A space to dwell in what truly matters
Counselling & psychotherapy for adults (18+) in St Albans, London and online
About Me
Background
I trained as an existential psychotherapist with an interest in what is at stake in the struggles, dilemmas and tensions that are encountered in life. Before turning to psychotherapy, I worked for a number of years in community development and alongside adults with autism and complex needs offering crises and outreach support.
A real interest in the many ways meaning and belonging can be created, as well as how the social and cultural contexts we find ourselves can inform how we see ourselves and relate to others and the world was developed studying anthropology as an undergraduate.
I first met loss in childhood. That experience informs how I understand loss as a shared part of being human that is uniquely lived, and how I stay alongside others in theirs. Be it through the death of loved one, relationship endings, or a growing awareness of one's own mortality, I truly believe in the importance in having a safe space alongside a caring presence to feel what is felt and speak to your experience.
Outside the therapy room, I find rhythm in nature, movement, the crackle of a record, and getting paint on my hands.
Clinical Experience
My clinical experience includes one-to-one short-term bereavement and loss counselling in a hospice setting supporting people with life-limiting illness and their families.
I have also offered one-on-one longer-term, low-cost psychotherapy to adults (18+) in Islington for a service that is broadly existential-phenomenological in its approach, and through an online service offering low-cost, accessible counselling. Across both, I have worked with a range of issues including relationship difficulties, meaninglessness, low self-esteem, stress, isolation, sexuality, self-harm, and interpersonal trauma.
Training & Accreditation
I studied and trained at Regent's School of Psychotherapy and Counselling, where I gained an understanding of integrative and psychodynamic approaches before taking the existential pathway, and going on to complete a postgraduate certificate in Existential Psychotherapy.
I have the following qualifications:
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Foundation in Psychotherapy & Counselling, Regents University
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MA in Psychotherapy & Counselling (Existential), Regents University - Distinction
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PGCEP in Counselling and Psychotherapy, Regents University
Professional Accreditation
I am a registered member (no. 2011197589) of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and the Society for Existential Analysis (SEA), part of the Constructivist and Existential college of the UKCP.
Code of ethics
I adhere to the UKCP code of ethics and complaints procedures. I am committed to continuous professional development through regular supervision and training.
Welcome
I'm Tom, a UKCP registered counsellor and psychotherapist working with adults struggling in some way, whether with loss, change, anxiety, depression, trauma or a quieter sense that something isn't quite right.
Together, we become curious about your unique lived experience: your sense of self, the relationships that matter to you, and the circumstances you find yourself in. Through exploring your life at depth, having both painful and everyday experiences acknowledged, and your sense of who you are affirmed, something may begin to loosen. New meanings and possibilities for how you move forward may emerge.
All genders, ethnicities, cultures, faiths and beliefs are welcome, as are LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent identities. However you arrive, I will meet you where you are. I bring a deep respect for both difference and what we all share in being human.
My Approach
Exploratory and relational depth is at the heart of my practice.
I am here to be alongside you as you make sense of your own life and what it asks of you rather than tell you how to live.
What is Existential Psychotherapy?
Dialogue
Existence
Meaning
Every therapeutic encounter is unique and co-created through a genuine meeting between two people.
Here you can speak freely to your experience, and say what is not always possible in other spaces where there is an expectation to be a particular way.
All I ask from both of us is a willingness to speak openly and honestly, and pay attention to what unfolds, as best we can.
We are all thrown into an uncertain world we did not choose. The past and the future live with us in the present. We are not defined but shaped by our relationships and experiences.
Human existence is more like a verb than a noun. We are always in motion rather than static entities. I am not here to treat you as an object to be fixed or reduce you to a label, but to meet you as a person making sense of your own life.
Together we can explore whatever you are encountering, the choices open to you within the limits of your situation, and how you find your way.
Navigating a path in how we live our lives involves reflecting on what is at stake for us, and the stand we are going to take on who we are and how we find meaning. This is easier said than done.
Meaning can be disrupted in many ways, and life can lose its colour and its sense of purpose. Sometimes it comes with a wounding life event, other times a subtle feeling something is missing.
It might be that you arrive in therapy with a clear sense of what matters to you or none at all. Either way, we work with where you are right now to see what we can uncover.
The relationship itself
In my experience, it is through genuine engagement between client and therapist that relational wounds can be addressed. To engage with this process, which can at times be challenging, it is important that you feel safe and seen. It might take a little time to build the trust this openness requires, but that is something that we build together.
In my view, we see ourselves most clearly through our relationships. We might be affected by messages received about who we or who we “should” be from society, culture and family expectations. The look of the other can be exposing, objectifying and alienating. Yet being truly met by the other and taken seriously can be a profound experience, which is what therapy at its best offers.
Finding Me
St Albans
Calm and private space located near the Cathedral
Address
Therapy Talks
1st Floor, 8 Holywell Hill, St Albans AL1 1BZ
Travel
If you are driving, London Station Parking is likely the closest – a few minutes’ walk across the road. Walking distance from both St Albans City (around 17 mins) and St Albans Abbey (around 8 mins).
Facilities
Public toilets are available at St Albans Cathedral, a short walk around the corner. On ground floor and wheelchair accessible.
London
Comfortable intimate space located near the Angel Station, London.
Address
24-27 White Line Street, London, N1 9PD
Travel
Around 5 minute walk from Angel Station. Buses 73 (Stoke Newington), 30 (Hackney Wick), and 476 (Northumberland Park) stop on White Line Street. Limited on street parking.
Facilities
Toilet facilities on ground floor of building. Has step-free access via Address
Therapy Talks
Remote
Online Session via zoom
Whilst some people prefer to sit in a room together others find it easier to talk from somewhere familiar.
You will need a private space where you won’t be interrupted, a stable internet connection, and somewhere you can talk without being overheard.
If you are not sure whether to opt for in-person or online, it’s worth raising in our initial conversation or would like some flexibility between the two, it is worth raising in our initial conversation.
Working Together
I offer 50-minute sessions on a weekly basis. I only work with individual adults (18+). I aim to respond to all inquiries within 24 hours.
Fees
Initial consultation: £35
Individual sessions: £60 per session
Some concession slots available for students and low-income clients.
Fees are payable by bank transfer prior to or at the end of each session. Fees are reviewed annually with one month’s notice of any increase.
Name
Contact details
Reaching out for support takes courage and finding the right therapist for you can feel daunting.
If you are curious about working together, you are warmly invited to get in touch, either through the contact form or using the details below:
Email: tom@tomhollingsworth.co.uk
Endings
There is no fixed length to our work: some people come for a few months, others for years. Endings are part of the work rather than separate from it. Like everything in life, therapy will eventually come to an end, which can evoke strong emotions.
When it feels time to end, we will talk about it together rather than ending abruptly. You are free to end any time, yet where possible I would invite us to make room to reflect on our work together and say our goodbyes.
Preferred location
St Albans | London | Online
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