Katy Gilardi

I'm an experienced psychodynamic psychotherapeutic counsellor who has worked in mental health for nearly a decade. 

Psychotherapeutic counselling defers from counselling in that it is usually longer term, the work is deeper and the training necessary to obtain the qualification is much more intensive and longer in duration. 

My orientation is psychodynamic, meaning I use psychoanalytic theory to make sense of human suffering. Psychoanalytic therapy focuses on looking at the root cause of someone's suffering. We believe that there shouldn't be a one size fits all approach to mental health, that the experiences we had in childhood will inform how we are as adults and that we don't always know why we do the things we do, why we relate in the way we relate and how we truly are in the world. This means psychoanalytic based therapies involve the difficult work of discovering ourselves, which can be daunting but ultimately intends to lead someone to live a more meaningful and creative life. 

Having now been in private practice for 8+ years I have met many people for therapy and I'm highly experienced at evaluating whether someone is suitable for undertaking this particular psychological journey. If I think you might benefit from a different kind of therapy I will let you know. It is important, when it comes to therapy, to engage with a modality that is a good fit. I also believe that the relationship with the therapist is of paramount importance, and therefore during the initial consultation we will also check whether we feel we are a match and whether we could establish a good therapeutic alliance. 

Over the years I have worked with people suffering from depression, anxiety attacks, bipolar disorder, obsessions and difficulties finding meaning in life, problems in relationships,  loss and bereavement and finally eating disorders. I have also got experience of working with people who suffered childhood trauma or sexual abuse. Psychodynamic therapy is particularly fitting for those people who suffer reoccurring bouts of depression or feel they have been anxious for longer than they can remember. Problems around relationships can be explored within the context of the therapeutic relationship - and in a way this is the main asset of this kind of approach in that I won't be telling you what to think or what to do, but together we will use our relationship and what seems to come up in our interactions to explore how you might relate to others and see what works and what doesn't. 

I work from my own consulting room in Stannington, which offers the convenience of on street parking and is close to a bus stop from those travelling from the centre of town. Seeing a therapist privately you'll give you the assurance of benefiting from a tranquil and discreet place where you can open up about your problems. I believe firmly in confidentiality and I practice according to the BACP ethical code. My patients find me warm and approachable, but also firm and truthful. I don't believe in therapists who comfort their patients. I will assume that if you're coming to see me you're ready to be gently challenged and invited to reflect on your situation honestly and as truthfully as possible. There won't be any sugar coating, but rest assured I'll offer you empathy and understanding. I also believe each one of the patients/clients I have seen over the years is a unique person, and so I will listen to your story and treat it as a unique story that deserves my full attention. 

The initial consultation will last 50 minutes and the cost is £50. I usually however offer more than one meeting before we can decide together whether we're a good fit. After we have established we can work together, we will then contract and take it from there.