Annie Lalova

I am a BACP registered psychodynamic psychotherapist and counsellor offering face to face therapy at my practice in Finchley, North London, as well as remotely by video and phone.

Perhaps you have reached a point where you are thinking, “I can't carry on like this.” You may be struggling with anxiety or low mood, feeling stuck in a relationship or situation, dealing with loss or loneliness or finding yourself reacting to things in ways you don't fully understand.

You may have spent a long time trying to work things out for yourself. You may even understand why you feel as you do and yet somehow that understanding hasn't changed how you feel.

Sometimes knowing isn't enough.

We can understand something intellectually and still find ourselves feeling the same things, repeating the same patterns or responding to situations in ways we don't fully understand. There can be a gap between knowing something in your mind and feeling that understanding reflected in how you experience yourself, your relationships and your life.

That gap is one of the things I am interested in exploring through psychodynamic therapy.

Our earlier experiences and relationships can continue to shape the way we experience ourselves and other people in the present, sometimes without us being fully aware of it. Psychodynamic therapy gives us time to think about what is happening beneath the surface and to make connections between what you know, what you feel and what you experience.

The therapeutic process involves being heard and understood, but also thinking and reflecting together. We can be curious about patterns, feelings and reactions that may be difficult to see or put into words. Sometimes understanding develops gradually, through the experience of thinking about these things together rather than simply thinking about them alone.

Therapy is not something that I do to you; it is a process we engage in together. At your own pace, we can make sense of what is happening beneath the surface.

How I work

My work is generally long term, giving us time to explore difficulties in depth. I also work with people seeking shorter-term therapy, which typically means around 12–15 sessions or more.

Who I work with

I work with adults experiencing a range of difficulties, including:

• Depression or low mood
• Anxiety
• Low self-esteem; loneliness
• Feeling stuck
• Loss, grief and bereavement
• Relationship and family difficulties
• Anger, irritability or resentment
• The effects of abuse or emotional neglect
• The impact of chronic illness
• Work-related difficulties
• Life transitions and later-life changes
• Non-monogamy

This is not an exhaustive list.

In our sessions

There isn't a formula for what you bring. We might begin with something that is happening now, a relationship that is troubling you, a recurring feeling or reaction, or something from your past that still seems to have a hold on you.

I will listen carefully, ask questions and share my thoughts and observations when I think they may help us see something differently.

I believe there is something quite special about two minds meeting, with your life at the centre. The relationship that develops between us is part of the work too. It can sometimes help us notice, experience and understand patterns that are difficult to see from the outside.

Sessions are available face to face, by video or by telephone.

• Face-to-face sessions: £80
• Video or telephone sessions: £75

I encourage you to book an introductory 20 min phone call so that we can explore how we can work together.