Agata Pisula

I have extensive experience of providing Jungian therapy and Psychoanalytic therapy in both private practice and as a senior clinician in the NHS. I have a special interest in helping individuals dealing with issues of transition and cultural complexity.

Working Together

Each person looking for therapy has different needs and concerns. There is no particular time in life when a person turns towards therapy, but it is often when confronted by a sense of feeling stuck and not being able to change. Significant events such as bereavement, relationship breakdown, separation and divorce, questioning who one is or suffering from low self esteem and lack of confidence are common reasons for seeking help. Often people are not sure what is bothering them but wish to explore thoughts and feelings that may have led them to feel stuck, lose a sense of who they are or the meaning in their life Considering starting therapy can be a difficult step to take but finding someone who is able to understand can feel like a relief.

I offer a secure and confidential space where you can discuss whatever may be troubling you without fear of judgment. My experience of working in the NHS for over 25 years has shaped how I approach mental health difficulties in my own practice. Psychological problems are common and may affect any one of us at any point in our lives. Some are short-lived and respond well to brief, focused interventions; others are more deep seated and are likely to respond better to longer term psychotherapy. I work in both short term and open ended way and in all of my work I strive for realistic and meaningful change.

My longstanding career in a variety of settings has given me understanding and insights into issues of managing change and cultural complexity. I have considerable experience of working in highly pressurized environments and  have a special interest in helping individuals going through transitions in their personal and professional lives. I offer therapy in both English and Polish.

Areas of counselling I deal with

• Abuse
• Affairs and betrayals
• Anger management
• Anxiety
• Attachment disorder
• Bereavement
• Borderline personality disorder
• Bullying
• Cancer
• Career counselling
• Carer support
• Chronic fatigue syndrome/ME
• Depression
• Discrimination
• Emotional abuse
• Family issues
• Feeling sad
• Generalised anxiety disorder
• Histrionic personality disorder
• Infertility
• Loneliness
• Low self-confidence
• Low self-esteem
• Miscarriage
• Narcissistic personality disorder
• Personality disorders
• Physical abuse
• Pregnancy and birth
• Redundancy
• Relationship problems
• Separation and divorce
• Sexual abuse
• Sexuality
• Spirituality
• Stress
• Suicidal thoughts
• Work-related stress

About My Approach

Jungian and Psychoanalytic therapy is a thoughtful, curious, and collaborative approach which will enable you to explore and discover what is uniquely right for you, both inside yourself and in the outside world .It is a highly effective psychological treatment that not only offers relief from symptoms but can also help you to discover a more authentic sense of self and further your creative potential.

Much of my practice is devoted to providing psychoanalytic psychotherapy to adults of all ages. As a psychodynamic practitioner I am interested in trying to help you understand how past experiences, often from childhood, affect your life today and the way you view yourself. Together we explore different ways you can think about your past, present and future. My approach focuses on listening to your experience and identifying those unconscious patterns that may be preventing you from living a full and creative life. True sense of authenticity is impossible without self awareness and my role is to help you facilitate your own process of self-discovery, so that you can continue your life journey in a way that is uniquely yours.

I hope that my way of working will help you feel heard and understood rather than offering advice or ready-made solutions. This focus on developing a better understanding of one’s own experience can enable you to find more purpose and meaning in life and your own ways of moving forward.

What is the difference between Psychoanalytical and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and Jungian Psychoanalysis?

Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy and Jungian analysis involve an  exploration undertaken jointly by the therapist and patient in order to gain a better understanding of unconscious processes which take place in our minds and get expressed in all our relationships and behaviours.

In the psychotherapy sessions the patient is encouraged to reflect on whatever is uppermost in his/her mind during regular 50 minute sessions. Feelings, thoughts, wishes, fears, memories and dreams can be explored within the relationship between the therapist and patient.

Psychoanalytical and Psychodynamic psychotherapy are often used interchangeably. They are both treatments aimed at helping to understand better how we behave and what motivates us, which can enable change to take place in our lives. It would be overly simplistic to say that the difference between psychodynamic and psychoanalytic therapy is based on frequency of sessions but frequency is a way of indicating the depth of work that may be possible in more intensive treatment. Psychoanalytic therapy offers an opportunity to explore more long lasting difficulties that form part of a person’s personality and impact on their patterns of relating.

Jungian Psychoanalysis is an intensive form of psychological treatment that suits those people who want to make profound and enduring changes in their inner world and are seeking to understand the undiscovered aspects of themselves. It is a thoughtful, curious, and collaborative approach which will enable you to explore and discover what is uniquely right for you, both inside yourself and in the outside world.

My experience has taught me to approach every new therapeutic encounter with an open mind. I understand that starting therapy is an important decision that needs time and consideration. Our work therefore would always begin with an initial consultation to determine the nature of the difficulties, the most appropriate intervention and whether I would be the right person to help you with your issues.

The therapy I provide at my practice in Central and West London can help you with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem ,low self-confidence ,stress, bereavement, separation and divorce, family issues ,work related difficulties etc.