I am an experienced, UKCP, BACP registered psychoanalytic psychotherapist. I am director of the Eaton Gate Practice and work in Belgravia, London Victoria, SW1. I am also a member of the London Psychotherapy Network. I provide a confidential, safe space where, without judgment or criticism, we can consider what is making you unhappy.

You have to die a few times before you can really live.
Charles Bukowski

About

Sophia Hilsley (FPC, UKCP, BACP)

I offer face to face therapy (my rooms are large enough to maintain a two metre distance and have plenty of ventilation) and online therapy via Skype, Zoom, Teams, Google duo and telephone. Please contact me for further information.

Prior to my career as a therapist I worked as a lawyer. I worked predominately in International relations and foreign policy. I have an understanding and awareness of the difficulty of maintaining a work life balance in today’s driven society and managing academic pressures.
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How I can help?

I have experience of dealing with people from a broad range of backgrounds on a wide variety of issues and difficulties.

I provide regular long-term psychoanalytic psychotherapy and counselling, and short-term therapy, including CBT, Schema and Mentalisation based therapy (12-16 sessions), Couples therapy (trained at the Tavistock) and Mindfulness in a safe, non judgmental setting. I am registered with a number of health insurance providers, including AXA, Aviva, Vitality Health, and Aetna.

Eaton Gate practice therapy room

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What is Therapy?

I work from a psychodynamic perspective, based on the principle that problems and distress in the present may be related to early experiences. Whether your problems are identifiable, or confusing, counselling can help you deal with emotions that are difficult to understand, giving you fresh insight into your life and work in order to find the best way forward.

Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add colour to my sunset sky.
Ravindranath Tagore, 1899

Each therapy is tailored to the individual and it is ultimately a very co-creative process. If we agree to work together, we may then consider for how long – it may be just a few sessions or on an open-ended basis. It is helpful to work out a time-frame from the outset, which we can review as the work unfolds.

You are free to end therapy whenever you choose, although it is beneficial to discuss the ending and plan for it during the course of the sessions.

The following short video from The School of Life helpfully explains what psychotherapy is and why you might seek help.

First Steps

Therapy is a collaborative process; I provide a safe and confidential space to explore and talk openly without discrimination or judgement. Taking the first steps can be difficult, but an initial consultation can help you address any concerns you may have.

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BLOG

Held hostage by the Dopamine Cartels: BigTech’s feast and the remaining void

We live in a time where, for many, the allure – or should we say score – of the next swipe, like, or share is just a flick of the thumb away, we’ve unwittingly become the leads in a ‘structured reality show’ remake of The Matrix ([1999]. Our director? Algorithms with a perversion for human psychology, intent on turning us into the very essence of what we consume: a series of endless, augmented human adverts and mind-numbing distractions. Ted Gioia’s, soberingly insightful and terrifying exploration of the “State of the Culture, 2024” unveils a society teetering on the brink of a post-art, post-entertainment apocalypse.

ACCREDITATIONS
  • UKCP
  • BACP
  • London Psychotherapy Network
  • Counselling Directory
  • WellDoing.org
  • AXA
  • Aviva
  • Vitality
  • Aetna