Dr Laurence Palfreyman
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
My clients come to me with many different issues including depression, low mood, stress, trauma, loneliness, sex and relationship problems, and anxiety (including panic, OCD, generalised anxiety, social anxiety and health anxiety). A lot of the people I meet are also struggling with questions about their identity and what they want from life. Sometimes my clients can't pinpoint what the problem is but just know that things feel a lot harder than they should. Most people I meet have been trying to deal with these issues and become stuck, unable to find a way through and in need of some help.
How I can help.
I help my clients by providing a confidential conversation that is focused entirely on their needs. This might involve exploring different perspectives on their problems and developing effective strategies to move forward. It might also be an opportunity to talk openly about issues that feel too sensitive or difficult to speak about elsewhere. This has helped my clients gain a richer understanding of themselves and what they care about, enabling them to create a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
Therapy at your pace.
I understand how looking for a therapist can be daunting, possibly quite overwhelming. I offer a free initial telephone or video consultation of up to 20 minutes. This gives us an opportunity to talk about what you're struggling with and think through what might help. Crucially, it gives you an opportunity to see if you'd feel comfortable talking with me.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have over 10 years experience working in mental health and hold a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. This involved academic and clinical training across a wide range of NHS services. My training met the stringent standards required by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) ensuring that my practice is safe, effective and accountable.
My current and previous experience.
I currently work in private practice and in the NHS and have a specialist interest in the connections between mind and body, particularly in the context of physical diseases and medically unexplained symptoms. I'm deputy service lead for a team of clinical psychologists within St Bartholomew's Hospital in central London. My NHS role is to provide assessment and intervention for people with complex health conditions and provide consultancy, training and supervision to medical and nursing professionals. I previously led two psychology services at King's College Hospital London. One of my services was awarded by King's Health Partners for Outstanding Collaboration in Integrated Care. This is an award given for services demonstrating best practice in combining mental and physical healthcare.
I have previously worked as a specialist clinical psychologist within an NHS sexual health service providing therapy for sexual difficulties and relationship problems in men and women.
I provide teaching, tutoring and examination for the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London and the Salomon's Institute for Applied Psychology at Canterbury Christ Church University.
In addition to my NHS roles I have designed and led a psychotherapy service for young people and provide psychological consultancy to businesses and charities. Prior to becoming a psychologist I worked in marketing and communications consultancy.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The HCPC are an independent, UK-wide health regulator. They set standards of professional training, performance and conduct for 16 professions.
They keep a register of health professionals who meet their standards, and they take action if registered health professionals fall below those standards. They were created by a piece of legislation called the Health Professions Order 2001.
Registration means that a health professional meets national standards for their professional training, performance and conduct.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£90.00 per session
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
My standard fee is £90 per 50 minute session. I ask clients to pay in advance to book an appointment. Some concessions may be available, please ask.
I am approved by these health insurance companies: AXA, Aviva, Vitality, WPA, Cigna and Bupa. My fees for using health insurance will depend on the fee schedule of your provider. I charge insurers directly so you don't have to worry about payments.
When I work
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Further information
My approach.
My academic and clinical training enables me to draw upon multiple evidence-based approaches to help understand my clients' difficulties.
Good therapy is centred on the needs of each individual client. I draw upon a few different approaches including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), psychodynamic, systemic, existential and family therapy. I also provide Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). Overall I take an exploratory approach to help broaden and deepen my clients' perspective of their difficulties and consider what they may want to try differently.
I believe effective therapy is built upon a trusting relationship where my clients feel comfortable to talk with me about topics that may be very sensitive or challenging. I therefore take a proactive approach to check-in with my clients about how they're experiencing the work and make sure we're going at a pace that feels right.
