Katya Solomon:

Trainee Psychotherapist (BPC student member)

I am a “Psychodynamic Psychotherapy” student at the Tavistock and Portman Mental Health NHS Trust. Prior to that, I completed two year-long certificate courses at the same Trust – “Introduction to Counselling and Psychotherapy” and “Psychodynamic Reflective Practice in Mental Health“.

I came to study Psychotherapy at the mature age of 45, having had a lot of life experience: I immigrated from another country, had a career in Financial Services, started a family and had three children, who are now teenagers, and I also qualified and worked as a tourist guide.

Like that of the other Londoners, my life was busy and stressful and I sought relief by trying out different psychological modalities: group counselling, meditation, exercise, self-help and therapy. Learning about mental health improved my own life and had a very positive knock-on effect on my family and friends.

I found that Psychodynamic Psychotherapy is the deepest, most effective and most fulfilling way of treating past traumas, anxieties, feeling down, relationships and other problems, which might be damaging our day-to-day mental well-being.

My practice of talking therapies on a one-to-one basis started at Family Friends charity, where I volunteered as a befriender for just over a year. I then moved on to be a Peer Support at Mind in Haringey, where I am still helping.

With the support of professional supervisors, I learned how to listen to and hear the other person’s story, how to allow the thought process to happen naturally, and how to make it not just a superficial entertaining conversation, but a deep and thoughtful human connection, which helps to bring up difficult questions, which ultimately could be relieving and healing.

It has been nearly two years since I have been helping with activities on locked male Acute psychiatric wards, first at Mile End Hospital and now – in South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust. It is a privilege to learn about Service Users’ journeys in mental health from first-hand experience. There are ups and downs in this work, but it is always rewarding and enriching.

My other NHS work experience was in Royal Marsden Cancer Hospital – from “Greet and Meet” and “Pet as Therapy” to an emotional support volunteer on the Chemo ward. Some of the patients there found it helpful to connect with another human being while being treated. It made the time go by faster and sometimes brought smiles back on their faces.

In the 2 years at RMH I learned more about courage, strength and happiness than I did in my life up until then.

I am looking forward to offering Therapy sessions to someone, who is hoping to improve their mental wellbeing.