Ana Duarte

Hello, I'm Ana, I am a psychodynamic psychotherapist offering an inclusive, thoughtful and confidential space where we can explore your thoughts, feelings, relationships, and inner world. My approach is psychodynamic, meaning we may also pay attention to unconscious processes and patterns that shape how you experience yourself and others.

You don’t need to arrive with clarity or the “right” words. We can begin wherever you are, allowing understanding to develop over time and at a pace that feels right for you.

I see therapy as a collaborative and relational process. Feeling safe and able to connect with your therapist is an important part of the work, supporting the possibility for meaningful and lasting change.

Rather than focusing on a diagnosis or a single issue, I work with you as a whole person. Therapy becomes a space where all parts of you are welcome, including those that may feel difficult to understand or express.

I am a psychotherapist offering psychodynamic psychotherapy in Worthing and online.

People come to therapy for many different reasons. You may feel overwhelmed, anxious, low, or stuck, or find yourself repeating patterns in relationships. At times, there can be a sense of emotional weight or a feeling that something isn’t quite right, even if it is hard to put into words.

I have experience working with a wide range of emotional and psychological difficulties, including supporting people who have experienced trauma. These experiences can have a lasting impact, shaping how we relate to ourselves and others, and how safe or settled we feel in the world. Sometimes it can feel as though the foundations have been affected, making aspects of life feel more difficult to hold.

Together, we can begin to make sense of these experiences, exploring how past and present may be connected. Over time, this can support a deeper understanding of yourself and open the possibility for change.

I have many years of experience working in mental health services and currently work within the NHS. My training includes an MSc in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy. I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and work in line with its ethical framework. I welcome people from all backgrounds.

If you would like to find out more or arrange an initial session, please feel free to get in touch.

My First Session

Making contact for the first time can feel like a significant step. I offer a free 15/20-minute introductory conversation by phone or Zoom, giving us a chance to begin meeting one another and to get a sense of how it might feel to talk together. This is an opportunity for you to ask questions (for example, how sessions can take place, online or face-to-face, fees, frequency, location).

If it feels right to continue, we would arrange two 50-minute assessment sessions. These meetings create space to think more carefully about what brings you to therapy, including the difficulties you may be experiencing, and how these have come to take shape in your life. They also allow us to begin to notice what it is like for you to speak and be heard in this setting, and for both of us to reflect on whether this way of working feels helpful.

Sometimes, it can take a little longer to get a sense of whether this type of therapy—or this particular therapeutic relationship—feels like the right fit. If you feel you need more time or a few additional sessions to think this through, we can allow space for that and decide together at a pace that feels manageable.

Following this initial period, we would consider together whether to begin short-term work or to continue in a more open-ended way.

You are welcome to get in touch by phone or email if you have questions or would like to arrange an initial conversation. If I am unable to answer your call, please do leave a message, and I will respond as soon as I can.