Esther Benson

Availability

I work in person across Central and West London, and online throughout the UK and, where appropriate, internationally. I currently have availability at my offices in Ealing, Chiswick, Richmond and Soho, as well as online.

Appointments are available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Sessions last 50 minutes and cost £75 for individuals and £110 for couples or groups.

I work throughout the year, except for Bank Holidays and my annual holiday break during August.

I also offer a free 30-minute introductory session. This allows us to meet, discuss what you are looking for from therapy, ask any questions and see whether we feel we could work well together. I believe that establishing a good therapeutic rapport is an important part of finding the right therapist for you.

Counselling, Psychotherapy & Beyond- LONDON

Hello, I’m Esther, a qualified psychotherapeutic counsellor and psychotherapist with over 20 years’ experience working in the mental health sector. I am a member of Â鶹ԭ´´ and UKCP.

I offer a warm, confidential and non-judgemental space for adults who may be struggling with anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, low self-esteem, loss, life transitions, relationship difficulties, or challenges involving work, finances and wellbeing.

I am particularly interested in how childhood experiences, family patterns, relationships, culture and the beliefs we carry can shape the way we experience ourselves and our lives.

A distinctive area of my practice is the impact of religion and spirituality on mental health, identity, relationships and life choices. Faith can bring meaning, strength and hope, but religious beliefs can also become oppressive, punitive, fear-based or limiting, particularly through shame, control or misuse of authority.

I have my own lived experience of examining and unpacking limiting and punitive religious beliefs while remaining a woman of faith. I understand that questioning what we have been taught does not necessarily mean abandoning faith; it can be part of finding a more authentic and life-giving relationship with it.

My practice is called Counselling, Psychotherapy & Beyond because I am interested in what lies beyond the beliefs, patterns and experiences that may have restricted your life, and in making space for possibility and change.

I offer individual, Couple, and group psychotherapy and counselling for adults, online and by telephone, with short- or longer-term therapy and single-session therapy (SST) depending on your needs.

People come to therapy for many different reasons. You may be experiencing emotional distress, relationship difficulties, anxiety or depression, or the effects of trauma or difficult earlier experiences. You may be facing changes in your work, finances, family or relationships, or have a sense that something in your life needs to change.

I am especially interested in the areas where our inner world and our relationships meet: how we have learned to see ourselves, what we expect from others, the roles we have taken on, and the beliefs that may be shaping our choices.

For some clients, spirituality and religion are central to this exploration. I offer a respectful space to examine questions of faith, meaning, doubt and belief, including the impact of religious experiences or beliefs that have become oppressive, punitive, shame-based or limiting.

My approach is thoughtful, compassionate and gently challenging. I believe therapy is a collaborative process. I will listen carefully, but I will also help you notice patterns and consider possibilities that may be difficult to see without help.

You do not need to arrive with everything worked out. Therapy can be a place to pause, make sense of your experience and begin to discover what might lie beyond what has previously limited you.

My first session is an initial assessment and an opportunity for us to meet, discuss what has brought you to therapy and consider whether we may work well together. This session is charged at my usual rate.

For individual clients, the first session is structured slightly differently from those that follow. Before we meet, I will send you an assessment questionnaire so you can see the areas we may discuss in advance. We will work through it together during the session, and you will never be expected to answer anything you do not feel comfortable sharing. The questionnaire provides helpful background and allows us to develop an understanding of what has been happening for you, which can guide our therapeutic work.

For couples or groups, I ask each person to complete the questionnaire before our first meeting. This allows us to use the session to focus on the main concerns, hopes and goals for the work, while keeping the relationship at the centre of our therapeutic process.

You will have space to ask questions about me, my approach and how therapy works. We can also consider what you are looking for from therapy and whether I am the right therapist for your needs.

I believe that a trusting therapeutic relationship and good rapport are important foundations for effective therapy. The first session gives us both an opportunity to consider whether you feel comfortable, listened to and able to work openly with me.

You do not need to have everything clearly worked out before we meet. We can begin wherever you are and explore your concerns together, including difficulties with relationships, emotional wellbeing, life transitions, work, finances, trauma, faith, spirituality, meaning or beliefs that may be limiting your life.

If we decide that working together feels appropriate, we can discuss the next steps and whether short- or longer-term therapy would be most helpful.