Barbara Muehleisen

I am a UKCP registered psychotherapist and counsellor. My studies took place at the Metanoia Institute in London where I gained a Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Person-Centred Psychotherapy. As a person-centred therapist, I firmly believe in a relational approach to counselling and psychotherapy.

My practice is based on the work of Carl Rogers, the founder of person-centred psychotherapy. Rogers’ unique approach to understanding personality and human relationships is based on the theory that everyone has the resources and ability to grow and develop to their full potential and lead a fulfilling life, but that this process of growth may be disrupted or blocked by past or present life experiences and relationships. He saw the value of therapy in providing a non-judgemental safe space where clients could explore their experiences and choices. 

I offer a professional, supportive relationship and a safe, confidential and compassionate space. Your life is unique, and I can never know you better than you do. My intention is not to offer advice or guidance. My role is to listen to you without judgement and hear the challenges and difficulties that you are currently facing to try and understand what it is like to be you. My place is alongside you so that we can work collaboratively to explore what is troubling you. I believe that the cultural and social context in which we were born, grew up and now live in inevitably impacts our wellbeing; this may be something for us to explore together.

I have extensive experience as a trauma-informed therapist mainly gained through my work at One in Four, a specialist trauma counselling service for survivors of sexual violence with a specific focus on child sexual abuse. I have also worked at Woman's Trust and the Centre for Better Health in Hackney and have experience of working with people of colour, clients who have identified as gender fluid or non-binary as well as clients who have identified as neurodivergent. Having worked with such a diverse client base has made me very aware of the importance of intersectionality in life and in therapy.

My client work has often focused on bearing witness to my clients’ trauma history and facilitating a space where clients can focus on re-establishing their agency. I have worked with some clients who have had specific mental health diagnoses ranging from depression, bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder to complex PTSD. In addition to processing and integrating traumatic memories and experiences, topics discussed have included shame, trust, struggles with interpersonal relationships and intimacy as well as depression and anxiety.

In addition to working with clients on a one-to-one basis, I have experience of co-facilitating a series of psychoeducation workshops on stabilisation and grounding techniques for clients at One in Four. I have included some stabilisation techniques (grounding exercises, breathwork, mindfulness) into my practice. This means that I provide you with a therapeutic relationship that is safely contained.

I am committed to ongoing learning and development and regularly undertake further training in psychotherapy-related areas and in developing awareness in my own life through practices such as yoga and existential exploration.

In the trauma field, I have attended a series of workshops led by Christiane Sanderson, an expert in child sexual and domestic abuse and trauma, and have also undertaken somatic trauma therapy training with Babette Rothschild, an internationally recognised PTSD specialist.  I am currently studying for a Diploma in Trauma Therapy at NAOS.

It can be daunting to talk to someone about your most personal thoughts and experiences, so it is important to find the right therapist or counsellor for you. Therefore, I offer a free introductory session so that you can decide whether talking to me feels okay for you. It might be useful to meet a few therapists to enable you to choose who you think is the best counsellor for you.