Andrew Samuels

You set the pace, choose the topics, and give me feedback on how it is going (and on how I am doing). I believe in learning from the client. You don't have to bring a named problem to therapy, Just the desire to explore things is enough. That said, I can't think of many clients over the years who have never, ever talked about: (a) relationships (including sex), (b) parents and families, (c) work and study issues, and (d) bodily and physical health. Many (but not all) clients bring dreams, fantasies and creative productions such as art, poetry and movement. I have specialist skills here, because of my training as a Jungian Analyst. As a supervisor, I see my role as that of a more experienced colleague. In addition to discussing what has happened in the clinical interaction, I offer mentoring and, as a professor, am well placed to suggest reading and courses or workshops of interest. I am very experienced in supervising therapists from many countries and theoretical backgrounds, both face-to-face and via (for example) Skype.

I have been a therapist for 40 years. But although experience is very important, without an active contribution from my client, I am nothing. That means you! Therapy will sometimes be challenging but I aim to offer a safe and reliable space for you to deal with your issues and/or explore things more generally. My background is in politics and theatre. The politics is important because I have come to see that people's distress is often caused by social and cultural factors. Many therapists don't go near these aspects of life. But don't worry: I am not going to try to convert you to a particular political viewpoint; it will still be therapy. These things are important if you sense yourself to be a minority person (or at least not part of the majority). This might be because of your sexual choices, or ethnic background, or just because you have always felt a bit of an 'Outsider'. I am also experienced at working with people who have moved from their country of birth and now realise they are an 'immigrant'. Thinking about how we have to work together, creating the therapy as a team, I am inspired by this quote from Carl Gustav Jung: 'The mystery of life is always hidden between two people'. One final point: I have been impressed with how similar work on (for example) Skype can be to face-to-face therapy.