Emma Azzopardi

I am a UKCP-accredited Psychotherapist and Transactional Analyst with a background that bridges the corporate and clinical worlds. Before retraining in psychotherapy, I spent over 18 years in Human Resources and Organisational Development within the Financial Services sector. This experience has taught me the weight of professional life: the unspoken pressures of leadership, the complexity of career transitions, and the specific exhaustion that comes with huge responsibility. You won’t have to spend our sessions explaining the context of your work stress; I already speak that language. My aim is to provide a grounded, compassionate partnership where we look beyond the performance to the person underneath. How I Work: Restoring Autonomy I believe that real change happens when we understand both the mind and the body. My approach combines the depth of relational therapy with practical insights from neuroscience and Transactional Analysis (TA): Nervous System Regulation: When we are under constant pressure, our bodies can get stuck in a state of hyper-vigilance or "functional freeze." We work together to help your nervous system move out of survival mode and back into a state of physiological safety and clear decision-making. Decoding the Script: We often live by internalised rules formed early in life, such as "Be Perfect" or "Work Harder." In our sessions, we explore how these unconscious patterns are affecting your current life and help you reclaim the autonomy to choose how you respond to pressure. Practice Details I work with individuals and couples in person and online throughout Hertfordshire, London, and the UK. I offer a space that is intellectually engaging and emotionally safe, with particular experience in: Burnout & Chronic Stress: Moving from exhaustion to a more sustainable way of living and working. The Inner Critic: Navigating imposter syndrome and the relentless internal pressure to perform. Life Transitions: Finding your footing during redundancy, career shifts, or professional loss.  I am committed to ethical, non-discriminatory practice and welcome individuals of all cultures, faiths, and sexual orientations. On a personal note, I am half English and half Maltese, born and raised in London. This blend of cultural and professional backgrounds helps me bring a grounded, practical stance to psychological ideas, ensuring our work is not just "theory," but a partnership that creates real change.