Helen Santa Maria: Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist, Reading, RG1

Helen Santa Maria

Psychoanalytic psychotherapist

Reading RG1

Verified

Has availability

About 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 can I expect from psychoanalytic psychotherapy?

Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is a mode of psychotherapy which takes into consideration a person’s unconscious as well as their conscious thoughts and feelings. Sometimes we simply don’t understand why we feel the way we feel or act the way we act. Having a therapist who works psychoanalytically can help you explore your feelings, thoughts and actions at a deeper level, it gives space for things that are unbearable to think or speak about. It is well suited to those who are not looking for a quick, “easy fix” but are interested in the detailed, and sometimes difficult, work of understanding themselves. Together we would work together to get a picture of your unconscious processes and think about how they might be playing out for you in unhelpful ways.

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.

Locations

View practice address

First Practice

Address

More Info

The Practice Rooms
31 Castle St
Berkshire
Reading
RG1 7SB

Issues often worked with

Anxiety

Bereavement

Depression

Divorce

Emotional abuse

Interpersonal relationships

Self-esteem

Self-harm

Suicidal thoughts

Trauma

Addiction

Anger

Types of therapy

Psychoanalytic

Psychodynamic

Therapy offered

In person

On video

Client groups

Adult

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.