A psychotherapist, sometimes called “shrink” has different training than a psychologist (a psychology practitioner). Within this website use the terms "psychotherapy", "psychotherapeutic counselling", "counselling" & "talking therapy" and also "psychotherapist", "psychotherapeutic counsellor", "counsellor", & "talking therapist" interchangeably. I am accredited & trained in these areas & I am wiling to explain their differences.
Psychotherapy in London Central, Camden
Why People Seek Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy offers a secure, confidential place to discuss what's currently happening for you, any challenges & obstacles you are experiencing. Besides the issues you bring, the psychotherapy may also include exploration of what you really want and what prohibits you, so far. Psychotherapy offers an external perspective, to gain a deeper understanding of you, and can offer guidance in overcoming your difficulties. Psychotherapy also explores aspects of you, which may have been overlooked or have been hard to articulate. This may include help with crystallizing your f e e l i n g s & thoughts, the known & unknown aspects of you, what matters to you. The therapy may also be helpful as a sounding board, so you can be heard & listened to, receive feedback, f e e l understood, make sense of things or new connections. In psychotherapy you may want to address in depth your core issues, the causes & meaning, not only the symptoms.
You may enter psychotherapy, because of an unresolved difficulty or problem, which is now weighing you down or consuming you. A "get on with it attitude" may no lonegr work. There may be something missing for you & struggle to f e e l at ease with this. You may f e e l stuck in an unavoidable phase of your l i f e or a relationship. Some good things may be happening for you, yet you may f e e l empty inside. Things may have come to a head, something may not be working for you. Issues, which have been gnawing away, have now become too much, and you may no longer be willing to brush them under the carpet. Patching things up, pretending everything is fine, may no longer be enough. You may f e e l under pressure, confused or lost, seeking your own compass or anchor in l i f e, so you are back on track. Spending a lot of time in your head, you may struggle to switch off, consistently worrying (see Our Thoughts & Beliefs). You may have difficulties that you don't want to ignore any longer. You may be at a crossroads, seeking order, coping strategies, resilience, tools & structures, or something new to help. You may be seeking peace of mind, ways to overcome your fears or reduce your walls of protection. Putting the brakes on, or indeed loosening them may be a challenge (see Our Resilience, Hardiness & Protecting Our Personal Boundaries). As if you are on a rollercoaster, you may want to be more equipped or prepared to cope with the ups & downs, or find healthier ways to ease any pressures by f e e l i n g more stable & secure. To change patterns of behaviour you may want to understand how you add to your difficulties or any obstacles that you personally put in the way. Being settled or moving on maybe a concern. You may want to manage differently what happens inside of you, or find ways to tolerate or reduce your own tension, anxiety or inner pain. You may bring specific, unresolved issues, holding back a part of you, wanting to explore your authentic f e e l i n g s, choices, options, changes, desires, inspirations & any existential struggles. You may want to be more in tune with all of who you are, exposing your real nature to others without fear. You may want to take stock, trust more who you are or try new things, utilising the psychotherapy as voyage of s e l f-discovery or soul searching. You may also have concerns, like: Why I am the way I am?
Initially my central role as a psychotherapist is to hear why you have come, get to know & understand you more. I tend to ask lots of questions, finding out all about you, your issues, any setbacks, relevant history & future aspirations, so I can be clearer how psychotherapy can help.
I respect, value & welcome each person's diversity, uniqueness & respond individually to your own circumstances. Yet, I also acknowledge people’s similarities, shared experiences & connectedness - what all human beings have in common – our creativity, suffering & significance of the human heart. I am experienced in working with old & young both men & women, white, black or mixed race, of many cultures & nationalities, whatever religious or spiritual beliefs, atheist or agnostic, whatever sexual orientation – straight, gay or lesbian, bisexual. In my experience f e e l i n g at ease with the psychotherapist is what clients value most.
more about why people may seek psychotherapy ....
