Tia Coakley

I have varying availability throughout the week, please enquire. 

Perhaps you have been holding things together for a long time, but lately it feels harder to cope. You may feel anxious, overwhelmed or disconnected, or find yourself caught in patterns that are difficult to understand or change. Perhaps there are parts of your life - your relationships, sexuality, identity, family or past experiences - that you have never felt able to talk about openly. I offer a space to slow things down, make sense of your experiences, and begin to understand yourself with greater compassion.

As a therapist of mixed South Asian heritage, I know that belonging is not always straightforward. Growing up between different cultural expectations can leave us questioning where we fit, who we are, and which parts of ourselves feel acceptable to show. Alongside my own lived experience, my work with clients has given me a deep appreciation of how race, culture, sexuality, gender, family dynamics and childhood experiences can shape how we see ourselves and relate to others.

I respect each person's individuality and lived experience, and I see you as the expert on your own life. My role is to walk alongside you with curiosity, compassion and openness as you develop a greater understanding of yourself and move towards the changes you want to make.

You do not need to have everything figured out before coming to therapy. You can simply start where you are.

As a psychosexual therapist in training, I support individuals/partnerships with a range of concerns around sex, intimacy and relationship breakdowns. This may include physical and sexual functioning difficulties, such as vaginismus, erectile difficulties and difficulties reaching orgasm; concerns around sexual desire, arousal or confidence; and compulsive sexual behaviours that may feel difficult to understand or change.

I also work with people who have experienced sexual abuse or other difficult sexual experiences, and who may be exploring how these experiences have affected their relationship with their body, sexuality, intimacy or relationships.

These can be deeply personal areas of life, and finding the right words to talk about them is not always easy. I offer a warm, open and non-judgemental space where you can speak honestly about your experiences without having to minimise, justify or feel ashamed of them. Together, we can begin to make sense of what is happening and explore what you would like to be different.

My approach is pluralistic, drawing mainly on psychoanalytic, attachment-based, transactional analysis and humanistic therapies. I believe that meaningful therapy begins with feeling safe, heard and understood. Together, we can gently explore the thoughts, feelings and patterns that may be keeping you stuck, and consider what you would like to change.

Our initial session is an opportunity for us to get to know one another. Using my initial assessment form, I will invite you to share aspects of your background and life experiences that feel relevant to you. There is no expectation to disclose anything before you are ready, and we will move at a pace that feels safe and manageable. 

We will also explore what has brought you to therapy at this point in your life. This may include current challenges, relationship difficulties, recurring patterns, or a sense that something feels stuck or unclear. For couples, we may begin to look at relational dynamics, communication, intimacy, and emotional connection, allowing space for each partner’s experience.

A key part of the first session involves discussing your hopes and goals for therapy. These are created collaboratively and can evolve over time. We will come back to these goals throughout our sessions and review where necessary.