Sara Rolando

Hello, and welcome!

Taking the first step toward therapy can feel daunting, but it's also a powerful choice toward healing and personal growth. 

Many people experience difficulties in all sorts of areas in their lives. These might include personal relationships, situations at work, or problems at home. If these difficulties are getting on top of you or making you feel unhappy, it may be helpful to see a psychotherapist. It is common to feel unsure and to wonder whether you should try to handle things on your own; asking for help at any point in your life, regardless of your background, is okay.

I’m Sara Rolando, a dedicated Psychodynamic Psychotherapist based in central London, offering both in-person and online sessions.

Psychodynamic psychotherapy is an effective approach of therapy that helps people understand how their past experiences, influence their present thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. 

There may be things in your unconscious that you’re not aware of and are painful or keeping you stuck. As your psychodynamic therapist will help you look for these patterns in a safe space and understand them. We will find that knot so you can start unravelling all the strands and move on with your life. 

In sessions, I will sit with you in these moments. Sit without trying to fix, or rescue you.

We will discuss your current concerns, but also explore deeper emotional issues, often connecting how you respond to things now with past experiences. We won’t only focus on surface-level problems but will dive into the underlying causes of distress, such as unresolved feelings, hidden emotions, or internal conflicts.

Through this process, you'll gradually become more self-aware, better understand your motivations and reactions, and feel more in control of your emotional world. This deeper awareness often leads to lasting changes in how you relate to yourself and others.

I am a fully qualified psychodynamic psychotherapist with extensive training from the University of London. I hold an MSc in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy, accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), ensuring the highest standards of professional care.

In addition to my private practice, I have significant experience working in various mental health settings, including leading community mental health organizations like Mind, and within both primary and secondary care services in the NHS. I specialize in supporting individuals with complex mental health challenges, offering a compassionate, tailored approach that helps clients navigate their emotional difficulties and make meaningful, lasting changes.

I hold a BA from the University of London, where I specialized in Psychosocial Studies—exploring how our inner worlds and social environments shape who we are and how we relate to others. This deep understanding of the connection between the individual and the broader social world continues to influence my approach to therapy.

As a psychodynamic and psychoanalytically-oriented therapist, I place great value on the unconscious patterns, stories, and beliefs formed early in life that still impact us today. By acknowledging and exploring these influences, I help my clients gain meaningful insights into how they affect thoughts, behaviors, and relationships in often surprising ways.

I offer 50-minute sessions, scheduled on a weekly regular basis.

My sessions can be either on a short or long-term contract. We will arrange this depending on what your needs are.

If therapy is something you might think of, feel free to contact me.

At the beginning, we will then arrange an Initial assessment of 90 minutes. This assessment is our first session where we can take some time to know each other. It is an opportunity for you to share your concerns, background, and what you hope to achieve through therapy. This will help me understand your needs and allow us to work together to create a plan that is right for you.

If we were to work together, we would agree on a time that works for both of us and meet for the regular sessions.

I work with a wide range of life challenges, including relationships, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, loss, trauma, and addictions.

My specialties and passions lie in supporting the LGBTQ+ community and those who identify as neurodiverse. I provide a safe and welcoming space for queer and trans individuals, where you can feel fully accepted, understood, and supported in exploring and addressing the unique challenges you may face.