Attachment-based Counselling in London
See all counsellors in LondonWaitlist for new clients

Tanya McDonnaugh
Psychologist, PsychD, HCPC - Clin. Psych.
Verified
Verified
My name is Dr Tanya McDonnaugh and I am a chartered Clinical Psychologist (CPsychol), registered with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). I am experienced at assessing, formulating and treating a variety of psychological, emotional, behavioural and relationship difficulties, big and small. You might be struggling with a specific problem like anxiety or low mood, or maybe you have the sense that you are just not functioning at your best. Perhaps you have noticed difficulties in relationships, with your self-esteem, or in your ability to engage with daily tasks.

Salwa Jayyusi
Psychotherapist, MSc, MUKCP
Verified
Verified
I am an integrative psychotherapist and couple counselor. I work with a range of approaches to suit your individual needs. I have over 20 year’s experience of working in various settings including the NHS with clients from different cultures and backgrounds.

James Austin
Counsellor, MSc, MBACP
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I was helped tremendously by my own experience of therapy, and have been influenced by a variety of approaches to it. I know a thing or two about depression, not caring much for oneself and struggling to understand one’s feelings; I come at it as one who has seen for himself that a better life and a better relationship with the self is both possible and worthwhile. If you would like to know more about me, how I understand therapy and how I work, you might want to visit my website, where I write about all at some depth. For the purposes of this profile, I will try to be succinct.

Rayna Denitsova
Psychotherapist, PhD, MUKCP
Verified
Verified
If you are struggling with intimate relationships, it feels difficult to find and keep a partner, a recent break-up is keeping you hostage or your relationships are following the same pattern, it might be crucial to find someone you can talk to instead of bottling everything up. I use a combination of psychodynamic,
attachment-based
and Jungian approaches to help individuals think about their relationships in a safe and non-judgemental space. We can also explore issues around sexual identity, desire, sexuality, sexual abuse, affairs and betrayal. I also work with anxiety, depression, and disordered eating patterns.

The Eating Disorder Psychologist
Psychologist, DCounsPsych, AFBPSsS
Verified
Verified
Our therapeutic approach encompasses the following models of therapy: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy; Schema Therapy:
Attachment-based
Therapy; MANTRA, SSCM and Integrative Psychotherapy.
Recovery from an eating disorder is hard work. Working through daily challenges takes courage, strength and persistence. We are a team of eating disorder specialists consisting of psychologists, psychotherapists, dietitians, recovery workers and body movement therapists who provide holistic evidence-based treatment for children, adolescents, adults and families. We employ a virtual treatment platform that enables our partnerships to grow and work together effortlessly. Through the use of technology, we are able to implement solutions to help clients access specialist treatment and support at any locality.

Beth Cleveland
Psychotherapist, MSc, MUKCP
Verified
Verified
I am an attachment based psychotherapist who works in Southwest London. At the heart of attachment therapy lies the consideration of your relational experiences, how they effect your ability to maintain relationships in adult life and how they can effect your ability to live well. Psychotherapy can help you understand yourself better. The role of a psychotherapist is not to tell you what to do, but to provide a different experience of being seen, understood and relating. Psychotherapy provides a confidential space to express yourself and reflect on problems and their underlying causes.

Lorna Livingston
Counsellor, MBACP
Verified
Verified
I provide a confidential, non-judgemental and accepting space for you to explore your emotions, issues and difficulties and express your thoughts and feelings. My aim is to help my client gain a better understanding of their situation. I have experience working with people from all different backgrounds and dealing with a wide variety of issues.

CBT & Coaching for Couples & Individuals
Psychotherapist, MSc, MBACP
Verified
Verified
Getting the right help at the right time can change your life. I offer evidence-based therapy & coaching, which draws on the latest research into what works. Whatever issues you are facing, my aim is to help relieve your distress in the most effective way possible. I do that by drawing on approaches backed by decades of research, as well as recent developments in neuroscience. I am Chair of The Bowlby Centre, the leading body in the UK for
attachment-based
therapy. I am also an ILM-accredited Coach and the co-Director of The London Centre for Applied Psychology - which provides evidence-based training to mental health professionals.

