Meet the Therapist: Jennifer Clarke
Jennifer Clarke is a therapist in Putney, London and online
What attracted you to become a therapist?
I worked for many years in the mental health sector working closely with family carers of someone with a mental health diagnosis and the desire to qualify as a psychotherapist originated from this. Stepping away from this career to re-train certainly took some courage on my part given that I mostly stopped earning, so finding the right time to begin was to a large extent, driven by personal finances. But once I started my training, I knew I had made the right decision. I’ve never looked back. It’s about trying to make a difference, albeit small. I love what I do.
Where did you train?
I studied for my Master’s in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and Counselling at Goldsmiths, part of the University of London. I also did some CBT training at Oxford University plus some person-centred counselling training again at Goldsmiths.
My thought was to gain a breadth of training across several approaches. Training was of course challenging at times but I really feel having a range of theories to draw upon in my ‘armoury’ has served me well.
Can you tell us about the type of therapy you practise?
It generally depends on whether I am working with a client on a short or longer term basis. If there is a limited time, then I might tend to adopt CBT-orientated skills. For other work, I like to think psychodynamically and work to find links with the past and support clients to see things through a different lens. I don’t have a set approach. Every client and every challenge is unique.
I am not prescriptive but especially when working with adults, psychodynamic thinking is my preference as I believe we have a greater chance of getting to the root of problems that in many cases, have been unresolved for a long time.
How does psychodynamic therapy help?
While psychodynamic work can take time and be challenging work for clients, I have found that ultimately this approach really does get to the underlying cause and only then, can clients begin to move on without the likelihood of the reoccurrence of the same challenges resurfacing again and again.
I liken this approach to a jigsaw. You need to initially sort all the pieces out in order to start creating a different picture.
What sort of people do you usually see?
I work with adults and teens offering one-to-one sessions. My preference has always been to work face-to-face as for me, something is somehow lost online or on the phone.
I have worked with people experiencing all sorts of difficulties. Sometimes it is clear why their struggle exists and for others, clients feel lost and unsure about why they feel as they do. I find that the common link with most issues is loss; this could be a bereavement, identity, school, home, direction, responsibility, confidence, relationship etc.
Anxiety, OCD, binge-drinking, self-harm, relationship changes, peer pressure, anger and change in role are common problems I support clients with but there are of course many more. Often clients have multiple issues they are grappling with which induce anxiety and/or depression. Life is complex so is it really any surprise that the stresses of life can be multiple and being entangled.
Have you noticed any recent mental health trends or wider changes in attitude?
I would certainly state that the ramifications of Covid are commonly being seen time and time again in my therapy room.
I also am hearing a lot of anxiety about the environment as the psychological impact of financial strain and how this is detrimental to one’s self-esteem, self-perception and mood.
What do you like about being a therapist?
We all experience challenging times in our life and need someone to ‘shine a light’ for us during these dark moments. I enjoy meeting different people in my work and watching them evolve and learn and develop throughout our sessions. I am humbled and fascinated by the human capacity. Being a therapist helps you to really listen to others and in fact, yourself.
What is less pleasant?
I have to take time off like most people and it is important that I have a break and keep well. But admittedly, this can be hard, especially when you know some clients are really struggling or in crisis. I try to support and prepare clients as much in advance as I can for breaks but nevertheless, a week of not seeing each other can be tricky at times.
How long have you been with Welldoing and what you think of us?
Welldoing was recommended to me as a helpful platform to promote my business. I only joined a few months ago.
What books have been important to you in terms of your professional and personal development? Do you ever recommend books to clients?
I have read many books and articles which I draw upon in my work. I particularly like the work of Donald Winnicott, Daniel Stern, Pauline Boss and Jessica Benjamin. I like the books written by Patrick Casement and have suggested these to some of my clients in the past.
What you do for your own mental health?
I eat well, walk and listen to many music genres and watch live music whenever I can. I also enjoy writing and watching movies to relax. Finding escapism in this fast, noisy reality is vital to my wellbeing in both my personal and working life.
You are a therapist in Putney, West London. What can you share with us about seeing clients in this area?
I chose to set up my practice rooms in Putney because it is so well-served by transport links – the tube, train and buses. It’s also a diverse area and I like the fact that I do not see a ‘typical’ client but that my clients come from all different backgrounds. I think it is important that therapy is available and accessible to all.
What’s your consultation room like?
If I was going to therapy, it is exactly how I would want it to be. Warm, welcoming, professional, cosy, clean, quiet. The chairs are really comfortable and the lighting is soft and calming without being dim. I have a waiting room outside my room which is also as described. I am proud to work where I do.
What do you wish people knew about therapy?
That if you find a therapist you connect with, they will not judge you but will care and be with you as you navigate through the complexities that bought you to therapy in the first place. Also, more people come to therapy than you might realise. Don’t worry – just try it.
What did you learn about yourself in therapy?
That we are all vulnerable, precious and special and happiness and sadness run very closely to each other. I also learnt that we are all better than we give ourselves credit for and that people generally do care for each other.
