Elaine Piper

I am an experienced Clinical Psychologist and BPC Psychodynamic Psychotherapist with 15 years' experience of working with adults with a wide range of long standing and complex mental health problems,  both within and outside the NHS. I am regulated the BPC (British Psychoanalytic Council) and the HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council). 

Life is challenging and can lead to periods of intense or prolonged distress. Drawing on the breadth of experience and high standards afforded by both my professional trainings, I can offer you a safe space to explore and understand your experiences. Whilst painful, this can lead to tremendous relief and greater freedom.

How therapy can help

We seek therapy for many reasons, often because of feelings of anxiety, sadness, anger and depression and related difficulties in our relationships. Sometimes these it may be in response to a specific traumatic event or series of events. We can feel confused and stuck, and our usual ways of coping may no longer seem to be helping or may have become a problem in themselves.  We can feel very isolated and alone and it can be very hard to reach out for help.

Many factors affect our current feelings and relationships and our ability to make changes and move on in our lives. We are strongly influenced not only by our current circumstances, by also by our early attachment relationships. These shape our view and expectations of our current relationships and the world and underpin how we go about our daily lives.  Despite this, we are often unaware of how these experiences have and continue to influence us in the present, as our underlying beliefs and emotions are largely unconscious. 

Psychodynamic psychotherapy focusses on working together to pay close attention to developing an emotional understanding of current difficulties and how these relate to, and are influenced by, the past.  Over time, giving space to the expression and exploration of painful feelings, allows a deeper therapy relationship to develop. Within this, a deeper understanding of the unconscious patterns that underlie our choices, can emerge. It is this increasing self-awareness and changing self-understanding that can bring relief and allow us greater freedom to make different choices.

Whilst I draw widely on the breadth of training and experience as a Clinical Psychologist, I predominantly work using this Psychodynamic approach. 

If you would like additional information about what to expect from this way of working, please do look at the website for this organisation. https://www.bpc.org.uk  

Some sessions may be available at a reduced rate.  

I offer an initial 50 minute consultation in which we can discuss the difficulties that have brought you to therapy. This appointment will allow us to develop a shared idea of what help you are seeking and whether we might establish a good therapeutic relationship. 

Whilst I offer both short and long-term psychotherapy, it is usually the case that a longer period of therapy is needed to allow a deeper level of trust to be established and deeper therapeutic work to be achieved. This can be discussed and agreed at consultation, depending on what you are looking for.

Therapy sessions are 50 minutes long and offered on a regular day and time each week to provide a safe, predictable and protected space. I am aware of the acute sensitivity of the personal information discussed and follow strict procedures to protect confidentiality, following the guidelines of professional practice set out in the BPC and HCPC standards.  

I am currently available to offer regular weekly, or twice weekly, daytime face to face appointments. I practise in the therapy rooms at the address above where free parking is available. I am also happy to offer sessions on both zoom or by telephone if appropriate.

Please contact me by email or telephone if you would like to make an enquiry.  I am also happy to arrange a brief telephone call to answer any questions you may have prior to meeting so feel free to contact me to arrange this.