Matthew Frener

I work from my office in Fitzrovia on Tuesdays and Thursdays and work online the rest of the week. Please contact me directly for my specific availability. 

Therapy, at its best, is something that happens between two people, a genuine meeting that becomes the ground from which change grows. I work relationally, which means the connection we build together sits at the very centre of everything that follows. Research consistently shows that the quality of the therapeutic relationship is the strongest predictor of positive outcomes, and my own experience, as both a clinician and someone who has sought support, confirms this deeply.

I work integratively, drawing on a range of evidence-based approaches and tailoring my practice to the individual in front of me. Rooted in relational and developmental thinking, I bring in psychodynamic understanding, Attachment Theory, DBT, CBT, IFS, and somatic approaches as they become useful, always guided by the person, not the model.

I am a UKCP Registered Psychotherapist, Senior Accredited Member of BACP, Senior Accredited Registrant of NCPS, and Advanced Practitioner of Addiction Professionals. I hold an MSc in Integrative Psychotherapy, a Level 6 Clinical Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counselling and specialist qualifications in DBT, somatic trauma therapy, and eating disorder treatment. I began my clinical career in residential addiction and eating disorder treatment before going on to work as a DBT Practitioner at the Priory Hospital North London, an experience that continues to inform the depth and rigour I bring to my work today.

I work with a holistic outlook, keeping the whole person and the context in which they live in mind: emotionally, relationally, psychologically, physically, and spiritually (where appropriate). My practice is trauma-informed, anti-oppressive and identity-conscious, and I bring particular experience working with LGBTQ+ clients, neurodivergent individuals, and those navigating complex questions of identity and selfhood.

I see clients in person in Fitzrovia, Central London, W1, a few minutes' walk from Oxford Circus and easily accessible by tube, bus, and on-street parking. I also work with clients online via a secure video platform.

I work with individuals on both an open-ended basis and within a time-limited, goal-oriented framework, depending on what is most useful and clinically beneficial. Sessions are 50 minutes and take place weekly at the same time, providing the regularity and containment that allows trust to grow and the work to deepen. I do not offer sessions less frequently than weekly, as consistency is what allows safety and containment to develop. Where it is helpful, and availability allows, twice-weekly sessions can be arranged during periods of greater need.

I offer a sliding scale fee of £100-£120 per session, and hold a small number of spaces at a concessionary rate for NHS workers and those on a low income. I also work with a number of major health insurers. Please contact me to confirm your policy.

If you're wondering whether therapy might help or whether I might be the right fit, please don't hesitate to get in touch. Together we can begin to make sense of what you're carrying, and work toward not just navigating difficulty, but building a life with more space, connection, and joy in it.

If you're thinking about getting in touch, the first step is a free introductory call, typically 15 to 30 minutes, by phone or video, where you can ask questions about the process, get a feel for how I work, and we can begin to explore whether working together feels right. There is no obligation to continue beyond this call.

Once we've agreed to meet, you'll be asked to complete a short form for administrative and safeguarding purposes before your first session.

The first sessions take the form of an assessment. This is an opportunity for me to understand your history, what is bringing you to therapy, and what you are hoping to achieve. It is equally a chance for you to experience how I work, and for us to begin co-creating a way forward that feels genuinely tailored to you. There is no pressure to commit beyond this.