Why do I always end up in the same place in my relationships?
Why do I keep falling for the same type of person?
I don't know why I behave in this way.
Why do I hurt the ones I love?
I can't carry on like this anymore…
I want to understand myself better, to make sense of my feelings.
If you have ever said any of the above, you are not alone. It takes courage to recognise when certain things in life become too difficult to go through on your own. But realising the need for help is the first step towards change. Be it in a crisis or in any course of your life, if you are struggling with emotional difficulties (i.e depression, anxiety, fear, stress), or if you feel stuck in toxic relationships or in patterns that are dragging you down, know that you are not alone and that psychotherapy can help.
My name is Allan Gois, and as a London psychotherapist I can provide a respectful, thoughtful and non-judgemental environment, where you will be helped to understand and work through your difficulties so you can develop and change. As a psychotherapist I will help explore the roots of your problems and rethink the issues that are holding you back, so you can better understand yourself and move on. I have over 14 years' clinical experience, having worked both in the NHS and in private practice with groups and individuals. Read more about my experience and qualifications.
Practicing as a psychotherapist in London has allowed me the experience to work with a great diversity of people, in different stages of life and presenting a myriad of problems. Every person is unique, and so is each experience of therapy. But be it in the outbreak of a crisis or in a journey of self-discovery, I have helped people regain confidence by working through unhealthy patterns that were holding them back, allowing them to live a more balanced and integrated life. My psychotherapy practice in Bloomsbury (WC1) is quiet, discreet and easily accessible. Read more about psychotherapy.
Some experiences in life can be so unbearably difficult that we may find ourselves trying to push them away from our conscious mind. Most of the time we know when we are doing this, be it with painful feelings, thoughts or experiences. But sometimes we can bury something so deep in the mind that we lose sight of it completely. This is why difficult experiences in the past can continue to affect the way we feel and behave in the present.
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy will help you explore what may still be repressed and unconscious in how you feel, behave and relate to other people. In the thoughtful and non-judgemental space of psychotherapy you will be supported in a journey to uncover the meaning behind your suffering, allowing you to become more self-aware and to feel more in control of your life.
The psychotheapeutic treatment not only will help you work through your difficulties, but it will also support you in developing the resilience and self-awareness necessary to cope with what life throws your way. There will always be problems and difficulties in life. But what you achieve in therapy is yours to keep, so when circumstances come you will be able to go through them and become stronger, transformed, free. Psychotherapy will allow you to acquire invaluable tools that will help you handle the situations you'll find in the journey of your life. It is a great commitment, but one that brings great benefits.
Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is a process where patient and therapist work together to explore and understand the dynamics of one's mind, from the roots of the presenting issues and the function of symptoms, to the unconscious meaning underneath relationship and behaviour patterns.
So in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy we will try to uncover what is unconscious in what is brought to the sessions, looking for the missing links that connect feelings and behaviours to what goes on in the mind, in the internal world. The psychotherapy process is a multi-dimensional work, encompassing both the past and the ‘here and now’, where therapist and client look into the many areas of life to explore and understand the struggles, the patterns, the conflicts and the relationships.
First meetings tend to be anxiety provoking, and so it can be very difficult to ‘pour out your soul’ straight away to someone you just met. But in the first few sessions you will have the time and opportunity to tell me more about yourself and what has brought you to seek psychotherapy.
This first stage is called ‘initial consultation’, and it happens over 2 to 4 sessions. This is so we have enough time to explore in details your difficulties and what they might be related to. In these first sessions I will ask you some questions to clarify and get a better sense of what you are bringing, as well as share some of my thoughts with you.
In sum, the initial consultation stage is an opportunity for us to meet and have time to think about the issues you want help with and your expectations, also looking into ways in which psychotherapy can help you. There is, of course, no obligation to continue. But if we both agree that psychotherapy is the way forward, we will then discuss some practicalities of the therapy, such as: frequency, fees, absences, breaks, duration, etc.
In the consultation I will also explain how I work and you will have the opportunity to clarify any queries you might have in relation to the process.
If we both feel we can work together in psychotherapy you will then be asked to come either once or twice-a-week. Your sessions will happen at the same time and in the same place every week.
In an environment where there is continuity, confidentiality and containment you will be encouraged to speak your mind, to express any thoughts and feelings, however trivial or unclear they may seem at the time. I will help you to think about the meanings and states-of-mind underneath the words. By understanding what goes on in your internal world you will become more self-aware and will therefore feel more integrated and content in life.
My approach is a non-directive one, and this is so you have the freedom to establish your own pace, to go wherever you feel like in the session. A benefit of such approach is that any insights or breakthroughs achieved in the sessions will come from within you and it will be yours to keep. I will help you to reach those precious moments of awareness by interpreting what may be going on underneath the surface.
