Elisabeth Weiland

How I can help

You may be considering therapy because something in your life or relationships isn't working in the way you'd like, or because you feel stuck, disconnected from yourself, or unsure about what you really want or need.

I particularly enjoy working with people experiencing relationship difficulties, recurring relationship patterns, people-pleasing, difficulties with boundaries or communicating what they need. I also have a particular interest in supporting people who feel disconnected from themselves, are struggling with self-expression or authenticity, or find themselves experiencing anger or frustration that is difficult to understand or express.

I also welcome people who are going through grief, bereavement or loss, major life changes or transitions, or who are adjusting to the emotional impact of long-term health conditions or cancer. These experiences can sometimes leave us questioning who we are, what matters to us, or what we want from our lives and relationships.

I also have an interest in spirituality, meaning and questions about purpose and identity.

These are areas I particularly enjoy working with, but they are not an exhaustive list. You don't need to see your experience reflected here to get in touch. We can explore together what you're going through and whether Gestalt therapy might be helpful for you.

How Gestalt therapy works

I work relationally and from an embodied perspective. Gestalt therapy is interested not only in what you think, but also in what you are feeling, noticing and experiencing in the present moment — including what happens in your relationships with other people.

In a Gestalt session, there isn't necessarily a set technique or exercise that we need to work through. Instead, we might slow down and explore something that is happening for you right now. Perhaps you notice that you find it difficult to say what you really want, that you automatically take responsibility for other people's feelings, or that you become angry or withdrawn in certain situations. We might become curious about what you notice in your thoughts, feelings and body as you talk about this, and explore what is happening between us in the therapy room too.

This kind of awareness can help you recognise patterns that may otherwise be difficult to see, understand your needs and feelings more clearly, and discover possibilities for responding differently. Sometimes this might involve trying something out together in the session — for example, putting words to something you have found difficult to express, or exploring what it is like to take up more space or stay with a feeling rather than immediately moving away from it.

The relationship between us is also an important part of the therapy. You may notice familiar patterns emerging in how you relate to me — perhaps wanting to please me, holding something back, finding it difficult to disagree, or feeling unsure about what you need from another person. Exploring these experiences together can provide an opportunity to experience yourself differently while remaining in relationship with someone else.

About me

I am a qualified Social Worker and a BABCP Accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, with many years of experience working as a therapist in mental health settings, including NHS services. I am now also a Year 3 Trainee Gestalt Psychotherapist and UKCP Trainee Member, undertaking postgraduate training with the Welsh Psychotherapy Institute.

I chose to train in Gestalt because I am passionate about relational and embodied psychotherapy, and about the possibility of therapy being a genuine meeting between two people.

I currently offer reduced-fee Gestalt psychotherapy sessions to adults in Bristol as part of my ongoing postgraduate training.

Gestalt psychotherapy sessions are £40 per session. This is a reduced fee offered as part of my ongoing Gestalt psychotherapy training. I am under ongoing supervision and currently offer sessions on Fridays.

My Gestalt psychotherapy practice is undertaken as part of my postgraduate training and is supported by clinical supervision. I currently offer sessions at a reduced trainee rate of £40.