Dr Julia Brewer

I am an HCPC registered Counselling Psychologist and BPS Chartered Psychologist. With 14 years clinical experience, including 10 years offering psychological therapy in the NHS, I am experienced in working with a wide range of issues (shown below) in short, medium and long term therapy. I have extensive experience working with trans, non-binary and gender diverse clients and a special interest in perinatal mental health, working with people before, during and after pregnancy.

My way of working is to explore with you your current difficulties, develop a shared understanding of how they may have come about and support you to find a way of moving forward. Fundamental to this and therefore my primary focus is developing a therapeutic relationship in which you feel safe, heard and accepted.

As a Counselling Psychologist I am trained in various psychotherapeutic approaches and in therapy-related research. This enables me to draw on existential, psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural and compassion-focused approaches, to find an approach that works best for you as a unique individual with your unique life experiences. These terms may not be familiar to you, so I have briefly outlined them at the end of my profile.

Searching for a therapist can feel overwhelming, particularly if you are struggling emotionally. It is very important you feel there is a good fit between you and your therapist, so if you feel you may wish to work with me, please contact me and we can arrange a brief, informal telephone conversation to discuss your difficulties and how we might work together.

Therapeutic approaches:

• Existential: Philosophical approach, essentially concerned with what it means to be human and what our personal values are. A positive approach, exploring how we choose to navigate life's inevitable struggles and the distress they can bring and how, despite the limitations we experience, we can live a life that is meaningful to us.
• Psychodynamic: Considers how we may have been impacted by early life experiences, and how early patterns of relating to ourselves and others may be repeated into adult life. Such patterns that can hold us back in various ways, can be experienced in the therapeutic relationship. This offers opportunity to explore and make sense of them, with a view to moving towards more healthy patterns of relating.
• Cognitive Behavioural: Concerned with how thoughts, emotions and behaviours influence each other and how we can get 'stuck' in particular cycles, struggling to see a way out. Seeks to understand these cycles so we can make changes in them and engage in more helpful ways of being.
• Compassion-focused: A lot of difficulties can stem from or be perpetuated by a self-critical 'inner voice'. Compassion-focused approaches strive to recognise when this is the case, and to nurture a more compassionate relationship with ourselves.

I am experienced in working with issues relating to gender identity and transition.

For self-funding clients, my standard fee for online therapy is £85 per 50 minute session and for face-to-face therapy is £95 per 50 minute session, which includes room rental.

Rates vary for therapy arranged through insurance, and subject to availability I offer a limited number of reduced fee slots for those less able to pay.