Valerie Gage

I currently offer one-to-one sessions and couple sessions online, with a limited number of face-to-face appointments available in Islington, London.

I鈥檓 recognised by AXA PPP, Aviva, and Cigna insurance providers. You鈥檙e welcome to check your eligibility when we arrange an initial consultation.

I also welcome media and organisational enquiries. Please feel free to get in touch to discuss your needs and my organisational rate.

Hello 馃憢馃従

I鈥檓 Valerie 鈥� Trauma Therapist, Psychotherapist, and founder of The Quiet Root 鈥� a gentle, grounded space for high-functioning people living with trauma, quiet overwhelm, or long-term grief.

I often work with those who seem steady on the outside but feel something quietly fraying within. People who鈥檝e coped for years, supported others, stayed 'functional' 鈥� and yet carry something in the body that hasn鈥檛 fully found space.

Many of the people I work with are emotionally aware and have often tried therapy before. But something remains: a sense of tiredness, disconnection, or feeling far from themselves.

You may be living with the effects of trauma 鈥� relational, historical, developmental, or unspeakable. Or you may not call it trauma at all 鈥� just a quiet, ongoing overwhelm that鈥檚 hard to name.

My approach is somatic and relational. We move gently, at the pace your nervous system allows. We listen together to what your body has learned to carry, where it holds, where it protects.

There鈥檚 no rush, no pressure to perform. Just space to notice, to soften, to be met.

Practice description

The Quiet Root is a space for people who function well 鈥� but feel worn within.

I work with individuals navigating complex trauma, anxiety, emotional shutdown, long-term grief, and quiet overwhelm. Especially those who鈥檝e carried pain for years without space to process it.

My practice offers particular care for:

Those impacted by relational or sexual trauma

People who grew up needing to stay strong

Those grieving what never had space to be named 鈥� whether a person, a self, or a story that never got to unfold

I often work with people who鈥檝e felt unseen, unheard, or misunderstood in other spaces. Who鈥檝e coped by disconnecting. Who sense that something in their body is still holding 鈥� even after years of 'moving on.'

This is a steady, somatic space. There鈥檚 room for silence. For noticing. For remembering what your body has been carrying all along.

If you鈥檇 like to get a feel for my approach before reaching out, I write quiet reflections here:

馃摦 thequietrootreflections.substack.com

My first session

The first session is a gentle landing.

You don鈥檛 need to explain everything. You don鈥檛 need to know what to say. We take time to arrive.

You might share what brings you here 鈥� or what hasn鈥檛 yet had space to be spoken. You might not have many words at all. That鈥檚 okay.

We鈥檒l begin slowly. I鈥檒l ask a few grounding questions to help us orient. I鈥檒l listen 鈥� not just to your words, but to how your body carries your story.

We might begin to notice what your nervous system has learned 鈥� where it protects, where it guards, where it鈥檚 braced for too long. There鈥檚 no pressure to go deep right away. We stay with what feels safe enough.

Whether you鈥檙e new to therapy, returning after time away, or curious about somatic work 鈥� you鈥檙e welcome here.

Sessions are 50 minutes and take place online or in-person in Islington, London (subject to availability).

You don鈥檛 need to prepare. Just come as you are.

I am currently offering supervision online, via zoom. Limited availability for face-to-face soon. 

I also welcome organisational enquiries - please get in touch to discuss your requirements and my fees. 

I offer supervision to individuals and groups and my experience enables me to supervise you within the context of your practice.

My supervision is primarily based on person centred principles, focusing on the therapeutic conditions and the client/therapist relationship.

I aim to help you develop presence in your relationships with clients, to become open to your own experiencing in response to client material, and develop your confidence and capacity to work with clients at depth.

All enquires welcome!

For Counsellors and Psychotherapists in training, please consult your training provider regarding contract requirements and supervision reports