FIND AN EMBODIED THERAPIST
Looking for a therapist or an embodied supervisor?
You can find details of some of the therapists who have completed their training at the Institute of Embodied Psychotherapy on this page. They are highly skilled practitioners that come from a wide range of therapeutic approaches and are also trained in Integrative Embodied Psychotherapy.
The therapists are listed under general geographical areas. You can find out more about their therapeutic background by checking the individual listings. At the end of each entry there are contact details which usually include a link to a website where you can find out more about them; email and phone numbers for you to contact them directly.
If you are about to start training at the Institute of Embodied Psychotherapy please note that this is not the approved training therapists list (although there is some overlap). The training therapists list can be obtained from our office by request.
LONDON
Belinda Sherlock - Working in London, N1 0PN and online
I am a creative and embodied therapist, supervisor and facilitator, working with adults and teenagers. My approach is integrative, so I collaborate with clients to discover which creative, body-based and/or talking tools might best meet their needs. My practice centres around supporting people to draw on their own well of wisdom, grow in their self-compassion, get to know their nervous systems better, feel more connected to themselves and others, and explore the different roles, cultural systems and spaces they occupy in the world.
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Clients approach me to work through trauma, stress, anxiety, grief, or feeling stuck, low or dissatisfied in some way in their lives. I work in a trauma-responsive way, prioritising a client’s sense of safety, and taking time to build an authentic, trusting and therapeutic relationship.
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I am a qualified dramatherapist and integrative embodied psychotherapist, and draw on additional training and practice in compassion meditation, tai chi and qi gong, Internal Family Systems, systemic reflective practice, therapeutic ritual and therapeutic improvisation. In sessions we might use breath work, movement, visualisation, creative writing & story, voice work, role work and meditation practices – all these support clients to contain and process difficult experiences, to regulate the nervous system, to explore their inner and outer world, and to tap into their playful, creative self.
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Alongside private practice, I have 9 years’ experience as a therapist in the NHS (forensic mental health) and have delivered therapy to individuals and groups in schools, PRUs, refuges and community centres. I am a qualified clinical supervisor working with therapists and creative practitioners, and a workshop & training facilitator. I am also currently doing doctoral research into creative practice in prisons.
More info: www.playfulwellbeing.com
Email: belinda@playfulwellbeing.com
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I am a BACP-registered and UKCP-accredited psychotherapist offering both online and in-person sessions. Although I initially trained in integrative-transpersonal psychotherapy, my approach to therapy is constantly evolving as a result of my client work and my ongoing professional development and interests. At its heart, however, is the deep-seated and clinically-proven belief that a lot of our present difficulties are the result of relational wounding, and that it is within the context of an attuned, empathic relationship - such as the therapeutic relationship - that healing and growth can take place.
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My interest in working in an embodied way emerged out of my own growing - and often frustrating - realisation that although insight and awareness are key and noble aims of the therapeutic process, change is usually elusive or short-lived unless it drops from a mental/emotional realisation into an embodied experience – until we can feel it in our body and gut, in other words.
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Working with embodiment means making the body’s inner wisdom explicit, allowing it to share its experiences and history in its own language, and tapping into its natural resources and healing propensities to feel safe and grounded in the world. I work with a range of tools and techniques from different theoretical and trauma-processing orientations, integrating them, however, creatively and organically into the therapeutic process.
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I have experience working with individuals who have suffered from depression, loss of meaning, relationship difficulties, exploring their sexual orientation, spiritual crisis as well as covert and overt sexual abuse and prolonged developmental trauma. I have in-depth clinical experience and have researched extensively the often less visible and less talked-about wounding stemming from a difficult or absent relationship with the father, supporting both male and female clients with coming to terms and moving past the impact that such ‘father’ wounding has had in their lives.
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More info: spirosphilippas.co.uk
Email: spiros@spirosphilippascounselling.co.uk
Phone: 07903160888
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Katarina Gadjanski - Working in London W4, Athens/Aegina (Greece) & online
My therapeutic background is in transpersonal psychotherapy, integrative psychosynthesis,
body-oriented psychotherapy, movement therapy and group work. I am a trainer at the Institute of Embodied Psychotherapy and offer mentoring & embodied supervision to psychotherapists and counsellors interested in integrating Embodied Psychotherapy approach into their practice.
