About me
Hello, I'm Benjamin, a Gestalt therapist and coach working in Hackney and Islington, London. I also offer therapy sessions online and outdoors in nature on Hackney Marshes.
People come to see me for all sorts of reasons. You might be struggling with anxiety, feeling low or stuck, going through a relationship breakdown, dealing with stress at work, or navigating a major life change like bereavement, redundancy, becoming a parent, or questioning your identity. Sometimes people come because they have a vague sense that things aren't right, without being able to put their finger on exactly what it is. All of these are good enough reasons to start.
I work as a Gestalt therapist, which means I'm interested in your whole experience, not just your thoughts, but your feelings, your body, your relationships, and what's happening for you right now.. We will work together to help you understand yourself more clearly, notice the patterns that keep you stuck, and find new ways of responding to what life throws at you. I also have knowledge and experience of Buddhist mindfulness practices and 12 step recovery groups.
Before training as a therapist I worked in arts and culture, running organisations, coaching and mentoring creative practitioners, and leading groups. I know what it's like to face burnout, identity questions, career upheaval, and the pressure of holding things together when everything feels uncertain.
I offer sessions face-to-face in Hackney and Islington, online, and in nature on Hackney Marshes walking and talking along the River Lea. I offer a free 30-minute introductory call so you can ask questions and see whether working together feels right.
Training, qualifications & experience
I'm a qualified therapist, counsellor and coach and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. I trained at the Gestalt Cente in London, Kinharvie in Glasgow and the Nature Therapy School, London working with Gestalt therapy, coaching and nature-allied psychotherapy. I have also trained in group work, redecision therapy, nonviolent communication and symbolic modelling/clean, and have experience of buddhist-informed mindfulness practices and 12 step groups. I am particularly interested in working with and supporting creativity in all its aspects.
Prior to starting my private practice I worked at Age UK and Mind as a counsellor and group facilitator and have experience working with a range of people from a wide variety of backgrounds.
Before my therapy training I worked in the cultural sector for over 25 years as a CEO, coach, mentor and group facilitator as well as a producer, educator, writer and consultant running organisations and supporting creativity and expression with individuals and organisations. In addition I have taught in higher education, produced cultural events, managed staff teams and supported many creative practitioners. I particularly have a good understanding of workplace issues arising from working in demanding, high-stress environments. I have lived across the UK and in other countries and bring a varied and rich life experience to my therapeutic and coaching practice.
Member organisations
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
- creativity
- self expression
- feeling lost
- parenthood
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£70.00 - £100.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I sometimes have discounted places for those on low income.
When I work
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