Matthew Frener
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Reaching out for support can often feel like a challenge and you’ve taken a courageous step by being here. I imagine if you’ve found your way to this website, you might be experiencing some challenges or difficulties that you wish to work through. Choosing to begin therapy is a courageous step and it’s important to know that you are not alone.
How I Work
I work collaboratively with my clients, walking alongside them as we explore the patterns that shape their thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. By understanding these patterns, we can begin to create meaningful change with the hope of unearthing the authentic self. Taking a holistic outlook, I believe it’s essential to consider all aspects of your life—mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual. Together, we’ll address these interconnected areas, helping you break free from unhelpful cycles and build a foundation where you can truly thrive.
Tailoring my methods to suit the specific needs of each client, I use an integration of various modalities. I firmly believe that therapy should adapt to the individual, not the other way around—there is no "one size fits all" solution. Every client brings a unique set of experiences, and to best support them, I draw on a range of therapeutic principles. While I am rooted in relational and developmental theories, I respond to clients with intuition, empathy, and compassion, incorporating elements of person-centred therapy, psychodynamic, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Attachment theory, and more.
At the heart of my practice is the therapeutic relationship—a connection built on trust, understanding, and mutual respect. I deeply value the bond between therapist and client, as it can provide the foundation for meaningful growth and healing. My aim is to create a safe, compassionate, and non-judgmental space where you can explore the challenges you’re facing with honesty and openness. Research consistently shows that a strong, supportive therapeutic relationship is key to achieving positive outcomes. Likewise, our ability to form meaningful, reciprocal connections with others is essential to our emotional well-being and resilience. That’s why I take a relational approach, focusing on building a genuine connection that empowers you to navigate life’s challenges and foster healthier relationships with yourself and others.
Anti-Oppressive Practice
With all of the uncertainty and everything going on in the current climate, in addition to my lived experience of facing adversity, it is essential to express my commitment to anti-oppressive practice. I strive to ensure that sessions with me are an inclusive and empowering space for all individuals, by acknowledging the ways in which systemic inequalities—such as racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, classism, and ableism—impact mental health and well-being.
In my practice, this means:
- Cultural Awareness & Sensitivity: Recognising the influence of identity, culture, and social context in your experiences.
- Power Dynamics & Collaboration: Valuing your lived experience and fostering an equal, respectful therapeutic relationship.
- Trauma-Informed & Intersectional Care: Understanding how oppression and trauma intersect, shaping emotions, relationships, and coping mechanisms.
- Advocacy & Social Justice: Supporting you in navigating societal challenges while working towards personal and collective healing.
Therapy should be a space where all aspects of your identity are acknowledged and validated. I strive to provide an environment where you will feel heard, respected and expowered to explore your experiences without fear of judgment and prejudice.
Sessions
I work with individuals, couples and groups and work from Earl's Court, West Hampstead and Online. Additionally, I work both within a time-limited, goal-orientated framework as well as on an open-ended basis.
Sessions run for 50 minutes and take place weekly at the same time, unless pre-arranged. On occasion, longer or more/less frequent sessions can be scheduled if deemed appropriate and beneficial. Longer sessions are charged on a pro rata basis.
The optimum conditions for therapy exist when there is commitment and regularity in the arrangement from both therapist and client. This helps to establish a safe and contained therapeutic space.
Our First Sessions
The first sessions are in the form of an assessment and it is a chance for me to get an accurate history from you, understand your difficulties and what you are hoping to achieve from therapy. It is also an opportunity for you to get a sense of the way I work and to co-create a personalised way forward.
A little bit about me
Before becoming a therapist, I spent several years working in the theatre and arts sector and obtained an MA Creative Producing. My own experience of seeking help for personal challenges sparked my passion for therapy and profoundly shaped the way I work. I frequently encourage my clients to engage with creative outlets in any form, as these can be therapeutic in their own right.
If you feel that you might benefit from therapy sessions, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Together, we’ll work toward building tools to navigate your difficulties while also embracing and celebrating the joys life has to offer.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Level 6 - Diploma Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counselling (Metanoia Institute) and working towards Level 7 - MSc Integrative Psychotherapy (Metanoia Institute)
- BPS Approved Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Full Practitioner
- Diploma in Practitioner Skills for Eating Disorders (National Centre for Eating Disorders)
- Somatic Trauma Therapy with Babette Rothschild (on-going)
- Certificate in Couple's Counselling
Having spent a number of years as a Counsellor at one of London’s leading rehabilitation centres, supporting individuals recovering from addictions and eating disorders, my role included working one-to-one with clients, facilitating therapeutic groups and workshops, and involving families in the recovery process through regular meetings. During this time, I also became a qualified Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Practitioner and facilitated weekly skills groups to help clients build practical tools for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness and mindfulness.
Clients that I have worked with
Having had the privilege of working with clients from diverse backgrounds, I have supported them through challenges such as: anxiety, depression, addictions, eating disorders (such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and ARFID), personality disorders, ADHD, trauma, sexuality and identity issues, sex and porn addiction, self-harm, inner-child work, low self-worth, relational difficulties, and attachment trauma.
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.
Registration body and network for addiction professionals
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
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£90.00 - £120.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
1:1 Sessions
I offer a sliding scale ranging from £90-£120, depending on your circumstances. I invoice in advance of each month and have a few spaces at a concessionary rate for NHS workers and those on a low income. Please contact me directly if you wish to discuss concessionary rates.
Couple's Sessions
Please get in touch with me directly to discuss my sessional fee for couples counselling. I invoice in advance of each month.
When I work
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Further information
Registrations, Accreditations and Memberships
I am a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP), an Accredited Registrant of The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (MNCPS Acc.) and an Advanced Practitioner Member of Addiction Professionals and am dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of ethical practice and ongoing professional development.
