Meet the Therapist: Tara Saglio
Tara Saglio is a psychotherapist in west London and online
What attracted you to become a therapist?
I trained as a teacher and studied psychology at university. During this time I became very interested in people, feelings and relationships. I’ve always cared a lot about people and been very interested in the human psyche so I decided that training as a psychotherapist was my vocation.
Where did you train?
I did an initial training at the Westminster Pastoral Foundation and a four-year full-time training at what is now Tavistock Relations. I have also completed four-years of introductory training at the Institute of Psychoanalysis.
I’ve worked in the NHS, both as an individual and couple honorary psychotherapist. I am currently completing an advanced training in couples psychoanalytic psychotherapy at The British Psychotherapy Foundation.
Can you tell us about the type of therapy you practise?
Although I have a broad range of therapeutic tools, such as counselling skills, CBT etc my work is informed by psychoanalytic theory, which enables me to understand my clients in a much deeper way.
Psychoanalytic work means that as well as the presenting difficulties you are working with the unconscious processes that trouble or confuse the client, in terms of their own self-knowledge and their ability to have lasting and rewarding relationships.
The work is dependent on the psychotherapist creating a confidential and safe environment that leads to an open and trusting relationship between them and the client.
Psychoanalytic psychotherapy has the potential to enable profound and deep change for individuals and couples as they gain an understanding of their internal world.
How does your style of working help couples?
I specialise in couple psychotherapy. Couples often come to see me in great distress and my first job is to help them feel they have a safe and non-judgemental environment to openly express their concerns.
As I get to know the couple, I hope to help them see some of the emotional dynamics that are causing the couple difficulty. Couples begin to own their own earlier emotional experiences which are having an impact on their relationship.
It is essential for the work that each side of the couple feels supported; it is not about someone being right and someone being wrong, the work is about understanding which hopefully leads to a “couples state of mind” which allows for the other persons thoughts and feelings to be taken into consideration.
I also have a lot of experience in working with Individuals where I help them to understand themselves in a deeper way as they process the past, present and future feelings that they struggle with.
What sort of people do you usually see?
I see a wide range of individuals and couples from 18-80 years and work with a wide mix of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
My psychoanalytic training and work in the NHS mean that I have many years of experience helping people who have had to manage traumatic situations in their lives. Clients often present with symptoms of anxiety, depression, stress which may stem from unresolved childhood issues, couple infidelity, financial difficulties, grievances, loss etc. Often dysfunctional coping mechanisms have developed, such as addictions, OCD, phobias etc.
Psychoanalytic work trains the therapist to try and identify what lies behind the persons distress and it is this understanding which has the potential to be freeing.
Have you noticed any recent mental health trends or wider changes in attitude?
After 25 years of practising, I am seeing more people presenting with unmanageable feelings of depression and anxiety. I have also noticed that since the introduction of social media younger people are often struggling with low self-esteem and depression. The pressure on individuals to succeed, both professionally and personally, leads to people feeling stressed and inadequate in themselves and in their relationships.
What do you like about being a therapist?
I find it a great honour to enter into the internal world of my clients. I have enormous respect for people who are able to open up about their own personal difficulties. As human beings we all try to avoid painful experiences that lead to feelings of shame, anger, resentment, loss, envy etc. The process of working through complex feelings with clients often allows for a deep relationship to develop with my clients, which is mutually rewarding.
Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is not just listening, it’s also challenging and I think it’s hard to get better, to feel happier, without first acknowledging and then trying to understand and process who we are.
What is less pleasant?
It can be very frustrating for clients if they feel stuck. Some problems are very entrenched and continue to cause a lot of pain for a long period of time. In these situations, I find that perseverance and keeping alive the hope that things can change is really important.
How long have you been with Welldoing and what you think of us?
I have been very impressed by the professionalism of the Welldoing organisation.
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 a huge variety of psychoanalytic texts, including the work of Freud, Jung, Klein, Bion, Winnicott etc, and many contemporary writers etc. I have also read a lot of popular psychology over the years. I do sometimes recommend books, particularly on issues such as divorce and the impact on children.
What you do for your own mental health?
I have spent approximately 10 years in trainings, all of which require me to have my own personal psychotherapy. I have also been in a five times a week psychoanalysis for many years, which means that I should know myself pretty well by now!
As a therapist I think you’re as good as the experiences you’ve managed to think about and work through yourself.
You are a therapist in Notting Hill, London. What can you share with us about seeing clients in this area?
Notting Hill is an area of great cultural and socio-economic diversity, perhaps more than any other borough in central London. This means that I have years of experience of working with different cultures, ethnicities and income brackets.
What’s your consultation room like?
I run a private practice in a Mews house dedicated to psychotherapy. The practice is five minutes from Notting Hill Gate tube station and has five private and discreet therapy rooms, which offer a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
What do you wish people knew about therapy?
I wish people knew that therapy was not something to be ashamed of, but if taken seriously can lead to improved mental health and even change your life considerably for the better.
What did you learn about yourself in therapy?
I learnt not to be ashamed of my weaknesses, vulnerabilities, fears and negative emotions, but to try and process, integrate and understand them.
