Esther Obiri-Darko

My role is to enable children, young people and parents to thrive. To help them to make sense of their difficult feelings and understand themselves and others better, so they can enjoy their lives more fully. By collaborating with clients, my aim is to support clients to find within themselves a space of loving kindness and greater acceptance. I use psychoanalytical and systemic thinking in my work as well as arts and play to help clients tell their stories and explore their worlds.

As a psychodynamic psychotherapist:

• I use Psychoanalytical theory in my thinking i.e. I think about what is being communicated unconsciously as well as literally;

• I hold the relationship between the therapist and client of great importance and value.

• I am systemic in thinking about the child or young person in the context of his/her family, school and society.

• I am creative in the way I use play and art, as a catalyst for telling stories or unlocking memories that may reveal messages and beliefs from the unconscious mind.

I offer support for a wide range of issues: anxiety, bullying, friendship difficulties, depression, disordered eating, emotional regulation and much more. 

I have over 20 years of working with children, young people and families. I provide skilled therapeutic support to children, adolescents and parents, delivered with, sensitivity, thoughtfulness, authenticity and warmth.

Alongside my therapeutic role, I am one of the few certified Mother-Daughter coaches in the UK.  I work to help mothers and daughters deepen their connection, improve communication, and navigate difficult situations together.

I have two private practice locations. One in Tunbridge Wells, the other in London.

Therapy can and does make a difference and can take different forms. Alongside talking therapy, I use a variety of tools during therapy, depending on the client’s needs, developmental age and personality

As a psychodynamic psychotherapist:

I use Psychoanalytical theory in my thinking i.e. I think about what is being communicated unconsciously as well as literally;

I hold the relationship between the therapist and client of great importance and value.

I am systemic in thinking about the child or young person in the context of his/her family, school and society.

I am creative in the way I use play and art, as a catalyst for telling stories or unlocking memories that may reveal messages and beliefs from the unconscious mind.

I offer therapeutic support for a wide range of issues including

Anxiety

Bullying

Friendship difficulties

Depression

Disordered eating

Emotional regulation Difficulties (anger)

Identity issues -

Loss, low mood

Self-harm

and much more

I work with children from 5-12 and teenagers/young adults from 13-21

I work one-to-one with parents.

Sometimes short-term therapy is all that is needed to help with problems, and so I offer a six-eight session package – four to seven sessions with the child and then a final session with parent and child.

I also work with clients long-term, this can be anything from a few months to a year or more. We will assess the therapy as we go, re-evaluating how things are and what is needed.

As one of the few certified Mother-Daughter coaches in the UK I work to help mothers and daughters deepen their connection, improve communication, and navigate difficult situations together.

I support mothers and daughters to create stronger, more emotionally bonded relationships by teaching them exercises and tools that enhance their understanding of each other and their ability to listen to one another.

I provide a safe, non judgmental and supportive environment for you to express your feelings and perspectives, while also facilitating constructive dialogue and problem-solving.

Together we will:

• Understand root causes of conflict and pain in your relationship

• Understand the role of family history, culture, religion, and politics in your role as a woman and how this impacts your relationship

• Heal mother-daughter relationship conflict

• Examine and challenge your expectations of each other

• Learn how to assert healthy boundaries so that you can enjoy the time you have together

• Learn to feel seen and heard in this and other relationships

• Uncover themes and patterns that cause emotional disempowerment and attachment disruption.

• Feel confident to voice what you feel, think, and need as a woman.

• Facilitate generational change

• Develop a roadmap that aids in recognising and understanding the connection between you, your mother’s and your grandmother’s lives.

• Heal and strengthen the Mother-Daughter relationship.

Initially I will carry out a psychotherapy assessment, which is usually four sessions before I begin any work. These first four sessions include one session with the parents and carers and then three with the child/young person alone.

This is an important part of the therapeutic process because it helps me to make an assessment of the circumstances, and the issues that have bought us together, as well as to discuss the main reasons for you seeking service. It allows me to see their suitability for psychotherapy; is psychotherapy the right therapeutic intervention for them? can they make use of it? and it helps me to think about what it is they might need from me. It also helps to give the client a sense of how the future treatment will be.

It is also an opportunity for you to assess if you believe that we would be able to work together and ask any questions of me that you may have.

Following these initial sessions, I will outline what I can offer your child before continuing any further treatment.