Dr Melissa Barry
Psychologist, HCPC - Clin. Psych.
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I draw on several models in my clinical practice, such as CBT (including CFT and ACT), Systemic and
attachment-based
theory.
Being a parent/caregiver can sometimes feel very challenging, especially if your child is experiencing difficulties. Are you left wondering whether you are getting it right? It may be that you want to strengthen your relationship with your child and think about how you communicate with each other. We may also think about how you are taking care of your own needs and how to self-regulate your emotions in a healthy manner. Perhaps you are concerned about your child’s mental health and are looking for a way to help your child feel like themselves again. No matter what you are both going through, things can get better.

Dr Emma Larsson-Thomas
Psychologist, HCPC - Clin. Psych.
Verified
Verified
The main approaches I use are
attachment-based
(psychodynamic, MBT and TFP) but I also draw on ideas from CBT, systemic and DBT.
I am a qualified Clinical Psychologist with over 10 years experience. Individuals coming to see me may be considering therapy for a specific concern or difficulty (e.g. anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties) or have a specific question, event or life transition that needs attention. Others may have noticed that they are stuck in unhelpful and painful patterns. Or perhaps wanting to get to know themselves on a deeper level or change the way they interact with themselves.

Dr Cat Douglas
Psychologist, PsychD, HCPC - Clin. Psych.
Verified
Verified
I take a trauma informed and
attachment-based
approach to understanding the roots of these difficulties, and how they continue to impact in the present.
I am a Chartered Clinical Psychologist (CPsychol), registered with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). I have over 10 years experience of working in mental health settings across the NHS and private practice. I have additional training in specialist modalities including Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. Everyone has their own unique challenges and struggles and so I provide a tailored approach to therapy, drawing from a range of evidence-based models, to suit your individual needs.
Not accepting new clients

Dr Lana Renny
Psychologist, PsychD, HCPC - Clin. Psych.
Verified
Verified
I am a Clinical Psychologist, registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Currently based in London and Margate with over eleven years of experience in the NHS working therapeutically with adults, young people and families. In my current NHS role as a Senior Psychologist I offer individual therapy and family work in addition to providing consultation, training and supervision to staff. If you are struggling with anxiety, stress or low mood, or perhaps low self esteem and relationship problems, I am here to support you.

Dr Keren Smith
Psychologist, PsychD, HCPC - Clin. Psych.
Verified
Verified
Dr Keren Smith worked for the NHS at South London and Maudsley Foundation Trust from 2009 until 2022 where she and her colleagues set up the pioneering National and Specialist Dialectical Behaviour Therapy service for adolescents. Keren has seen clients independently since 2012 and works with both adults and adolescents with a wide range of difficulties. She has a particular interest in working with people with a history of trauma and symptoms associated with PTSD and CPTSD; she has completed further training in specialist trauma focused models including EMDR and DBT-PE.

Dr Rachel van Schaick
Psychologist, PsychD, HCPC - Clin. Psych.
Verified
Verified
I draw heavily from
attachment-based
approaches, which means there is a focus on safety in close relationships.
I am specialist in supporting children, adolescents, parents and families. I offer a range of psychological services, including child assessments, child treatment and help for parents. Whatever your child's need and stage of development, I can help to make sense of current challenges, dilemmas and strengths. I will utilise evidence-based approaches to tailor a bespoke package of intervention. I have over 12 years experience of working in children's mental-health services in the NHS, local authority, third sector and independent settings. I am the founder of Raising Minds Child and Family Psychology.

Rhiana Nelson
Psychotherapist, MA, MBACP
Verified
Verified
However, I frequently use
attachment-based
theory and Gestalt practices as therapeutic tools.
Hello, I'm Rhiana. I am an integrative psychotherapist and counsellor. We all have times when we need someone impartial, caring and present to listen to us. Therefore, I endeavour to co-create clear therapeutic goals that will help to elicit change. I work with a variety of clients who are looking for someone to help them understand their concerns, from a place of non-judgment. I specialise in working with depression, relationship issues, social isolation and identity confusion.

Shokoufeh Basset
Psychotherapist, MA, MBACP
Verified
Verified
Besides, I draw on theories from different schools of thought, including interpersonal, object relations and
attachment-based
principles to psychotherapy.
As an experienced Clinical Psychotherapist, I provide counselling to adults and couples. I describe myself as an Integrative Clinical Psychotherapist; My experience and training have enabled me to develop expertise in various treatment models which enables me to draw on different approaches and techniques that suit the person you are and the issues that you are presented with. I am trained in Psychodynamic, Existential and Person-Centred therapies. My theoretical approach is predominantly informed by psychoanalytic/psychodynamic therapy, which explores how the unconscious mind influences thoughts and behaviours.

