Sebastian Petzolt

I am a psychodynamic psychotherapist, qualified to work with both couples and individuals.

I offer a safe and respectful space where you can bring any concerns you may have about your emotional and mental well-being. Sessions with me are confidential and non-judgemental, inviting you to express yourself freely and talk openly about anything in your life that you find distressing or upsetting. I’m here to listen to your thoughts and feelings and worries, and help you reflect on your experiences, both present and past. Together, we will try to make sense of what you are going through. As you begin to understand yourself more, this can help you feel less in the grip of your problem, so you can become freer in your choices and begin to make changes in your life. Over time, therapy can help you develop a less conflicted and more complete sense of yourself.

Some clients come seeking help with a particular concern, such as low self-esteem, a bereavement, or a traumatic experience. Other clients are troubled by a general sense of dread, anxiety, or low mood, and want help putting their concerns into words. Clients who feel unhappy in their relationship may consider couple counselling, where their partner can join them, and they can try to work through their difficulties together.

I trained at Tavistock Relationships, an internationally-renowned provider of relationship counselling. I obtained a clinical qualification in Couple and Individual Psychotherapy, accredited by the BACP. I also hold an MA in Couple and Individual Psychotherapy from the University of East London, and recently completed a Foundations Course in Analytical (Jungian) Psychology with the Society of Analytical Psychology.

I offer counselling and psychotherapy to both couples and individuals. A reduced-fee service is available for young adults aged 18 to 25. At present, all sessions are online via Zoom. I welcome clients of any ethnicity, culture, and religion, irrespective of social background, sexual orientation, or gender.

When we first meet, we will discuss what you hope to gain from your therapy. As each person is unique, I will try to keep your individual needs and concerns in mind throughout our work together.

My approach is predominantly psychodynamic. It is centred on the assumption that, in addition to our conscious thoughts and feelings, there are parts of ourselves which we are not always conscious of, but which nevertheless shape our experiences and relationships. They tend to be rooted in our past but can significantly contribute to our present difficulties. They can make an equally significant contribution to our wellbeing, however, if we are able to engage with them, as we attempt to do in psychodynamic therapy. This can be a very creative process, for instance when we interpret dreams or use art and literature to make sense of your experiences.

Unless there is a reason to agree on a fixed number of sessions, it’s usually more helpful in my experience to treat the therapy as an ongoing process, allowing you to heal and develop in your own time. As the therapy unfolds, we will keep a keen eye on what’s changing for you, and on what isn’t. You are free to end your therapy at any time, but I normally recommend discussing this in advance and bringing our work to a close over a period of sessions.

While therapy can be an immensely helpful and enriching experience, it is also a big commitment, in terms of time and money, and also emotionally. I usually suggest that we meet for 2 or 3 initial sessions, for you to get to know my therapeutic style and ask any questions you may have. It will also allow me to get a sense of your situation and the difficulties that have led you to reaching out. If it then feels to both of us that I am the right therapist for you, we can arrange weekly sessions. Otherwise I will endeavour to refer you to a colleague who is more able to meet your therapeutic needs.

The initial session will be charged at the same rate as ongoing session. It will last the usual 50 minutes.