The garden studio
The therapy room is for the therapist a bit like the magic wand for a magician.
I don’t think it’s too far-fetched a comparison because something magical does happen in the meeting between therapist and patient.
The therapy room is a universe of its own, a kind of portal that opens up to profoundly fascinating worlds, where magic happens—something difficult to explain to those who have never been there.
Each therapy room represents the internal world of the therapist, welcoming that of the patient: it is there where the meeting takes place, it is there where healing happens.
A bond is created that is hard to imagine, even harder to explain, and it amazes with its depth: the relationship is the most powerful tool we can use to care for others and ourselves.
When I think about my therapy room, the space where I welcome my patients’ worlds, their suffering, desires, and needs, I think of the magic of therapy. I think of the tears, the dreams, and the journeys I have had the privilege to witness. I think of the words—shouted, whispered, clenched between teeth, shared.
I show you my room and hope to share a small piece of that magic, which never ceases to amaze and fulfil me.
Discover the Story of the Garden Studio
Having my own studio has always been a dream of mine.
Here in London, unlike in Italy, it is quite common for therapists to have their practice at home—partly due to cultural reasons, partly due to the typical English practicality.
However, my dream wasn’t to have a studio in the house, but to have a studio in the garden!
Why?
Every desire says something about us and our story.
The house where I grew up in Puglia had a large garden where I spent my days as a child, accompanied by a dog and a black cat.
One of my fondest memories is the taste of mandarins that I used to eat while sitting directly on the trees.
Many years later, when I started thinking about building my garden studio in London, I had to reorganise my plans, ironically, around a tree.
A tall ash tree stood at the centre of my project, and just like in life, where we often encounter obstacles as big as trees along our path, I redesigned my dream, transforming the tree from an obstacle into a strength: today, the studio embraces the tree, which in turn, from above, protects it from the elements.
This has become an important symbol of how in life we can reorganise our plans around the challenges that arise on our journey.