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I enjoy working with people who are interested in spiritual development and inner transformation, and offer mentoring and guidance in embodied spirituality.
I've been practicing various forms of meditation for over 30 years, so I am particularly interested in bringing the therapeutic elements of meditation and spiritual practice into my work. I also have a background in music and dance and I love using creativity, music, sounding, movement, creative arts and guided visualisations in my therapeutic work.
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Over the past 15 years I've undertaken extensive research and training in the area of somatic therapies and neuroscience in relation to trauma work and I specialise in an embodied approach to trauma healing.
I am a great believer in 'collective healing' and am passionate about holding groups, workshops, retreats and community events and co-creating holding spaces for healing within groups and communities. Over the past 20 years I've been facilitating retreats, therapy groups, CPD trainings and personal development workshops in the UK and internationally.
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Please note that at present I am not taking any new client work (for one-to-one psychotherapy), only embodied mentoring/supervision and group work.
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More info: www.embodiedpsychotherapy.org.uk/aboutus
Suad Ahmed - Working in London, SE1 1LL and online
I hold space for women to step away from the chaotic thoughts in the mind and ground down into the body, to tune into intuition, acceptance, love and compassion plentiful there. Through my own experience and that of my clients I have a deep belief in our bodies capacity to heal our emotional wounds and we are the experts of our own lives.
My approach to Psychotherapy integrates a person-centred approach, mindful Self Compassion and Internal Family Systems with body oriented tools to connect with their own voice through finding safety and regulation in the body, processing emotions through remembering and mourning. And moving into internalising the strengths and compassion learnt from the processing.
The issues I work with include: Self Confidence, Self Identity, Relationship difficulties, Domestic abuse, Grief, Depression and Anxiety, Trauma, Stress management, Anger management, Personal development & Premenstrual syndrome.
I am an accredited member of BACP.
More info: https://www.journeywithinuk.com/
Email: connect@journeywithinuk.com
Phone: 07729988551
Eszter Ivan - Working in London, SE1 4PH and E8 2PB & online
I have always been passionate about helping people to facilitate changes in their lives. My approach incorporates reconnecting with our body`s wisdom and to use it as a resource. By providing a non-judgmental, embodied space I support my clients to explore and express their emotional difficulties and to find a way to reconnect with their authentic self. Clients approach me with relational difficulties and feeling stuck, with the experience of burnout, with psychosomatic symptoms, or to develop self and body awareness.
I originally trained as a psychologist in 2008. My interest in the mind-body connection led to doing further training in integrative hypnotherapy in 2012 and later in dance movement psychotherapy in 2015. One of my areas of expertise is in working with grief, and I am trained in the grief recovery method in 2017. I currently provide dance movement psychotherapy (UKCP reg), therapeutic coaching, grief recovery work for adults in private practice, and work as a student counsellor for IRIE! Dance Theatre Company. I am passionate about supporting students’ mental health in higher education to be able to flourish.
I am also interested in creative and embodied approaches in the treatment of medically unexplained symptoms and I am currently doing a part time Phd in psychology and dance, my research title is: A Feminist Interdisciplinary Investigation into the Efficacy of the Moving Pieces Approach to Managing Medically Unexplained Symptoms.
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I am a supervisor, qualified at Relation Change (http://www.relationalchange.org), and do get in contact if you are interested in embodied supervision online or face-to-face.
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More info: eszterivan.co.uk
Email: eszter@eszterivan.co.uk
Phone: 07784899404
Jo Harley - Working in London, SW11 and online
I’ve had the pleasure of working as an Arts psychotherapists and supervisor for over fifteen years in clinical and educational settings, witnessing first-hand the healing and transformational benefits of the creative arts.
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I strongly believe in the healing capacity of the arts as I’ve experienced this myself in my own life. My approach incorporates using different art forms such as writing, image and story making, role-play, and movement, with mindful awareness. This helps clients tell their story in alternate ways, sometimes for the first time, expressing their feelings using verbal and non-verbal forms of communication. This process allows for more implicit material to be shared and reflected upon. By including the whole body in this process, we can engage with the felt sense of our experience, not just the narrative. In this way, different meanings may emerge that were previously hidden, bringing new perspectives and understanding.
Working with arts in this embodied way can help cultivate emotional resilience, build self-esteem, promote personal insights, and reduce inner conflict and distress, to name a few of the benefits.
