Daniel Sumpton

I see people face-to-face or online in my therapy room in the heart of Hackney, east London. I offer daytime sessions from Monday to Friday. I specialise in working with people with relational difficulties and who have experienced trauma, using Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. 

Struggling by ourselves and experiencing depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems can be challenging to deal with alone. Looking after your mental health and wellbeing is essential. Using many years of experience in the NHS and private practice, I can help you understand why you are struggling and how to change it. Working together, we can create a better future for you. Don't let your mental health hold you back from being yourself and living your life fully.  

I offer individual therapy using a flexible approach to my training in Cognitive Analytical Therapy (CAT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Mentalisation-Based Treatment (MBT). Face-to-face and online. 

I originally trained as a specialist mental health social worker. I am passionate about empowering people to understand their mental health and find ways to feel more in control of their lives and health. You are unique and bring your own personal and individual experiences of the world, your upbringing, and early life experiences. Here, we shape ways of managing, interacting and relating to ourselves and others. Our history influences how we feel, behave, act, and experience mental health.

 Treating you as the unique individual you are will allow us to work out how best to help you help yourself. You are your own expert, and therapy is the collaboration that will allow you to move forward in your life. 

Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) is a type of therapy that blends two powerful approaches: understanding how you think and act, and examining your relationships and patterns. It's like having a map that helps you navigate your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours while exploring how past experiences influence your present. CAT enables you to notice unhelpful relational patterns and find new, more positive ways to approach challenges. It's a collaborative process where you work with your therapist to create personalised strategies to lead to more fulfilling living and relating to yourself and others. Think of it as a toolkit for understanding yourself better and making lasting positive changes in your life. It tends to be time-limited and can range from 8 - 24 sessions.

At its heart is an empathic relationship between the therapist and the client. Therapy aims to help you make sense of your situation and find ways to improve it.

EMDR, which stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a therapy that helps people heal from distressing experiences. Imagine memories or feelings as puzzle pieces that sometimes get stuck or cause discomfort to which we react. EMDR is like a skilled guide helping you sort through those pieces, making them easier to understand and less upsetting. It involves focusing on distressing memories while the therapist helps you move your eyes or use other gentle, rhythmic movements called bilateral stimulation, which can reduce the power these memories have over you. It's like untangling knots in a gentle and supportive way, allowing you to feel more at ease and better able to move forward in your life.

Mentalisation-based treatment (MBT) is like a guide to better understanding your thoughts and feelings. It's a supportive way to explore how you see yourself and others, helping you understand why you feel and act the way you do in different situations. 

I offer a free 20-minute telephone or video conferencing call so you can ask any questions about me or how I work. Please feel free to ask what you need to. This will also be the time to discuss days/times of available sessions. 

Following this, I would then offer an initial face-to-face session to discuss your therapy needs and better understand what you think underlies your difficulties, your goals, and whether I can help you. It is important that therapy with me helps, and I can offer you what I think you need. If I can't, I will make recommendations for the type of therapy I believe will help you best and direct you to places where you can access this. The first session will be 50 minutes long and will cost £100.

If we both agree that working together will be beneficial, we will collaboratively create a therapeutic contract. This contract will outline our mutual commitments and expectations, and we will meet weekly for sessions. Having a clear plan in place, including the number of sessions we will have together, allows you to understand the financial and time investment you will need to make. 

I offer individual and group sessions face to face and online. I provide face to face individual supervision in my therapy room in the heart of hackney during the working week and can be flexible to fit your supervision needs. 

I currently run several NHS CAT groups in person and online. Group supervision is 1.5 hours long and can runs on a weekly or monthly basis. 

I am also available to offer supervision in your organisation. 

I am a qualified CAT supervisor, senior supervisor and coaching supervisor with over 10 years supervision experience. I am passionate about offering a reflective supervision space that allows you to understand yourself as a therapist and enhance your work with your clients.  

I currently work with a range of clinicians in my supervision practice. I run several CAT supervision groups, individual CAT supervision, individual supervisions for counselling and clinical psychologists in private practice. I also currently supervise life/health coaches in the NHS. 

I offer the following supervision:

Psychology/psychotherapy Supervision

Individual and group supervision for clinical and counselling psychologists and psychotherapists. I use my training in CAT and MBT therapies and supervision combined with his experience of the psychodynamic approach. Offering a reflective, collaborative and relational space to consider your work with patients and clients.

Cognitive Analytic Therapy Supervision

I am an experienced and qualified CAT supervisor and senior supervisor who currently provides CAT supervision for colleagues in the NHS and private practice. We offer weekly and monthly supervision for qualified CAT therapists/Psychotherapists.

 I also offer senior supervision for those undertaking their CAT supervisor training.

Coaching Supervision 

A qualified and coaching supervisor who trained with ICF accredited Barefoot coaching . Offering a relational approach to coaches who want to reflect and explore the interpersonal dynamics, unconscious process and impact this has on their work with people. Combining years of experience as a Psychological therapist, clinical supervisor and coaching supervisor to provide a unique space to explore your relationships with your clients. 

Please see below for some testimonials

“ I have had the privilege of being supervised by Dan over the past 3 years. During this time I have benefited from a thoughtful, inspirational, challenging and nourishing environment. Dan’s experience has helped bring insight and support in my client work and development. He has the capacity to communicate and explain complicated themes all which being humble and compassionate. He is a dedicated supervisor from who I am learning and growing as a psychologist and person.”

GV Psychologist

“I have had a really positive supervisory experience with Dan. I find his approach to be supportive and open but also challenging when needed. He has really helped me think about what is happening with my clients and how to relate this to the CAT model. I also find it really useful when he maps things out in supervision. I would definitely recommend him as a supervisor.”

KN Psychologist & CAT Therapist

“I am a Clinical Psychologist, Cognitive Analytic therapist and supervisor with more than 25 years experience in the NHS and private practice. Group supervision with Dan is an oasis. A safe space where we can stop and reflect, knowing that Dan will bring just the right amount of challenge and humour.”

JE Psychologist and CAT Therapist

 “Dan is really skilled at allowing you the freedom to practice in your own style whilst also offering guidance within a solid relational framework. I always enjoyed our supervision sessions and felt supported as well as encouraged to try out different ways of approaching my work.”

NT Clinical Psychologist

“Dan has been my supervisor for several years and I have learnt a tremendous amount from him. He is a containing, kind supervisor who makes you feel well supported in your work”

HD Clinical Psychologist

I offer weekly and monthly supervision sessions.