Hello. I am a Counselling Psychologist and I provide intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP). Next to my private practice in Central London I also work at the Priory Hospital North London and the Priory Wellbeing Centre Harley Street. I have previously worked in the NHS in both primary and secondary care settings.

As a Counselling Psychologist I trained in person-centred counselling, psychodynamic psychotherapy and CBT. Thereafter, I completed a training in dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) and then a 3-year training in intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP). I am passionate about psychotherapy and providing a high level of care, and I regularly attend ISTDP supervision and training groups.

I have experience working with a wide range of emotional problems including depression, generalised anxiety disorder, anxiety related difficulties such as panic disorder and phobias, low self-esteem, relationship issues, trauma and abuse experiences. I am also experienced working with people who have been diagnosed with, or may identify with symptoms of borderline personality disorder such as dissociation, self-destructive behaviours (e.g., self-harm), unstable relationships and difficulty managing painful feelings such as anger and sadness.

I look forward to hearing from you to arrange an initial session, or to discuss any questions you may have.

About ISTDP

ISTDP is an emotion focused therapy. It is based on the understanding that our emotional health is dependent on positive and nurturing experiences with our parent(s), relatives, friends and teachers in our formative years. We learn to avoid our healthy feelings such as happiness, anger and sadness if they frequently break our most important connections. For example, if your caregiver(s) did not support you to cry when you were saddened by loss, to be assertive and set boundaries with healthy anger, or to feel happy when you were successful, then you may experience excessive anxiety and further problems such as depression, low self-esteem, worry, self-attack/devaluation, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, rumination, obsessions and compulsions, procrastination, perfectionism and relationship issues.

Therefore, ISTDP places a strong emphasis on ways you may avoid emotional intimacy with others when you make yourself vulnerable and talk about your feelings, views, wishes and problems. Examples are avoiding eye contact, speaking quickly and smiling when you say something that is painful to you.

ISTDP is also unique in its focus on the moment-to-moment monitoring of your physiological anxiety symptoms such as muscular tension, dry mouth, sweaty palms, nausea, dizziness/feeling faint, foggy thinking, racing mind, ringing ears and dissociation. This will help you to regulate your anxiety in a healthy way, and to assure that your therapy proceeds at the right pace for you.

In an environment of safety I can help you to make contact with your feelings that were once a threat to your most important relationships, so you can make the positive changes you want in your life. Through this process you can really understand the development of your emotional problems and become your own therapist.

I provide further information about me, ISTDP and the therapy process on my website: https://johnmoulderbrownistdp.com