I work with a focus on self-compassion and acceptance, as many times it is our self-judgement that can be one of the biggest hurdles, and bring a spiritual aspect into the work, where a deeper meaning and purpose may be found. No previous experience of the arts is necessary, just a willingness to participate and explore. (Working with adults only)
I have a BA in Arts therapies and MA in Drama and Movement therapy. I’m fully registered with the HCPC and BADth. I’m also a certified life coach and hold certificates in Psychosynthesis Counselling, Theory and practice of Psychodrama, and Embodied Psychotherapy.
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I also work as a Creative Arts supervisor for therapy students, and qualified therapists and counsellors, and enjoy my own practice as an artist.
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More info: www.joharley.co.uk
Email: creativelifecoaching@joharley.co.uk
Phone: 07939048942
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HOME COUNTIES
Samina Ali - Working in Watford, Hertfordshire WD24 and online
I work as an Integrative Body-Oriented Psychotherapist registered with ADMP-UK, BAATN (Black, African, Asian Therapy Network) and IEP.
I believe in co-creating a non-pathologising, compassionate, curious, unbiased and creative, psycho-spiritual space - that maintains the person's sense of agency within the therapeutic alliance. I work with all age ranges, and have the most experience in working with Complex/Trauma, Neurodiversity, social isolation, racism and prejudice, depression, transpersonal issues, and where possible I love to work with individuals and groups out in nature, as an added resource and therapeutic alliance!
My work is informed by Neuroscience, Neurobiology & Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology – where research demonstrates how real change can be fostered by circumventing engrained habitual patterns of thinking, behaviour, and chronic stress, through improvised and spontaneous movement and expression, imagination, embodied meditation, encouraging non preferential movement qualities, and focusing on the nervous system in times of hyperarousal e.g. over stimulated nervous system, fight /flight/freeze/fawn; and hypoarousal e.g. dissociation, collapse, numbness and avoidance. This also informs my approach that wants to de-colonise therapy, and understands how western culture has translated into a normative approach, and I therefore endeavour to offer a cultural and diverse sensitive space.
More info: youtube.com/watch?v=Z6eH4L52z7Y
Email: alisdmp888@gmail.com
Phone: 07946 463543
SOUTH WEST ENGLAND
Tasha Colbert - Working in Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 and online
I have been working for over 20 years as a embodied psychotherapist, I originally trained in dance movement psychotherapy and worked in the NHS and other institutional settings before establishing my private practice in 2008. I also supervise and mentor psychotherapists and teams in the caring professions and offer online Embodied Supervision groups.
My approach is integrative and trauma informed, meaning that I draw on a range of approaches with a special interest in working with the body, which is often a barometer for our emotional state. I believe that embodied psychotherapy can help us discover our strengths and resources and I have found that working with the body - alongside verbal expression - to be an effective way to gain insights to our problems, often in direct and surprising ways.
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My approach is non-judgemental, supportive and creative, and rather than telling you what to do, I will work with you to overcome challenges you are facing. As I do not believe that 'one way fits all', I will tailor my approach to meet your needs. I draw from the following approaches but do not use all of these with all clients: somatic mindfulness, movement psychotherapy, creative arts, somatic experiencing, parts-work informed by IFS and other parts models. I also hold a deep understanding of the autonomic nervous system which informs my work.
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My psychotherapy practice for long term therapy is currently full. I occasionally have slots for shorter term embodied psychotherapy become available, so if you are interested in this, please get in touch.
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More info: www.embodiedpsychotherapy.org.uk/aboutus
Email: iembodiedpsychotherapy@gmail.com
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Catherine Macer - Working in Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 and online
I am BACP Accredited psychodynamic and body-orientated counsellor working with both adults and adolescents in a variety of settings including counselling services, secondary schools, and in private practice. The heart of my work is to develop a collaborative therapeutic relationship; to create a safe, empathic and permissive space into which you can bring whatever you need to bring. My work is relational and client-led, meaning that I use our relationship to gain insights into your wider life, and that I adapt my approach to best meet your unique needs.
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My core training is psychodynamic, so I’m interested in unconscious patterns learnt from early childhood experiences, including attachment patterns, as well as life transitions, and the impact of trauma. I also have a deep faith in the innate intelligence and wisdom of our bodies, so invite your embodied experience into the work through sensing, movement, sounding, visualization and other forms of creative expression. Mindfulness is often a key part of this, as is psychoeducation.
