Psychotherapy can help with a number of issues including:

• feeling not good enough

• self-criticism

• people pleasing

• anxiety

• feeling like an outsider

• depression

• trauma

• relationship difficulties

Therapy doesn't remove life's difficulties, but it can gradually change how you experience and respond to them. Every person's experience of therapy is different.

While no outcomes can be guaranteed, over time some people notice changes such as...

• Someone doesn't reply to your text. Instead of spending the day worrying you've upset them, you notice yourself getting on with your life, trusting they're probably just busy.

• You make a small mistake at work. Instead of feeling like you've been "found out" or questioning your abilities, you're able to see it as a normal human mistake and move on.

• A friend asks you for a favour. Rather than immediately saying yes because you feel you should, you pause to ask yourself, "Is this something I actually want or am able to do?"

• You notice you've had a difficult day. Instead of telling yourself to "just get over it" or pushing your feelings aside, you find yourself recognising that you deserve the same care and kindness you would offer someone else.

• You're making an important decision. Instead of automatically thinking about what everyone else expects of you, you find yourself asking a different question: "What feels right for me?"

I am a Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapist in my final stage of advanced clinical training, following the Ethics and Code of Conduct as set out by the Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy College (HIPC) which is part of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).

I don't believe people need to be "fixed". More often, I believe they need the opportunity to be understood well enough that something new can begin to emerge.

Alongside advanced UKCP psychotherapy training, I bring a background in psychology research (PhD, non-clinical). My psychotherapy training is grounded in a humanistic and integrative approach, while my research background encourages me to stay curious, continue learning and engage critically with new ideas in psychology and psychotherapy.

Since 2021, I've supported adults across charity, community and private practice settings, working with difficulties including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, the impact of trauma and the challenges of living with chronic health conditions.

Although therapy often involves talking about painful experiences, I don't believe it has to feel heavy all the time. When it feels appropriate, humour can become part of the therapeutic relationship, bringing moments of warmth, relief and perspective.

Like all UKCP trainee psychotherapists, I work under regular clinical supervision, continue to attend my own personal therapy, and am committed to practising ethically and safely.

An initial 15-minute phone or Zoom conversation gives us the opportunity to think together about whether I might be the right therapist for you.

You can read more about my background and qualifications here.

What can psychotherapy offer?

Many people begin therapy hoping to feel different. Often, what emerges is a stronger sense of who they already are.

Rather than focusing solely on managing symptoms, it can help you notice your ways of coping that continue to influence your thoughts, emotions and relationships today.

Research suggests psychotherapy can lead to meaningful and lasting change for many people.

I usually work in an open-ended way, with no fixed number of sessions. Together, we’ll regularly review how the therapy is progressing and what feels right for you.

Some people come to therapy with a specific difficulty, such as problems at work or the end of an important relationship. In these situations, we might work together for around three to six months.

For others, difficulties have been present for much longer and may be connected to challenging earlier relationships or experiences. In these cases, longer-term psychotherapy can provide the time and space to understand those habitual reactions more deeply and, over time, discover new ways of relating to yourself and others.

I have written more about choosing a psychotherapist here. Jonathan Shedler’s What Should I Expect from Psychotherapy? can also be an excellent introduction to what therapy can involve.

For many people, the NHS is a good place to begin. Therapy is usually offered over a limited number of sessions (often between 6 and 20), most commonly using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). CBT is a structured, goal-focused approach that can be effective in helping people manage specific symptoms affecting day-to-day life.

For some people, this is exactly the support they need. Others find that, after completing a course of NHS therapy, they would like more time to explore longer-standing patterns, relationships or experiences in greater depth. Rather than focusing mainly on symptom management, relational psychotherapy offers space to make sense of how earlier life experiences may continue to shape the way you experience yourself and others. This can be the first step towards change.

Understanding your ways of relating can make it easier to respond differently, rather than feeling pulled back into familiar patterns.

Locally, GPs refer to Wiltshire Talking Therapies, and you can also refer yourself directly via their online referral form. If NHS therapy feels like the right starting point for you, I'd encourage you to explore that option.

Choosing a Private Psychotherapist

Private psychotherapy is provided by therapists with a wide range of qualifications, training and experience. Unlike professions such as medicine or clinical psychology, the title "psychotherapist" is not protected by law in the UK. Many therapists choose to join professional bodies that set standards for training, ethics and supervision.

Professional organisations including UKCP, BACP and NCPS are working together through the SCoPEd framework to bring greater clarity and consistency to training standards, making it easier for the public to understand different levels of qualification and practice.

Whatever therapist you choose, I'd encourage you to look beyond titles alone and consider their training, professional registration, supervision, experience and whether you feel they are someone you could build a trusting therapeutic relationship with. I have written why this matters here.

Finding the right therapist is important. Our first conversation is a chance to see whether working together feels comfortable for both of us. I offer a free 15 min introductory phone or zoom call.

As a UKCP trainee psychotherapist in the later stages of training, I currently charge £45 per session.

The UKCP is a Professional  Standards Authority (PSA) accredited register for psychotherapists in the UK. I also hold a Counselling Certificate with COSCA.

The Process

I offer a free telephone consultation to discuss your needs, this will typically last approximately 15 minutes and will be at a time that suits you.

To arrange a telephone consultation, you can either complete the online enquiry form here email me at info@lisamarie-therapy.co.uk.

An Initial Assessment Session is in-person and £45. Following this, if we both feel it would be in your interests to go forward, we will arrange to meet at a regular time each week. If I don’t feel I am the right option, I will aim to signpost you to alternative options.

Sessions are then £45 for 50mins with costs usually reviewed annually. I practice in person.

I am a Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapist in my final year of advanced clinical training, following the Ethics and Code of Conduct as set out by the Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy College (HIPC) which is part of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).