Rachel John

I’m Rachel, an accredited trauma-informed and relational psychotherapist. You might be seeking therapy to address relationship challenges, cope with self-doubt or anxiety, heal from past trauma, or find ways to thrive in a world that may not always accommodate your needs. In our work together, your experiences will be understood within the broader context of your life. I believe personal growth happens in a safe, accepting, collaborative, and empowering therapeutic space. My experience is working with survivors of relational abuse, guided by present-moment experience, grounded in trust, safety, and choice.

There is no single therapeutic approach that fits everyone. We each bring our own lived experiences, needs and personal preferences to therapy, so I tailor our work to you as an individual.

Many clients value learning about the connections between our thoughts, emotions, bodies and nervous systems as part of their healing journey. If this is helpful to you, our sessions may include psychoeducation and cognitive approaches to help you understand and reframe your experiences. You may also wish to explore the neurobiology of trauma—understanding how our brains and bodies adapt to help us survive difficult experiences, and how we can begin not simply to survive, but to thrive as we heal.

As a trained yoga teacher and somatic practitioner, I can also incorporate body-based and emotionally focused approaches into our work. For those who prefer more creative ways of exploring their experiences, we may use art-based or other expressive techniques. There is never an expectation to work in a particular way; we can discover together what feels most helpful and meaningful for you.

I'll encourage and support you to explore new ways of relating to yourself and others, empowering you to make choices that align with your own values and needs. While therapy can sometimes be challenging, it can also bring moments of joy, discovery and wonder—fostering greater self-awareness and helping you respond to life's challenges with increasing flexibility, compassion and resilience.

I offer a free introductory 20-minute call for us to begin getting to know one another, and to explore what has brought you to therapy. There is no expectation to tell me everything at once; you can share as much or as little as feels comfortable.

We can talk about what you hope to gain from therapy, any previous experiences of counselling or psychotherapy, and what might help you to feel safe and comfortable in our work together. I may ask some questions to help me understand your current circumstances, wellbeing and support needs. 

Our introductory call is not a test or something you need to prepare for, but rather an opportunity for us to connect and explore how therapy can best work for you. The therapeutic relationship is an important part of our work, and you are always free to ask me questions and to decide whether you would like to continue.

If we decide to work together, we can begin to think collaboratively about what might be most helpful to you and regularly review this as our work develops.