioural.

At the heart of this is a belief in the power of relationships and how they shape who we are.

A lot of our struggles come down to things like early childhood experiences, which shape how we think about ourselves and interact with others. Sometimes it’s about not feeling listened to, or not being able to ask for what we need. These experiences can leave us feeling small, helpless, or anxious. We might behave in ways that are protective and keep us safe but stop us from growing.

Therapy is a place to explore all this and gently unmask ourselves, which can be scary but ultimately frees us from unhelpful patterns and dynamics that are holding us back. In therapy we can get to the core of what the issue is and work on changing it. We gain autonomy and are able to take control of our lives.

I practice generally but am particularly interested in attachment, trauma, ACE's (Adverse Childhood Experiences), and relational dynamics.

As a bilingual practitioner I am able to offer sessions in both English and Polish. I have a sensitive understanding of intercultural dynamics and identity struggles.

The first session is an opportunity for me to learn a bit about you and what brings you to therapy, and for you to learn about me and how I work. It's a chance for us to see if we click and if you feel comfortable in the space. There is no obligation to continue forward if you don't wish to. You can ask any questions you may have and we can go over some practical aspects of the work. I don't complete a formal assessment but this session may involve me asking more questions and leading more than usual, so that I ensure I am working within my competence and have a clear grasp of the issues presented. 

I generally offer a brief 15 minute phone call prior to a first session, which is free of charge. This is to make initial contact, see if our schedules work together, and establish if you would like to book a first session.