Ana Cooper

I have fixed time slots for sessions Monday to Friday from 10am to 8pm.

I am often fully booked, but I keep a short waiting list, and will always see returning Clients.

Hi!  I am a (supervised) BACP Accredited Integrative Psychotherapist, with nearly 30 years' experience.  I worked in frontline NHS services (Hospitals and GP Surgeries) for the majority of my career, but now I work full-time in private practice. The three issues I am most proficient in treating are anxiety, depression, and relationship difficulties. (I count myself in the number of people I have helped out of those dark places.)

I chose an Integrative training because I am curious and open-minded about what works, and because research has proven that no one theory is in fact more effective than others. The effectiveness of therapy depends on the nature of the therapeutic alliance, and, in my opinion, how broadly experienced the Therapist is.

I meet people from very contrasting backgrounds, at various stages of life, with different belief systems and goals for therapy. So, personally, if I didn't have a varied and versatile toolkit to work with, I would feel ill-equipped.

Having been in therapy myself for most of my life, I have found that one size does not fit all.  Sometimes we just want to feel heard and understood, sometimes we want guidance, and sometimes we want to learn something new.  The skill of the Therapist lies in carefully choosing the nature and timing of interventions, so that the journey feels manageable and deeply rewarding.  The process should always be empowering, and whenever possible, fulfilling and enjoyable.

If you come to me - you will never feel judged, and no assumptions will ever be made about you. Everything you say will be treated with utmost respect and held in absolute confidence.

Together, we will rediscover the inner power you somehow lost along your way, and we will harness it to face the battle ahead. You will learn or rediscover how to become more robust and adaptive to your circumstances.  And hopefully you will emerge as the hero or heroine of your life, however hard life has treated you.

I enjoy seeing Clients at home.  My study is a calm and soothing place, encouraging self-reflection.  It is full of books, plants, and ticking clocks.  (I also have a cat and a dog who provide abundant positive energy when they're around.)

In winter we put the fire on, and in summer the sun shines through the garden window.  It is a safe, confidential and serene space which I have been told feels very warm and welcoming.

I also conduct sessions via Zoom: I have long-term Clients all over the world.  

My first session is an assessment - of you - and me - to see if we are compatible and will feel comfortable working together.

After years of experience, I have formulated my own assessment protocol (a series of questions) that will help me gain a sense of how you came to be the person you are today, where you are at in your life right now, and what changes you have in mind.  Then we can set clear goals for your therapy, and we will assess progress along the way.

Of course the space is always open to feedback and your own questions.  I am very authentic in sessions.  I am the same person as I am outside of sessions.  You will know straight away if I feel right for you.