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I trust in the transformative power of telling our stories, of being witnessed and held in expressing the full range of our feelings, and in reconnecting to our bodies, and so to the earth. I believe that we can each find our own unique healing journey, with non-judgemental, honest, sometimes challenging, but always compassionate support. My intention is that through the work you will develop a more holistic understanding of yourself, integrating your many parts with acceptance and self-compassion, and that this will empower you to make the changes you seek and live more authentically as you.
More info: www.stroudcounsellor.co.uk
Abi Newman - Working in Bristol, BS5 and online
I am a fierce believer in people, I see our ability to find tenderness in the most challenging of moments. I know that we all have the potential to meet and integrate our innate power and wisdom, I also know and understand that being human and being in a body can be a challenging experience.
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Our bodies carry within them the legacy of our life experiences; our attachments, our traumas, our abandonment, our belonging and our becoming.
Acknowledging the stories and language of your body can offer another dimension to therapeutic work and creates a space to explore the difficulties in your life that do not seem to move or change simply by talking about them.
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I will be with you to witness, support, guide and offer my curiosity to your process. I work in an embodied collaborative intuitive way, with wholehearted belief in your power and wisdom. I may use a frame drum or music in session should it feel supportive for you in your process.
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I draw upon practices from internal family systems/parts work, somatic experiencing, body mapping, dance movement psychotherapy and core Shamanism.
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Mindful movement, breath awareness and visualisations are at the heart of what I offer in a session.
I feel driven and passionate about holding a therapeutic healing space for people to find movement in their bodies and deeper connection with their hearts.
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More info: embodied-wellbeing.co.uk
Email: contactembodiedwellbeing@gmail.com
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Una Tracey - Working in Bristol, BS5 9DU and online
From my own experience I understand what a mix of uncertainty, courage and distress can be involved when you are approaching therapy. I also know the importance of being able to trust my therapist and to know that what I bring is held safely and respectfully by an experienced professional. I have a deep respect for and belief in, the unique potential for healing and growth within everybody.
I will listen carefully and give my full attention not only to your words and your emotions, but also to the feelings held in your body that may have been difficult to express.
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In the 25 years that I worked as a McTimoney Chiropractor I observed and learned how intricately and integrally connected our life experiences and emotions are to the body. Since qualifying as an integrative humanistic counsellor, I’ve studied and experienced how effective embodied approaches can be in achieving profound and lasting change.
I have a wealth of in-depth experience in working with complex trauma and abuse and I can help you understand how the resulting huge range of feelings, confusion, fear and self-doubt may have impacted and overwhelmed you. Because everyone is an individual I will adapt and tailor my approach to suit you. Whatever you bring, we will work creatively together to explore, relieve and understand, at a pace that feels manageable for you.
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Email: una.tracey@gmail.com​
Phone: 07754 759 652
Catherine Hockley - Working in Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 in person and online.
I run a charity and offer sessions in person in Devizes. My initial training was in Play therapy which I qualified from in 2010. I have continued my professional development completing training in Systemic family therapy, Non-violence resistance therapy, embodiment Psychotherapy, couples therapy and somatic trauma therapy.
Since completing my own therapy training I have now developed training to equip other professionals in this field. Through the charity we offer a level 6 diploma in integrative creative and play therapy which is accredited through NCIP and meets the membership requirements for BACP and ACC.
Through Create Hope we offer a range of therapeutic support to children, young people and adults. We also offer systemic family group sessions, offering a more holistic approach. Our approach works with creativity, play and the body to help clients develop self-awareness, process past trauma, explore and express themselves and develop resilience.
Our heart is to give people a voice and help them find their voice through the creative process. Incorporating different aspects in our work, we are client led, working at the client’s pace, and providing a safe, non-judgmental space.
We are a Christian charity, however work with people from all faith and non-faith backgrounds. We accept referrals direct from families, from schools or other organizations. We recognize for the some covering the cost of therapy is not affordable so we have a bursary fund available.
More info: www.createhope.co.uk
Email: catherine@createhope.co.uk
Phone: 07720970717
David Matthews - Working in Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 3JD and online
At the heart of my approach to counselling is a trust in the wisdom of the body. I believe that with the right support, we can reconnect with our own body’s innate ability to heal itself, and move beyond the patterns of the past, towards a greater sense of self, which has more vitality and more joy within it.
