Helen Santa Maria
Psychoanalytic psychotherapistAbout Me
Most people find themselves in emotional distress at some point in their lives, sometimes the distress doesn't pass and it leaves us feeling despairing and confused. You may be struggling with anxiety, depression, overwhelm, trauma, stress, anger, identity issues or maybe you can't put your struggles into words.
Perhaps you've been thinking about having counselling or psychotherapy for a while now and would like to find out if it's right for you.
I offer open ended or time limited psychoanalytic psychotherapy in a confidential, calm and comfortable setting in central Reading. I also offer online sessions on zoom.
What would happen in the sessions?
I am interested in whatever is on your mind in any given session, no matter how seemingly small, trivial or odd it might seem to you. This can also include your dreams. Sessions are not structured and you will not be given "homework" to do in between sessions. In psychoanalytic psychotherapy, the relationship with your therapist is key to understanding your unconscious internal world. I would work with you in an interested, non-judgemental way to help uncover hidden, deep-rooted behaviour patterns, or defences, that you developed in your early years but are no longer serving you.
Issues often worked with
Therapy offered
Client groups
Fees
Sessions are between once and three times a week at The Practice Rooms, 31 Castle St in central Reading. I also offer online sessions on Zoom.
If you would like to speak further about whether psychotherapy with me might be right for you, I offer a free telephone or zoom conversation where we would have a brief chat about what brings you to this point and how we might work together. Following that, we would have an initial consultation where you can tell me more about what brings you to therapy. This then gives you a chance to think about what therapy might be like and whether I am a suitable therapist for you. The consultation is chargable at the usual session rate.
Fees are £50 per session.
*Low fee opportunity* From mid January 2025 I will have a low fee opening for someone who wishes to attend twice weekly therapy in Reading for a minimum commitment of eighteen months. The fee for this is £20 per session.
Missed sessions are charged for, though I try to rearrange sessions where possible.
Training and qualifications
I am a UKCP Training Member psychoanalytic psychotherapist with the Association of Individual and Group Psychotherapists (AGIP). I currently work in private practice and I have previously worked as a Psychodynamic Counsellor at South Bucks Counselling.