Kartika Ladwal

I currently have slots open on a Tuesday evening and Saturday morning for both in person and online sessions. Please reach out to me via email and we can discuss what suits you best.

I am a relational psychodynamic psychotherapist, educator and researcher interested in developing a deep understanding of our individual and collective psychosocial lives. In my practice, I work with person-centred and psychodynamic principles and consider the therapeutic relationship to be at the heart of our work together. I am committed to co-creating a relationship with you that feels both gently supportive and challenging in a meaningful way to facilitate deeper awareness of yourself. 

My practice is informed by an awareness of trauma and a commitment to anti-oppressive and queer affirmative lenses. I consider the wider landscape of experience as we work together to address what brings you to therapy. I will strive to hold your best interest in mind and to hold with care the stories that you will choose to bring to our work together.

The choice to begin therapy is a deeply personal one. There are several reasons why you might arrive at this point and my hope is that we can work together to find what you need from the therapeutic process to help you live a more full, integrated life.

I work from a relational psychodynamic perspective and am curious about the ways in which our unconscious minds are shaped in response to our individual and collective histories. I will bring this curiosity to help an understanding of early patterns and how they might show up in the present, in relationships, and in the room. I will work collaboratively with you to facilitate deeper awareness of where you might be hoping for more understanding, for something to shift, or to help process unexplored experiences.

The therapeutic process is rarely straightforward. I appreciate the body’s wisdom and believe in working at a pace that feels holding enough while recognizing the need to acknowledge and grieve painful experiences. My hope is that you feel seen and understood in our work together.

In my role as a psychotherapist, I have experience of working with several concerns such as anxiety, depression, identity, gender and sexuality, loss, life transitions, relational challenges, complex trauma, intergenerational patterns and socio-cultural dynamics. I consider the social world to be intertwined with psychological life and appreciate the challenge of navigating difficult socio-political environments. I welcome an exploration of this in the room, if this feels relevant to you.

Overall, my hope is that we can build a relationship together that can be both gently supportive and challenging in a meaningful way.

Our first session is an opportunity for both you and I to explore if therapy together feels like the right 'fit' for you. This session lasts the full therapeutic hour (50 minutes) and is charged at the normal fee. I will share my working agreement with you prior to us meeting for us to discuss any questions and explore expectations. This is also an opportunity for me to understand what your needs from therapy might be and if we can work together to hold them in a way that feels supportive for you.