Sammy Alattar

I offer a safe, confidential, empathetic and non-judgemental space for you to explore whatever you're struggling with, no matter how unmanageable, hard to grasp, irrational, unthinkable or unspeakable it may seem to you right now. Together we can shine a light on your troubles, to help you find a way through them.

What brings you to therapy may be more about what's missing in life rather than a particular issue. I will support you to locate what is absent for you, and to find purpose, meaning and fulfilment.

Though I work with many issues, I specialise in working with depression, anger, guilt, relationship/attachment issues, perfectionism, the legacy of narcissistic parents/partners, life transitions, lack of intimacy and existential concerns.

I'm also experienced in working with anxiety, shame, workplace issues, prejudice, family estrangement, intercultural partnership, lack of meaning, infidelity, social isolation and exclusion.

How I work and my background

I am a BACP-registered integrative counsellor.

Being "integrative" means I bring together a range of humanistic, psychodynamic, existential, somatic and cognitive approaches in my practice, enabling me to work from a variety of perspectives and tailor therapy to your individual, evolving needs.

My philosophy for practice is a bio-psycho-social-spiritual one. This means I consider biological, psychological, social (& economic) and spiritual factors to be interrelated and of equal importance in contributing to a person's psychological well-being. I believe gaining awareness of, giving attention to and focusing efforts on multiple factors simultaneously promotes deeper, longer-term, more sustainable and more resilient mental as well as physical health.

Before training as a counsellor I had an office-based career, as well as periods of working in a kitchen and as a musician, and I'm familiar with the challenges faced by those who are trying to make a living in similar situations. I am mixed-race, of British, Iraqi and Iranian heritage, and have lived experience of growing up in an intercultural environment.

Currently, I have availability for both open-ended and short-term psychotherapy, in-person at my practices by Old Street (EC1V), in Haggerston (E8) and Stoke Newington (N16).

Old Street location details

Address: Ongea, Unit B, Willen House, 8-26 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9DX

Nearest underground: Old Street Station (5 min walk)

Other underground stations in walking distance: Moorgate (14 min), Angel (15 min), Barbican (15 min), Shoreditch High Street (17 min), Liverpool Street (20 min), Farringdon (20 min) and Hoxton (20 min). 

Buses: 21, 43, 55, 76, 135, 141, 205, 214, 243, 271, 394

Haggerston location details

Address: HQ Therapy, 322c Kingsland Road, Dalston, London, E8 4DE

Nearest train station: Haggerston (3 min walk)

Other stations in walking distance: Dalston Junction (9 min), Dalston Kingsland (12 min), Hoxton (12 min), London Fields (18 min) and Essex Rd (20 min)

Buses: 149, 242, 243

Stoke Newington location details

Address: 1 Chesholm Rd, London N16 0DP

Nearest train station: Stoke Newington (12 min walk) / Rectory Road (12 min walk) 

Other stations in walking distance: Dalston Kingsland (18 min), Dalston Junction (20 min), Clapton (22 min) and Canonbury (24 min)

Buses: 21, 67, 73, 76, 141, 149, 236, 243, 341, 393, 476

On-street parking available.

Online work

I also offer a limited number of sessions online or by telephone. Please contact me for details.

How do we begin?

If you would like to explore working with me then the first step is to send me a message. I'll then contact you to introduce myself and together we can arrange a convenient time to speak on the phone or via Zoom/Skype/Whatsapp for approximately 15 minutes. This is an opportunity for us to get acquainted, to discuss the practical side of things and for you to ask any questions about me and the way I work, as well as for me to briefly hear what brings you to therapy.

Following our chat, if you would like to arrange a first session then we'll aim to meet at the earliest opportunity, probably that week or the following week. In this session it's important for you to get a sense of whether you can work with me before you commit to further sessions. We will talk about what you would like to get out of therapy and how I/it might help you.

If at the end of the session you have a feeling we are a good fit and would like to continue working together then we can agree to a regular, weekly meeting. If, on the other hand, you feel you'd be better matched with another therapist then I will gladly assist you in finding someone more suitable.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sammy