Psychotherapy in London Central, Camden
Issues People Bring to Psychotherapy
The range of issues people bring to psychotherapy is infinite (see Issues & Transitions In Our Lives for a more comprehensive list). These may include:
- Relationship psychotherapy & marriage guidance, commitment concerns, co-dependency
- Anger management
- S e l f: confidence, esteem, criticism, doubt, worth, image
- Shame & guilt
- Stress, panic, fear (of rejection, conflict, etc.), anxiety, nerves or panic attacks
- Transitions, changes or crisis in l i f e
- Overwhelming or difficult feelings, emotions (e.g. frustration, disappointment, etc)
- Inner Loneliness
- Adapting to living in London
- Inner pain or hurt
- Need to belong
- Living in our head (see Not Knowing)
- Confusion
- Depression
- Difficulties taking responsibility for an aspect of us
- Work-life integration, employment, career, job difficulties, redundancy or burnout (employers see also Workplace Counselling Services)
- Bullying
- Our resilience & protecting our personal boundaries
- Assertiveness, motivation
- Releasing o u r s e l v e s & letting go
- Trauma
- Childhood wounds or issues
- Abuse (childhood, child, sexual, physical, emotional)
- Habits, addictions (alcohol, computer gaming, internet pornography, exercise etc), workaholism, love addiction
- Grief & bereavement
- Men’s central concerns
- Sleep difficulties, insomnia
- Dreams: making sense of them, dream interpretation
- Sexuality, sexual difficulties
- Spirituality
- Ageing or retirement
- Direction, purpose or meaning in the world
- Existential concerns, midlife crisis
Other concerns & issues people bring to psychotherapy…
As we overcome problems in one area, we can have more energy for addressing difficulties in other areas.
Psychotherapy in London Central, Camden
Psychotherapy Involves Overlapping Perspectives
Psychotherapy in London Central, Camden
My Psychotherapy Approach, Philosophy & Style of Practice
My approach is both human & professional. In my psychotherapy practice I work at your own pace & I aim to be supportive & affirming without using jargon. I bring my experience, reliability, understanding, insightfulness & sensitivity, alongside my creativity, warmth & humour. I passionately believe in s e l f-determination & responsibility. In the psychotherapy I have an impartial view and utilise my knowledge & intuition. My approach is not only about reducing symptoms, but also includes exploration of your unrealised possibilities & potential. I will be interested not only about your experiences, but also how you respond to them. I tend to be curious more about your principles, rather than your rationalisations. I acknowledge each person’s humanity, including our strengths & resources, yet also our vulnerability & limitations.
Focus of Psychotherapy The process of psychotherapy looks not so much at the outside world to change, blame or provide a cure or explanations – it focuses more on o u r s e l v e s, reflecting upon our inner world & truth. My approach includes reviewing with you where you are now, how you’ve got there, your influences, what helps you & what no longer does. My role as a psychotherapist is to find out what it is like to be you, notice how you think, f e e l & act, and mirror this back to you, testing if what I’m saying, fits & resonates with you, so you can be clearer about making important decisions.
Flexibility Psychotherapy is not exclusively a scientific or medical model, nor a panacea. Central to my beliefs is that no one-size-fits-all psychotherapy approach works well for every one of us, because we have different personalities, needs, qualities & unique circumstances, experiencing the same situations differently. We are infinitely complex, mysterious, with endless possibilities, so there is rarely one easy formula or quick fix. I don’t have a tick-box approach to psychotherapy or nor do I claim to have answers to all struggles. What theoretical model works for some, may not suit another – each person may need a different style. The therapy is a meeting of two people and my experience indicates that the quality of relationship between the client & psychotherapist - how we relate, is more important than the style of psychotherapy.
Working together with you I have an affirming approach, to help you to make choices that enhance rather than restrict you. Some people prefer a cognitive or technical approach to psychotherapy. Others value a relational, interpersonal style of psychotherapy, which allows issues to emerge. Receiving feedback, gentle guidance or reassurance may help for some people, whereas others may prefer a more challenging style.
