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� Somatic Therapist, Psychotherapist, and founder of The Quiet Root 鈥� a gentle space for those living with long-term grief, trauma, or quiet overwhelm.

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, and stayed 鈥榝unctional鈥� 鈥� yet still carry something in the body that hasn鈥檛 quite settled.

Many of the people I work with are emotionally aware and have tried therapy before. But something remains: a tiredness, a sense of feeling far from yourself, or a part of you that鈥檚 never had space to speak.

You might be living with grief, but not always in recognisable ways. Maybe you鈥檙e carrying the aftershock of caregiving, the quiet ache of a past loss, or the long-held strain of always staying strong. You may not call it grief at all 鈥� just a quiet, ongoing overwhelm.

My approach is somatic and relational. We go gently. We listen to what your body has learned to carry, and we move at a pace that honours your nervous system.

If you鈥檙e considering working together, we鈥檒l begin with a short email exchange or free 15-minute call. I offer one-to-one sessions online and in Islington, London (subject to availability). Sessions are 50 minutes.

You don鈥檛 need to be ready. You don鈥檛 need to have the right words. Just come as you are.

The Quiet Root is a space for high-functioning people living with long-term grief, trauma, or quiet overwhelm.

You might look steady on the outside. You might be the one others turn to 鈥� capable, reflective, emotionally aware. But inside, something may feel tired. Far away. Unspoken. You may have tried therapy before, but still carry something in the body that hasn鈥檛 yet found space to settle.

This is where we begin.

I offer one-to-one therapy online and in Islington, London (subject to availability). Sessions are 50 minutes long, held weekly, and shaped to support those who have been carrying things quietly for a long time.

I often work with people who are grieving 鈥� but not always in ways the world recognises. This might include the loss of a child, the ache of infertility, a baby born still, or the slow depletion of long-term caregiving. It might also be the grief of never having been seen. Of childhoods that asked too much. Of a self that had to stay strong for too long.

Many of the people I work with are also living with the impact of relational or sexual trauma. Experiences that were dismissed, minimised, or never spoken aloud. You might carry a deep sense of shame, or find yourself disconnected from your body in ways you can鈥檛 quite explain. This work offers space for that too 鈥� slow, respectful, and without pressure.

My approach is somatic and relational. We move gently, listening to how your body has learned to protect you. There鈥檚 no pressure to speak, no rush to explain. We begin with presence 鈥� and build a space where your system can soften, slowly.

If you鈥檇 like to begin by reading, I have begun sharing quiet reflections here:

thequietrootreflections.substack.com

Our first session is a gentle beginning. There鈥檚 no pressure to explain everything, or even to know what you want to say.

We鈥檒l take time to arrive.

You might share what鈥檚 brought you here, or what鈥檚 been quietly sitting beneath the surface. You might talk about things that feel unfinished, overwhelming, or just hard to name. You might also not have many words at all 鈥� and that鈥檚 okay.

I鈥檒l ask a few simple questions to help us find our footing. There鈥檚 no rush, no need to perform, and no expectation to go deep straight away. I鈥檒l be listening 鈥� not just to your story, but to how your body speaks, where it holds tension, where it鈥檚 learned to stay guarded.

This is a space where all of you is welcome 鈥� even the parts you鈥檙e unsure how to bring.

We might also begin to notice patterns. Places where your nervous system has adapted, where you've learned to cope, protect, or disconnect. This can be part of how the body survives grief, trauma, or long-term overwhelm 鈥� and it鈥檚 something we can gently stay with, without needing to fix it.

If you鈥檙e new to somatic therapy, I鈥檒l guide us with care. We won鈥檛 go anywhere your system isn鈥檛 ready for.

You don鈥檛 need to prepare anything in advance. You don鈥檛 need to be 鈥渞eady.鈥� Just come as you are.

The first session lasts 50 minutes and takes place either online or in-person in Islington, depending on what feels right for you.

You鈥檙e welcome to ask questions or simply bring your presence.

From the beginning, this space will move at your pace.

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