Therapy is a place where you can become who you are meant to be.
Where you can learn to live—if not the life you imagined, then
the life that has been waiting for you all along
Where you can learn to live—if not the life you imagined, then
the life that has been waiting for you all along
 Dr John Barton
I'm interested in you, your difficulties and your life transitions, whatever they are, whether great or small. Such transitions can be a choice, but often are demanded of us by illness, divorce, bereavement, redundancy, trauma, stress or other hardship. It's a hard-knock life, as the song goes. But it is from our darkest hours that we can emerge, accept and own our vulnerability, and discover our true strength.
What happens in therapy? I am here to be alongside you on this particular stage of your journey. I can help you to take stock of your life, make sense of where you are and how you got here, and work out how to move forward to a better place. You will be in a safe, non-judgmental and confidential space—a space to explore, reflect, experiment and play. You won't have to talk about anything or do anything that you don't want to. It’s completely up to you how many sessions we have together. It could be a short-term piece of work for a few months, or a longer, open-ended arrangement for a year or several years. We might decide to start by looking at your current problems and troubling symptoms, and then work together more deeply, seeking to uncover greater awareness, understanding and meaning in your patterns, relationships, history—your world. All in service of living an examined, authentic, unique life. A good life. |
You will be supported. You won't be told what to do, but you may be challenged. You may come to feel some of your issues can be changed, some can be accepted, all can be understood. These are lifelong processes of discovery.
About me I worked as a magazine writer and editor in the U.K. and then for a decade in the U.S. before returning to my home town, London. Volunteering at the Central London Samaritans inspired me to train to be a counsellor, which changed everything, marking a switch from what Jung called “the morning of life” to the very different afternoon. Today, I work in private practice in Marylebone, central London. I am a UKCP-registered and BACP-accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist. The different kinds of counselling and psychotherapy can be confusing. I am an integrative therapist, which means I don’t subscribe to any one method, dogma or manual of techniques but instead draw on different approaches—especially existential and psychodynamic ideas—to arrive at my own way of working that honours you and makes use of the therapeutic relationship between us. I have a special interest in: anxiety, bereavement, depression, disability/health, existential issues, fertility/parenting, loneliness, men's issues, the “midlife crisis" (at any age), personal development, redundancy, relationships, relocation /acculturation, self esteem, sexuality, spirituality, stress, trauma, work/careers. My doctoral research was a qualitative study of the experience of progressive disability through the voices of people who have the degenerative, neurological condition Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. |
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Experience
Besides my private practice in Marylebone, Central London, my voluntary placement history is as follows: • National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Neuropsychiatric Department, 2014-2015 (observer) • Ealing Abbey Counselling Service, 2014-2015 • Westminster Mind, 2013-2015 • West London Centre for Counselling, 2012-2014 • Putneymead Group Medical Practice, 2012-2014 • Metanoia Counselling and Psychotherapy Service, 2011-2012 • The Samaritans, 2009-2011 Education
• DCPsych Doctorate in Counselling Psychology and Psychotherapy, Metanoia Institute, Middlesex University London • Clinical Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy, Metanoia Institute, Middlesex University London • Diploma in Integrative Psychodynamic Counselling, Metanoia Institute, Middlesex University London • Practitioner Certificate in CBT, Metanoia Institute, Middlesex University London • MSc in Development Studies, Birkbeck College, University of London • BSc Joint Honours in Psychology and Zoology, University of Bristol Professional memberships
• UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP): www.ukcp.org.uk (Registered; membership no. 2011165338) • British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP): www.bacp.co.uk (Accredited; membership no. 767597) • British Psychological Society (BPS): www.bps.org.uk (Student Member; membership no. 265618) |
Testimonials
With John’s help I got a real understanding of why I was struggling so much. I feel in a much better position now to move on
—H.K., Primrose Hill 
As a first-timer (and a man!) I was uncertain about doing counselling, but John made it a comfortable process. It helped me get over a painful period and be able to look at things with perspective and not be too hard on myself
—Thomas, London SW18 
John helped me to open up emotionally. I have been able to explore myself, my relationships and my work more and more fully and this has had a big impact on my life
--Kartik, London W6 
John helped me find emotional tools and a strength within myself that I had forgotten I possessed after years in an unhealthy relationship. He offered patience, reassurance and the space I needed to figure things out
—E.P., Hackney, London 
It's been enlightening. I feel much better prepared to deal with the next stage of life
—N.C.B., Uxbridge |
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Contact me
If you think I might be able to help you, please get in touch. Leave a message, I'll call you and we'll have a chat. • Phone: 0203-092-0184 • Email: help@johnbartontherapy.com |