As we carry on with the sessions you will gradually be more able to understand the roots of your difficulties and to rethink the issues that may be holding you back so you can better accept yourself and move on in the different areas of your life.
Psychotherapy can help improve your confidence and your self-awareness, also promoting the development of a new network of meanings and perspectives in life. It is a great commitment, but one that brings about a great sense of freedom.
Choosing a therapist is a very personal decision. This is why it is important to take time in the beginning to explore your needs, your difficulties and carefully think about how psychoanalytic psychotherapy can help you.
When you first contact me you will have the chance to briefly tell me what it is you are looking for. If you wish we can then meet for an initial consultation in my consulting room in Central London (Bloomsbury - WC1), where we will be able to explore your issues in depth and think about what they might be related to. It is also an opportunity for you to consider how it feels working with me as a therapist.
Common questions about Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy is a process that helps individuals become more aware of themselves, their relationships and their ‘inner world’. It is a journey where both patient and therapist work together to understand and resolve conflicts and work through painful experiences both in the past and in the present. Psychotherapy works towards bringing to consciousness what may be hidden in regards to how a person feels about him/herself and how he/she relates to others.
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy promotes self-awareness, emotional and personality development. It is different from other therapies in the sense that it looks further and deeper in order to understand what may be related to the issues and problems of the present, aiming to bring about deep and lasting change.
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Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy involves meeting once or sometimes more times a week for 50 minutes sessions. Psychotherapy is a talking therapy, so in the confidential and non-judgmental space of your session you will be encouraged to talk as freely as you can about what goes on in your mind. As a psychotherapist I will help you organize your thoughts and feelings, at times pointing out to what may be hidden or repressed from your conscious mind.
You may find it uncomfortable at first to open up to someone you just met, but as a therapist I am trained and experienced to listen to what you are communicating without prejudice or judgement. And by having the freedom to tell me whatever you feel like, you can establish your own pace, so in the psychotherapeutic process any awareness and insights achieved will have come from within yourself, and so the results are yours to keep.
The truth is that talking does help, and it helps a lot. It can be quite relieving to freely express most inner feelings to someone who is neutral and non-judgmental. Talking is in itself therapeutic, because as you tell something to the psychotherapist you will be helped to revisit and elaborate some areas you might feel stuck in. It will help you carefully think about your experiences.
But a psychotherapy session is not just a normal conversation, like you would have with a friend or a partner. A psychotherapist is trained to listen to what the person communicates in a deeper and more unconscious level. So as you speak I will help you gain new perspectives by pointing to blind spots or repressed feelings you might have in your relationships and experiences.
Psychotherapy can help with a wide range of problems, from more specific and current issues such as bereavement, stress, relationship difficulties or work related issues, to more deep seated and complex problems such as eating disorders, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety or personality disorders.
In the consultation stage (first 2 to 4 sessions) I will help you think whether the issues you want help with can be worked through in psychotherapy, or if you would need a more specific approach or perhaps the involvement of other professionals (i.e psychiatrist, GP) in your care.
When you first call or e-mail me you will have the opportunity to tell me a bit about what it is you want help with. If you wish we could then arrange an initial face-to-face consultation in my consulting room in Central London (Bloomsbury – WC1).
We would initially be meeting at least twice and up to 4 times before we can decide whether psychotherapy is the best option to help you. This is a mutual decision that takes into consideration many different elements, but mainly in the consultation we would be thinking about whether we can work together in psychotherapy in order to help you with your difficulties.
The consultation is also known as assessment for psychotherapy. It is the first 2 to 4 sessions, where we would meet in order to explore in detail what you are looking for, your difficulties and what they may be related to, both in the past and in the present. The consultation is also an opportunity for us see how we feel working together. It is important to develop a connection and that you feel comfortable enough to open up to me as a therapist.
A consultation is also a ‘taster’ of how psychotherapy feels like. In this stage I will share some of my thoughts and interpretations with you, and so you will have the opportunity to experience a bit of the thinking process that takes place in psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
In the consultation we will also discuss whether the help I can offer is enough to contain and support you in your difficulties.
What if I’m not sure psychotherapy is the right treatment for me?
It is difficult to generalize and describe a typical session, because every patient is unique and so is each experience of therapy. But normally in the beginning of a session the person has the freedom to start talking about anything he/she has in mind. I will share my thoughts when appropriate to point out to what in my interpretation might be something significant in relation to what the patient is communicating.
Quite often a person’s experiences or relationship dynamics will be inadvertently repeated and subtly re-enacted with the therapist in the session. For example, a patient might feel that the psychotherapist is acting or speaking very much like their father, which brings out specific feelings or reactions. This is often unconscious, but it is nonetheless an important opportunity to understand something that is happening in the here-and-now of the session, and at the same time related to what may be deeply rooted in the mind. So if patient and therapist are able to understand it and work through, it may help to deal with similar situations or feelings in other contexts.