I often work with people struggling with difficult, painful life experiences (such as childhood trauma, bereavement, addiction, sexual abuse, depression, anxiety, and relationship breakdown) who want to bring more creativity, connection, playfulness and meaning into their lives.
For me, it’s important that we take time to build a safe, trusting, genuine relationship, and I draw on a range of trainings, disciplines and practices to do this, at times using meditation, creativity, imagery, poetry and story to help care for body and soul.
I’m a fully insured, accredited member of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society. Please do contact me if you have any further questions.
More info: www.callofthesoul.co.uk
Email: david@callofthesoul.co.uk
Phone: 07528269690
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EAST ANGLIA
Kim Bowers - based in Suffolk - working online
I have worked over 20 years as an integrative psychotherapist. Since training with IEP in 2017 l have been working with the body, believing that our connection to it is key to regulation and aids a deeper understanding who we are.
l have lived experience and a deep understanding of relational, developmental and intergenerational trauma; how it affects mind, body, emotions, psyche and the soul.
Being human can be challenging depending on our experiences and traumas.
In this world we are bombarded with constant information ; it's more important now than ever before to find embodied places in which we can feel anchored. l have witnessed both personally and professionally that the body has the ability once it has the tools, and more regulation to hold our stories with care, compassion and help us the onwards journey into healing.
My approach is non-judgemental and l work empathically and intuitively. l offer a safe supportive space, enabling reconnection with the body. Together we can explore the resources for grounding, enabling for emotions to process and regulate.
I work sensitively with the nervous systems and within its window of tolerance, getting to know and understand our nervous systems to create more regulation and balance.
I draw upon informed approaches ie; Poly Vagal Theory, Somatic, IFS ,Attachment theory, Mindfulness and Self Compassion. Each one of us is unique and as every therapeutic relationship is also unique, some of these approaches will be drawn upon depending on your needs.
I have held a regular practice in various forms of meditation for over 30 plus years. I embrace supporting people who wish to deepen and develop themselves on their spiritually journey as well as supporting therapists interested in integrating somatic approaches into their practice. I also offer embodied mentoring and supervision.
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Email: kim.bowers2@yahoo.co.uk
Phone: 07905699253
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NORTHEN IRELAND
Helen Farrell - Working close to Omagh, BT78 1SX
The relationship between me and my clients is based on trust, honesty and respect, and this is at the very heart of my counselling. My original training was in Humanistic counselling (Person-Centred/Existential) and since qualifying I have deepened my practice through training as an Embodied Psychotherapist. I have experienced first hand the powerful transformation that can occur when we tune into the wisdom and experience held within our physical being. My work often involves paying careful attention, with my client, to the sensations they notice in their bodies as we talk, and then working directly with that sensation through breathing, movement and visualisation.
I am a qualified Meditation teacher and my practice often harnesses meditative states to further strengthen and explore connections to the body and felt emotions.
I often work outside with clients, in natural spaces, to integrate movement and connection to nature to the work, as these can be very powerful healing agents. I believe that re-connecting to our natural world can bring real clarity, perspective and peace as we navigate, together, through challenging times.
I am an Accredited member BACP and a registered supervisor and I offer supervision to therapists interested in working with an embodied approach.
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More info: https://freshairtherapy.uk/
Email: freshairtherapist@gmail.com
Phone: 07868 616374
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OUTSIDE UK
Edina Matyas - Working in Hungary and online
I have trained as an Integrative, Transpersonal counsellor with special emphasis on the Soul and the Soul’s journey. This modality incorporates a range of aspects of other therapies, such as humanistic, existential, psychodynamic, psychosynthesis, etc.
My training experience in Embodied Psychotherapy and Somatic experiencing felt like the missing piece I was looking for. I feel that Transpersonal approach and Embodied Psychotherapy complement each other perfectly and fully represent me as who I am as a therapist.
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I strongly believe in our bodies’ wisdom and its ability to heal itself so one of my main aim is to help clients to reconnect with theirs.
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I feel that many of the physical ailments are the result of a discord between the body and the Soul so in order to recover, reconnection is needed.
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In my work I also use creative tools such as drawings and visualisation and I like to give space for spirituality where there is an interest.
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More info: counselling-directory.org.uk/counsellors/edina-matyas
