Marcia Gamsu

1. Covid19 For most people, Covid-19 has had a huge impact, limiting what’s possible in daily life. Being confined to the home may be causing distress, alongside fears of the illness itself and/or direct experience of it. You may also be reassessing how you’ve been living up to this point and how you would like to live once lockdown is over. I am exclusively working online (Skype and Facetime) at present. How I work I have a down to earth, engaged and proactive approach, listening closely and respectfully to what you want to focus on. We'll look for genuine, not superficial solutions which are relevant to your specific concerns. With individuals.  My approach is not to look for disorder/illness but at how you're making sense of life. I want to draw out and strengthen the life skills/wisdom that you already have. My therapeutic model combines the constructive outlook of cognitive behavioural therapy with the depth of other approaches. It will challenge you but ultimately respect your unique approach to life. Couples therapy I will encourage you to listen patiently to your partners experience and to articulate and take ownership of your own experience, moving away from blame. The aim is for you to communicate more openly and fully, to hear and understand each other in a fresh way, to gain increasing respect for both your own and your partner’s dignity and autonomy but also to maintain an awareness of the impact of your actions on your partner,to understand what changes are possible, how these changes can be realised and what is not possible within the relationship

I am a BACP accredited/UKCP registered counsellor and psychotherapist.

I trained at the School of Psychotherapy and Counselling at Regents College, gaining a Masters in 2003 and an Advanced Diploma in 2004. I did my clinical training in the NHS and at Age Concern.

Post qualification I have worked as a tutor at the New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling, as a therapist at the Refugee Council and as a therapist and supervisor in private practice.

When I work I try to be as present and open as possible. I want my clients to think about their lives in their own way and at their own pace. I am fascinated by and feel privileged to learn about people's unique ways of making sense of their lives.

The main purpose of the first session is for you to get an initial sense of what therapy sessions might be like and whether you will feel comfortable working with me.  We'll talk about what's brought you to therapy and what you're looking to get out of it. I'll ask you questions to draw you out and will share my tentative thoughts on what you've presented to me. The first session is also a chance for you to ask me any questions that might help you get a sense of me and how I work.