During the sessions I will help the person establish links that relate feelings and thoughts to experiences (past or present), so they can realise what may be hidden underneath the words, and so find new perspectives and meanings in life.
As the sessions progress, the psychotherapy process will help the person become more integrated, thoughtful and less defensive. It will provide tools that will allow a person to be resilient when situations or painful experiences come up in life.
The very first meeting tends to last between 60 and 90 minutes. Each subsequent session is 50 minutes long.
You may be worried about a loved one and wanting to arrange help for them. As a general rule psychotherapy works best when the potential patient is willing and actively involved in the process of seeking help. However, if this is your case do contact me so we can discuss the situation.
As an accredited psychotherapist in London I abide by the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) Ethical Guidelines.
No, you can just contact me directly.
Source: WHO
Depression is not simply feeling sad or having a bad day. It is a debilitating condition that makes the person feel low for a longer period of time, often coming back over and over again. Sadness, tiredness, despair, low-mood, anger, anxiety, hopelessness and self-loathing are all but a few of the symptoms that a depressed person has to struggle with, often on a daily basis.
Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT) is a type of brief psychodynamic psychotherapy that has been specially developed for the treatment of depression. The therapy aims to help the person understand and work through feelings, thoughts and relationship patterns that contribute to depression. DIT is currently being rolled out nationally in the NHS as a modality for the treatment of mild to moderate depression and anxiety.
DIT focuses on how the person sees and experiences themselves and others, the way this makes them feel and how the person tries to deal with it all in day-to-day life. By concentrating on relationships and feelings, Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy provides the person with the opportunity to step back and think about unhealthy patterns, distortions of thinking and difficult feelings that are linked to depression, helping to promote development and change.
DIT has two principal aims:
DIT is indicated to those struggling with mild to moderate depression. There are online tools that can help in identifying the severity of the depression. However, a consultation with the GP is always advisable if you are uncertain about your condition.
DIT is time-limited and happens over the course of 16 sessions.
The fee for DIT is £100 per session (50 minutes).
If you are interested in pursuing this modality of treatment, please contact me and mention that you are seeking Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT).
Depression affects people in different ways. Whilst some are capable of carrying on with their work, activities and relationships (albeit making everything harder to do and seeming less worthwhile), others can be so debilitated and withdrawn that even something like getting out of bed becomes a struggle. There is also an element of risk involved in more severe cases, where the person's safety must be observed and carefully considered.
On a bad day it feels like a black thick cloud comes upon my head. Everything then becomes darker, more frustrating, pointless.
It is a general consensus amongst the professionals that the best approach to treat depression is the combination between medication and talking therapy. Whilst the medication will target the chemical imbalance, counselling or psychotherapy will help the person work through the emotions and thoughts, as well as encourage thinking about what may be contributing to the depression. Whilst medication will help regulate mood and feelings, psychotherapy will help to bring about long lasting changes to those suffering with depression and anxiety.
I am registered with the following Health Insurance Providers:
*Please note that the fees for Health Insurance Providers may be higher.
*Please consult your provider in regards to your cover, policy and procedure to receive treatment.
I am a BACP registered and accredited Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist working in London (Bloomsbury - WC1), with over 14 years' experience practicing psychotherapy with clients coming from a wide range of backgrounds and presenting the most diverse of issues.
I have experience working both in Private Practice and in the NHS. Throughout my career I have also worked with different institutions and organisations, providing psychotherapy services to individuals and groups. My experience has helped me to develop a non-judgmental, empathic and flexible approach, learning from each client and adapting with each therapy.
I can also provide therapy in Portuguese and Spanish.
I have worked in psychotherapy with clients and patients coming from many different countries and cultures, in different stages and circumstances of life and presenting a great variety of issues. Some of the difficulties I have helped clients with are:
Abuse; Addictions; Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Anxiety; Anger; Bereavement; Bipolar Affective Disorder; Depression; Dissociation; Eating Disorders; Family and Life Crisis; Flatness of Emotions; Low Self-Esteem; Mood Swings; Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD); Panic Attacks; Phobias; Psychosexual Difficulties; Psychosomatic Symptoms; Relationship Difficulties; Violence and Abuse; Stress; Self-Harm; Trauma and Traumatic Events; Work Related Issues.
I see individual clients for psychotherapy in a quiet, secluded and comfortable consulting room in Bloomsbury (WC1).
I am fully qualified, accredited and insured to practice psychotherapy in the UK.
Contact me for an initial consultation, or if you have any queries about how psychoanalytic psychotherapy could help you. My quiet and discreet psychotherapy consulting room in London is located in Bloomsbury, very near Kings Cross Station.