Julie Friend
Psychologist, MSc, CPsychol
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I have a special interest in
attachment-based
psychotherapy, which focuses on early relationships and their impact on current state of mind and interactions with others.
What's on your mind? Perhaps you have suffered a loss, or you are experiencing a low mood which seems to have appeared out of the blue. It might be that anxious feelings are overwhelming you, or that your relationships feel challenging or even destructive. Painful childhood experiences could be impacting your current life and your relationships in a way that feels unmanageable. Or perhaps none of the above - you just can't quite identify what you're feeling and would like to understand yourself better. Whatever your struggles I am happy to meet with you to discuss how I can help.

Dr Helen Devonshire
Psychologist, HCPC - Clin. Psych.
Verified
Verified
I am trained in applying Systemic, Cognitive-behaviour Therapy, PBS, and
Attachment-based
approaches into my work.
Seeking therapy can feel confusing and overwhelming. I am focussed on making this process as comfortable as possible for my clients. I am an experienced, relationally trained, clinical psychologist with a particular interest in understanding problems from a systemic and family perspective. I work to create a non-judgemental, and empathic space for difficulties to be explored. I am keen to support clients to develop their own therapy goals and collaborate to find solutions to achieving these. I have over 12 years experience of working in Psychology and disability services in the NHS.
London W5
& Online
Not accepting new clients

Dr Lola Olukotun
Psychologist, PsychD, HCPC - Clin. Psych.
Verified
Verified
As an integrative practitioner, the range of approaches I use include: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT); Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT);
Attachment-based
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy; Mindfulness Interventions; Family Therapy; and Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT).
I have worked as a therapist for many years and enjoy helping people make sense of their experiences. I value hearing each person's story and supporting them to find inner calm, understanding, and change unhelpful patterns. There are many reasons why people seek therapy and would like someone to talk to. I have specialist interest and experience in working with a variety of difficulties, primarily depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship issues and attachment difficulties. I am experienced in working with people of all ages, as well as couples, families and groups.

Raffaella Hilty
Psychotherapist, MA, MUKCP
Verified
Verified
I am an Analytical Psychologist and an
Attachment-based
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist.
The choice to start psychotherapy may come for a variety of reasons. Becoming aware of repeating patterns of behaviour, struggling in personal and professional relationships, coming to terms with a particular traumatic event, or with feelings of depression, lack of purpose and meaning. Ultimately, there will be a unique reason for each person. Whilst my work takes into account the influence of the past onto the present, it also places as much attention to the future and to the fact that in the present psychological suffering there may be the potential for a meaningful new direction.
See more therapy options for London
Attachment-based Counsellors
Is attachment-based therapy the same as attachment therapy?
Attachment-based therapy may be confused with what is called “attachment therapy” (sometimes called “holding therapy”), a discredited and dangerous approach to treating children with attachment disorders, autism, or other mental health concerns. Attachment therapy—not attachment-based therapy—may involve restraining a child, forcing eye contact, and other coercive or abusive techniques. None of these practices are used in attachment-based therapy and the two modalities are in no way related.
What should I expect from attachment-based therapy?
Attachment-based therapy is based on attachment theory, which posits that children’s early relationships with their caregivers strongly influence their ability to navigate the world later in life. Thus, adults who seek attachment-based therapy should expect to deeply explore their childhood, identifying the dynamics or experiences that disrupted their attachment and the steps necessary to overcome challenges that arose as a result. Parents and children should expect to explore the possible factors that disrupted the parent-child relationship and work toward restoring trust and connection.
How long does attachment-based therapy last?
Certain forms of attachment-based therapy, especially those designed for parents and children, last for a set number of sessions; for example, Attachment and Biobehavioural Catch-Up, a specific attachment-based approach for young children who have undergone early adversity, unfolds over 10 one-hour sessions. When attachment-based therapy is practiced on adults or combined with other modalities, it may not last a specific length of time; clients may wish to ask prospective therapists how long they expect treatment to take.
Does attachment-based therapy work?
Most of the research on attachment-based therapy focuses on children and adolescents. Some of this research shows a positive effect, especially for attachment-based family therapy (ABFT). Other studies, however, have found that attachment-based therapy is no more effective than other approaches to childhood depression, anxiety, or suicidality. Less is known about the therapy’s efficacy on adult populations.