Diane Bartlett

I offer one-hour psychotherapy sessions, Monday to Friday, with appointments available during the daytime and in the evening.

I work mainly online, which allows me to offer greater flexibility and makes it easier to fit therapy around work, family life and other commitments. Online sessions can take place using FaceTime or by phone, depending on what works best for you.

Rather than expecting everyone to fit into the same arrangement, we will agree the day, time and frequency of sessions together, based on your individual needs and circumstances.

Some people find that regular weekly sessions work best, while others may need a different frequency. We can discuss this together and agree an arrangement that supports you and the work we are doing.

If you would like to know my current availability, please get in touch for an informal conversation and we can look at what might work for you.

Sometimes you just need somewhere you can be completely honest.

You may be feeling anxious, low or overwhelmed. You might be struggling after having a baby, finding parenting harder than you expected, experiencing difficulties in your relationships, or simply feeling that somewhere along the way you have lost a little of yourself.

Having somewhere safe to talk can make a real difference.

I am a BACP registered psychotherapist with over 20 years’ experience supporting individuals and families through difficult and vulnerable periods in their lives. I offer a warm, confidential and non-judgemental space where you can talk openly about what is happening and how you are feeling, without having to pretend that everything is fine.

I have particular experience supporting women experiencing postnatal depression, as well as people dealing with anxiety, depression, parenting difficulties, domestic abuse, relationship difficulties and other emotional challenges.

I work mainly online, making therapy more accessible and easier to fit around work, children and everyday life. The timing and frequency of our sessions can be agreed between us according to your individual circumstances.

You don’t need to know whether therapy is right for you before getting in touch. We can simply have an informal conversation, with no obligation, and take it from there.

A space to understand what is happening beneath the surface.

My approach is warm, calm and non-judgemental. Therapy gives you a confidential space to talk openly about whatever is happening in your life, without feeling that you need to have all the answers or even know where to begin.

Together, we can explore the thoughts, feelings and experiences that may be affecting you now. Sometimes what we are experiencing in the present can be connected to difficult or unresolved experiences from the past. At other times, life may simply have become overwhelming and you need somewhere safe to stop, talk and begin making sense of how you feel.

I believe therapy should move at your pace. I won’t judge you or tell you how you should feel. I will listen carefully and help you explore what is happening beneath the surface, recognise patterns and develop a greater understanding of yourself, your feelings and your relationships.

Everything you bring is welcome — your feelings, memories, worries, hopes, fears and the things you may find difficult to put into words.

My approach also recognises the connection between our emotional and physical wellbeing. Where it is helpful, I may incorporate mindfulness, breathing and greater awareness of how feelings can be experienced within the body.

Our work is centered around you. The aim is not to tell you how to live your life, but to help you understand yourself more clearly, work through difficulties and feel better able to make choices and move forward in a way that feels right for you.

Our first session is about getting to know each other.

Taking the first step into therapy can feel daunting, particularly if you have never spoken to a therapist before. There is no expectation that you arrive knowing exactly what to say or where to begin.

Our first session gives us an opportunity to get to know each other and, importantly, gives you the opportunity to decide whether you feel comfortable talking with me.

We will spend some time exploring what has brought you to therapy, what is happening in your life at the moment and what you would like help or support with. If you are unsure what you want from therapy, that is absolutely fine — we can begin to explore that together.

I will ask you some questions as part of an initial assessment. This helps me understand more about you, your circumstances and any experiences or difficulties that may be important to our work together.

It is also your opportunity to ask me questions and understand more about how I work.

Towards the end of the session, we can talk about whether continuing therapy feels right for you and, if so, agree the timing and frequency of future sessions.

There is no pressure to make a commitment. What matters most is that you feel comfortable, listened to and that working together feels right for you.