More about my psychotherapy approach, philosophy & style of practice...
Psychotherapy in London Central, Camden
My Background In Psychotherapy
I have over 26 years experience, in the voluntary & private sector, of working with people going through profound changes, crises & transitions. I believe that lasting & meaningful change is possible, at whatever stage. I value listening to & learning from each person’s l i f e story and aspire to share my experiences with others in my psychotherapy practice. I recognise that although many things come to us naturally, we sometimes also need to learn.
My Qualifications I am a male psychotherapist & my involvement in psychotherapy began in 1982. I was drawn to my practical & in-depth 6 year psychotherapy training because central to its philosophy was a "psychology of the soul". My training in psychosynthesis counselling & psychotherapy at The Institute of Psychosynthesis in London was validated by The Middlesex University, London. My qualifications are: MA in Psychotherapy, Diploma in Psychotherapy & Diploma in Counselling.
My integrative Approach My training & experience in psychotherapy integrates the psychological, emotional, sexual, spiritual & physical aspects of a person. It gave me a wider understanding of myself & others, offering different integrative models & strategies, e.g. Transpersonal Psychosynthesis, Humanistic, Psychospiritual Psychotherapy and others. I also hold a psychodynamic approach & am able to offer a CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy).
My Continuous Professional Development Through ongoing professional training, I keep informed of developments & increase my knowledge in the sphere of psychotherapy. This is integral in my psychotherapy practice.
Psychotherapy in London Central, Camden
Psychotherapist Accreditation
As a fully qualified psychotherapist, I am registered & accredited with the central UK psychology & psychotherapy regulation bodies and work with their codes of ethics. I am:
- Accredited Psychotherapist of UKCP - United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UK organisation for psychotherapists & psychologists in central London)
- Member & Accredited Counsellor of BACP - British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (UK organisation for counsellors, psychotherapists & psychologists)
- Registered member of NCP - National Council of Psychotherapists (UK organisation for private practice psychotherapists)
- Affiliate Member of AHPP - Association of Humanistic Psychology Practitioners (UK organisation for humanistic psychotherapists, counsellors & psychologists based in central London)
Psychotherapy in London Central, Camden
Psychotherapy Suitability
In my psychotherapy practice I do not see:
- Couples
- Individuals who are suicidal
- People with an acute mental health problem
- People who have, but do not want to address, an acute drug or alcohol issue
Psychotherapy in London Central, Camden
Contacting Psychotherapist
To arrange an initial psychotherapy meeting in Camden Town (Central London), please contact the psychotherapist, Glen Gibson:
- By telephone: 020 7916 1342 - If I am not available, do leave a brief message and I will promptly respond.
- By email:glen@glengibson.co.uk - Feel free to briefly outline why you are seeking psychotherapy & your central concerns.
Psychotherapy in London Central, Camden
Initial Psychotherapy Meeting
Beginning psychotherapy is a big decision & commitment for us both. It can be a challenge for some to take that first step. Initially psychotherapy can be confusing, with a puzzling range of professional psychotherapy organisations, types of therapy & its language.
At our initial psychotherapy meeting we will talk about what brings you, your central concerns, in order to understand & assess how therapy can help. If we f e e l at ease we can arrange further psychotherapy sessions. I am also happy to refer you to psychotherapists or psychologists throughout London, if Camden (central London) is inconvenient.
Psychotherapy in London Central, Camden
Central London Psychotherapy Location
My Psychotherapy practice is in Camden, central London (click here for Camden map) and has nearby car parking. It is close to the following transport links:
- Tube: Camden Town - Northern Line (click Transport For London for details)
- Buses: numerous & frequent bus services to & from Camden (visit Transport For London for details)
- Trains: Camden Road, Euston & King’s Cross – all in London Borough of Camden (go to National Rail for details)
