How it works

How Psychotherapy Works in London and Online

You may have been thinking about therapy for months and still find yourself putting it off. Perhaps you tell yourself that you should be able to feel better on your own, that your difficulties are not serious enough, or that you would not even know where to begin. You may already understand a great deal about yourself, yet still feel anxious, criticise yourself, repeat the same patterns in relationships or continue to struggle without being able to make a real change.

Asking for help can feel difficult when you do not have a clear explanation for what is happening, worry that you will not be able to express yourself, or wonder whether someone could truly understand your experience. You do not need to arrive with the right words, a diagnosis or a clearly defined problem. You can begin with confusion, exhaustion or the wish to understand why you continue to feel this way.

You may also be considering seeking help with your partner because the same conflicts keep returning, communication has become difficult, or you feel you have grown apart without knowing how to find one another again.

In therapy, there is room to pause, make sense of your experience and recognise what you need. We will work together to understand what is causing distress and find more sustainable ways of relating to yourself and others.

I offer individual psychotherapy and couples therapy in London and online, in English and Italian.

Essential practical information

Here is a summary of the main practical details. You will find further information below.

before the first consultation, I offer a free 10–15 minute introductory call;
individual sessions last 50 minutes and cost £100;
couples sessions last 70–75 minutes and cost £140;
the frequency of sessions is agreed according to the needs of the therapy;
sessions take place in my garden studio in North London or online;
I work in English and Italian.

How to begin and decide whether we can work together

You can contact me directly, even with a brief message. It is enough to say whether you are looking for individual or couples therapy, whether you would prefer to meet in London or online, and the days and times when you are generally available.

Before arranging the first consultation, I offer a free 10–15 minute introductory call. We can use this time to understand what you are looking for, clarify practical details and consider whether what I offer is suitable for your situation.

The call is not a therapy session or an in-depth clinical assessment. It is an initial conversation without obligation, during which you can ask questions and begin to notice how it feels to speak with me.

If we decide to proceed, we will arrange the first individual or couples consultation at my practice in North London or online.

What happens in the first therapy session?

The first one or two consultations allow us to explore what you are experiencing and begin to form an understanding of the difficulty.

In individual therapy, we might begin with a symptom, a relationship, something that keeps repeating or a feeling that is difficult to define. I will ask some questions about your history, your current circumstances, important relationships and any previous experiences of therapy.

In couples therapy, the first sessions help us understand what has brought you to seek help, the history of your relationship and the ways closeness, distance, conflict and protection have developed between you.

You do not need to tell me everything straight away, particularly when your experiences have been painful or traumatic. Gradually, we will identify what needs attention, the resources available to you and a possible direction for the therapy.

These first meetings also give you—or both of you—an opportunity to notice how you feel in the therapeutic space and whether this way of working feels right for you.

What happens during individual psychotherapy sessions?

Individual sessions last 50 minutes. They may take place weekly or twice a month, depending on your needs and the therapy we agree upon. Whenever possible, we keep the same day and time.

You do not need to prepare a topic or arrive with a neatly organised account of your week. You might begin with a recent event, a recurring thought, a dream, a physical sensation or simply not knowing what to say. Silence and confusion can also become part of the work.

The foundation of my approach is Relational Psychoanalysis. We explore how your history and past relationships continue to influence what you feel, what you expect from others and the ways you seek closeness, safety or recognition.

When appropriate, I integrate EMDR therapy, Ego States and parts work and mindfulness, body awareness and emotional regulation.

The approach is chosen according to the person, their resources and the stage of therapy. Over more than fifteen years of clinical practice, I have learned that difficulties which appear similar can require very different pacing and ways of working.

How does couples therapy work?

Couples sessions last 70–75 minutes. Their frequency is agreed according to your situation and the aims of the therapy.

Couples therapy is not about deciding who is right or wrong. The work involves understanding what happens within the relationship: what each partner is seeking, afraid of or trying to protect, and how recurring cycles of conflict, distance or misunderstanding develop between you.

We may work with communication difficulties, repeated conflict, loss of closeness, crises, significant life changes or uncertainty about the future of the relationship. The aim is not necessarily to keep the couple together at all costs, but to help you understand more clearly what you are experiencing and make more considered choices.

I also use a relational perspective in couples therapy, paying attention both to your shared history and to how each partner’s experiences and ways of protecting themselves enter the present relationship.

How long does therapy last, and when might I notice change?

There is no single timeframe that suits everyone. Individual therapy may focus on a specific difficulty or continue for longer when it involves relational patterns, traumatic experiences or ways of protecting yourself that have developed over many years.

The length of couples therapy also depends on the situation, your shared aims and what emerges through the work.

Early changes can take different forms. In individual therapy, you might begin to recognise anxiety sooner, understand a reaction more clearly or set a boundary with less guilt. In couples therapy, change might begin when you can recognise a conflict before it becomes destructive, listen without immediately defending yourselves, or understand what lies beneath the other person’s reaction.

We can return periodically to the original aims, notice what is changing and speak openly about doubts, moments of difficulty or aspects of therapy that do not feel useful.

You can end therapy at any time. Whenever possible, it is helpful to think together about how the therapy will end.

Does online psychotherapy work?

Online psychotherapy can be as effective as in-person therapy for many people and difficulties. The quality of the work depends on the therapeutic relationship, the consistency of sessions and having a sufficiently private and stable space.

Online therapy is not automatically suitable for every situation. During our initial conversations, we will consider whether it meets your needs or, in couples therapy, the needs of both partners.

Online sessions offer the same duration and clinical attention as sessions in my practice. When appropriate, couples therapy can also take place online.

Do I need a diagnosis or a GP referral?

No. You do not need a diagnosis or a GP referral to contact me and begin private individual or couples therapy.

You can ask for help even if you cannot yet define the problem, or if you would like to understand certain aspects of yourself or your relationship more deeply. If the initial assessment suggests that another form of treatment or additional support would be more appropriate, we will discuss this together.

Can I have therapy in Italian if I live abroad?

Individual and couples sessions can take place in English or Italian. Speaking in your own language can be particularly important when exploring emotions, memories, family relationships or questions of identity and belonging.

If you live outside the United Kingdom, before beginning we will also consider whether it is possible and appropriate for me to work with you from the country where you are based.

Fees, cancellations and confidentiality

The 10–15 minute introductory call is free.

an individual session lasting 50 minutes costs £100;
a couples session lasting 70–75 minutes costs £140.

If you cannot attend a session, please let me know at least 24 hours in advance. When my availability allows, we can consider an alternative time or temporarily move an in-person session online.

Sessions are confidential, and information is handled in accordance with professional, ethical and legal obligations. At the beginning of therapy, I will explain the rare circumstances in which information might need to be shared for reasons of safety, safeguarding or specific legal requirements.

Clinical supervision is an integral part of my professional practice and takes place within the same commitment to confidentiality.

My approach and areas of work

My work focuses particularly on psychological trauma, self-esteem, self-criticism and perfectionism, anxiety and emotional regulation, relationship and couples difficulties, identity, migration and deeper self-understanding.

You can find a fuller description on the What I do page and use the links above to explore the approaches I may integrate into psychotherapy.

Beginning therapy

You do not need to recognise yourself in a precise category or explain everything in your first message.

If you are considering individual psychotherapy or couples therapy in London or online, you can contact me to arrange a free introductory call. We can begin with what you—or both of you—are able to describe at this moment and consider together whether we can work together.