Renata Ritchie:

Psychodynamic Psychotherapist Trainee (BACP Student Member)

My name is Renata Ritchie. I am a Trainee Psychodynamic Psychotherapist, undergoing a formal part of my training at Birkbeck, University of London. I work at the low-cost counselling and psychotherapy services at HQ Therapy Rooms in Haggerston and Dalston, Hackney, London E8.

My interest in the complexities of the human mind started many years ago while studying literature. Owing to Freud’s discovery of the unconscious and how it affects much of our behaviour, thoughts, and feelings, I attempted to deploy this lens in my understanding of the characters. Soon, I realised that no one was exempt from the tyrannical power of the unconscious, manifesting in our physical and mental suffering.

Freud’s discovery of the unconscious mind still remains one of the main cornerstones of present-day psychodynamic psychotherapy and an important theme in the thinking of theorists that followed after him. In our sessions, we will attempt to explore the depths and breadths of your unconscious mind and look at how it might be affecting various aspects of your life.

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy also takes into consideration the fact that our childhood and past experiences affect how we think, feel, and behave as adults. However, the connection between the past and present often remains hidden from our conscious awareness. For example, you may experience somatic, psychic, and behavioural symptoms but be unable to make sense of them in the context of your life.

Accessing therapy might seem like a daunting prospect, due to the fact that you may not know what to expect or simply fear it.

It might be reassuring to know that the key to a psychodynamic approach is a unique therapeutic space and a supportive relationship that the therapist creates, based on values of trust, acceptance, reliability, and confidentiality. I strive to create this comfortable space in order to facilitate the free expression of your innermost thoughts and feelings.

In this context, your unconscious patterns of relating and the uniqueness of your inner world are likely to be reflected in a relationship with me. Reinforced by your ability to express strong, genuine emotions, this process can gradually lead to the creation of insight. This, in turn, might foster the desired change in how you relate to yourself and others.

As a student member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), I adhere to their Ethical Framework.

I have gained considerable experience volunteering for eighteen months at a charity for people who feel that their lives are not worth living and those who experience suicidal ideation. I have worked closely with clients presenting with depression, anxiety, grief, obsessive-compulsive disorder, PTSD, EUPD, self-harm, and many other mental health problems.