Mindfulness-Based Core Process Psychotherapy (MBCPP) is the approach behind our work together — but you don’t need to understand the theory to benefit from it. In practice, it means we go at the pace of what your body and mind are ready to notice, rather than just talking about your experience from a distance.

If you’re curious about where it comes from: MBCPP blends Buddhist principles of mindfulness and compassion with psychodynamic psychotherapy — exploring how our early relationships shaped us, and using the relationship between us as a place where that can start to shift.

As such, MBCPP offers a contemplative approach to psychotherapy, an opportunity to slow down and focus on the here and now, and acquire an awareness of yourself as an integrated bodymind rather than a body hijacked by a mind full of thoughts.

Who can benefit from Mindfulness-based Core Process Psychotherapy?

Core process psychotherapy is a good fit if you’re a sensitive, thoughtful person who feels stuck in old emotional and relationship patterns. You may have already spent years trying to understand yourself – perhaps even practising mindfulness or meditation and trying other types of therapy – but still find yourself repeating the same painful relationships, self-criticism or anxiety and have a sense of never quite belonging. Mindfulness-based core process psychotherapy offers a different kind of attention: one that gently helps you understand not only why these patterns developed, but how they can begin to change.

As your therapist, I don’t believe I am an expert on you, but through a process of collaboration and joint enquiry with me in a safe space, you can take the time to get to know yourself on a much deeper level and access that part within you that already knows what is best for you – your core self or true nature. In my experience, this can lead to greater intimacy in relationships and more ease in life as you find yourself better able to deal with challenges and experience an overall sense of wellbeing.

You don’t need to be a Buddhist or have any experience of mindfulness or meditation to experience core process psychotherapy. It is enough to just be as you are.

What to expect in a core process psychotherapy session

Mindfulness-based core process psychotherapy is a talking therapy so in that respect it resembles most other therapy sessions. It is essentially a conversation where you tell me what is causing you suffering and I listen deeply. I am curious to understand you and will probably ask a lot of questions, especially in the beginning of our work together. At times, I will reflect back to you when I notice you are repeating patterns of thought or behaviour that are no longer serving you and gently challenge you when it feels right.

Because it is trauma-informed therapy, we will also feel into what is happening in your body, noticing what happens as you speak and what feelings come up for you. We might take a few minutes at the beginning of the session to do a mindfulness exercise to bring you back into your body, or we might focus on breathing if you’re feeling overwhelmed to help calm your nervous system. Over time, we will keep on coming back to the body, what you are aware of, learning to be with uncomfortable feelings and sensations until they pass. Healing lies in this process of awareness. The more you are aware, the more choice you have, the more you will feel able to bring about change.

Mindfulness-based core process therapy is not about a quick fix. It offers you a safe space where you can slow down and learn to be with uncomfortable feelings without judging yourself. Slowly you will learn to bring self-compassion to your suffering. Learning to be self-compassionate and cultivating awareness, within a safe therapeutic relationship, is how we begin the healing process.

How do we begin working together?

If you like the idea of therapy that takes a mindful and compassionate approach to your suffering, the first step would be to reach out via my Contact page and email me to arrange a free initial consultation. This is a short phone call of no more than 15 minutes in which you can tell me a little about what brings you to therapy, ask any questions you may have and for us to see if we both have availability at the same time of the week.

What happens after the initial phone call?

If I feel I have the experience to support whatever it is you’re bringing to therapy and we are both available at the same time, we can then arrange have a free 30 minute introductory session on Zoom. The introductory session is not a therapy session but it is an opportunity for us to talk a little more about what’s happening in your life, you can ask any questions you may have and get a sense of whether core process therapy is right for you. After that session, I usually suggest we take a few days to think about if we would like to work together. You might also be seeing other therapists during that time to get a sense of who is right for you.

If we do decide to work together, I would ask you to sign a therapy agreement and we would commit to a minimum of 6 sessions together. It takes time to build trust and feel safe in a new therapeutic relationship. After 6 sessions we will have a review and decide if we would like to continue working together.

Therapy logistics

• My fee is £75 per hour. 
• Sessions are for one hour on a weekly basis at the same time and day of the week.
• You can opt for short term therapy (between 6 weeks and one year) or open-ended therapy.
• Core process psychotherapy is only suitable for adults aged 18+.
• You can see me in-person at Relational Spaces in Borough, London SE1, close to London Bridge Station or online via Zoom.
• I have a 48 hour cancellation policy. Please give me as much notice as you can. If you have an emergency and are unable to provide 48 hours’ notice I will do my best to arrange another session time for you in that same week but if that is not possible you will need to pay the full fee for your missed session.