Johannes Laan

I work online with clients from across the UK and internationally. Sessions are available at various times Monday to Friday. Please feel free to ask if you have any special requirements. 

People come to therapy for all sorts of reasons. You might be experiencing anxiety or persistent low mood, struggling in your relationships, or finding that something in your life isn’t quite as you’d hoped. Perhaps you’ve been through a difficult experience and are trying to make sense of what’s happened, or there are things you’ve never felt able to speak about with anyone.

Do any of these experiences feel familiar?

You feel anxious or unsettled, sometimes without knowing quite why.

You’ve been feeling low, disconnected or dissatisfied with your life.

You find yourself returning to familiar difficulties in relationships, despite wanting things to be different.

You struggle with shame, self-criticism or feelings that are difficult to share.

Experiences from your past continue to influence how you see yourself and others.

You’re questioning your identity, sexuality or sense of belonging.

You’ve experienced trauma, loss or significant changes that have affected how you experience the world.

Whatever you’re experiencing, we can begin by trying to understand it together. There may be things you’ve struggled to make sense of, feelings that seem contradictory, or aspects of yourself you’ve found difficult to accept or share with others.

Through our conversations, we can explore how your experiences have shaped your understanding of yourself, your relationships and the world around you. You may begin to recognise possibilities that previously felt out of reach, or find different ways of approaching circumstances that cannot easily be changed.

I’m an integrative psychotherapist, drawing particularly on existential, humanistic and relational approaches. This means understanding your difficulties in the context of your life, relationships and experiences, rather than viewing them as isolated problems to be treated.

Our sessions are conversational, and I’ll be actively involved. I’ll listen closely, ask questions and offer reflections about what I’m hearing. Sometimes I might invite us to stay with something that seems significant or easily overlooked. I’m also interested in how you experience our conversations, particularly when your understanding differs from mine.

The relationship we develop is an important part of the work. As we get to know one another, we may notice familiar ways of relating, including how you experience closeness, trust, boundaries and the expectations of others.

My existential grounding also means we can explore questions about how you’re living, the choices available to you, and circumstances that may be difficult or impossible to change.

Other areas I work with

Trauma: Difficult experiences can profoundly change how you experience yourself, other people and the world. We can explore what has happened and how it continues to affect your life.

Identity and belonging: I welcome LGBTQ+ clients, including those exploring sexuality, identity, relationships and experiences of discrimination. I also work affirmatively with people in non-monogamous and polyamorous relationships.

Shame and difficult experiences: You may be carrying something you’ve never felt able to speak about, perhaps involving intimacy, sexuality, family relationships or personal beliefs. We can approach these experiences with curiosity and care.

Our first session is an opportunity for us to meet and begin getting to know one another. I’ll ask some questions about your circumstances and what has prompted you to seek therapy at this time. We’ll also spend some time considering what you’re hoping to gain from our work together, and what change might look like for you.

We’ll approach this gently, with room for you to reflect and ask questions along the way. I’ll explain what you can expect from our sessions, and we’ll discuss any practical arrangements or concerns you might have.

It’s important that we both have an opportunity to consider whether working together feels right. You’re welcome to share your impressions of our first meeting, including anything you’re uncertain about.

If you'd like to have a brief chat to ask any questions before booking a first appointment, please complete the contact form and we can arrange a call. 

I work Monday to Friday, with in-person sessions in Manchester, and online with clients across the UK and internationally. 

People come to therapy for all sorts of reasons. You might be experiencing anxiety or persistent low mood, struggling in your relationships, or finding that something in your life isn’t quite as you’d hoped. Perhaps you’ve been through a difficult experience and are trying to make sense of what’s happened, or there are things you’ve never felt able to speak about with anyone.

Do any of these experiences feel familiar?

• You feel anxious or unsettled, sometimes without knowing quite why.
• You’ve been feeling low, disconnected or dissatisfied with your life.
• You find yourself returning to familiar difficulties in relationships, despite wanting things to be different.
• You struggle with shame, self-criticism or feelings that are difficult to share.
• Experiences from your past continue to influence how you see yourself and others.
• You’re questioning your identity, sexuality or sense of belonging.
• You’ve experienced trauma, loss or significant changes that have affected how you experience the world.

Whatever you’re experiencing, we can begin by trying to understand it together. There may be things you’ve struggled to make sense of, feelings that seem contradictory, or aspects of yourself you’ve found difficult to accept or share with others.

Through our conversations, we can explore how your experiences have shaped your understanding of yourself, your relationships and the world around you. You may begin to recognise possibilities that previously felt out of reach, or find different ways of approaching circumstances that cannot easily be changed.

I’m an integrative psychotherapist, drawing particularly on existential, humanistic and relational approaches. This means understanding your difficulties in the context of your life, relationships and experiences, rather than viewing them as isolated problems to be treated.

Our sessions are conversational, and I’ll be actively involved. I’ll listen closely, ask questions and offer reflections about what I’m hearing. Sometimes I might invite us to stay with something that seems significant or easily overlooked. I’m also interested in how you experience our conversations, particularly when your understanding differs from mine.

The relationship we develop is an important part of the work. As we get to know one another, we may notice familiar ways of relating, including how you experience closeness, trust, boundaries and the expectations of others.

My existential grounding also means we can explore questions about how you’re living, the choices available to you, and circumstances that may be difficult or impossible to change.

Other areas I work with

• Trauma: Difficult experiences can profoundly change how you experience yourself, other people and the world. We can explore what has happened and how it continues to affect your life.

• Identity and belonging: I welcome LGBTQ+ clients, including those exploring sexuality, identity, relationships and experiences of discrimination. I also work affirmatively with people in non-monogamous and polyamorous relationships.

• Shame and difficult experiences: You may be carrying something you’ve never felt able to speak about, perhaps involving intimacy, sexuality, family relationships or personal beliefs. We can approach these experiences with curiosity and care.
  

Our first session is an opportunity for us to meet and begin getting to know one another. I’ll ask some questions about your circumstances and what has prompted you to seek therapy at this time. We’ll also spend some time considering what you’re hoping to gain from our work together, and what change might look like for you.

We’ll approach this gently, with room for you to reflect and ask questions along the way. I’ll explain what you can expect from our sessions, and we’ll discuss any practical arrangements or concerns you might have.

It’s important that we both have an opportunity to consider whether working together feels right. You’re welcome to share your impressions of our first meeting, including anything you’re uncertain about.

If you'd like to have a brief chat to ask any questions before booking a first appointment, please complete the contact form and we can arrange a call.