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About me

I am a training candidate in analytical psychotherapy at the West Midlands Institute of Psychotherapy in Birmingham, which is accredited by the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC).I also have experience of working in voluntary mental health services.My background is in literary studies and teaching. I was a lecturer in English Literature within Higher Education until 2024. I have been especially interested in how literature explores emotion and feeling, the experiences of health and illness (what it means to be and feel well, or not), and our relationship with the environment. I continue to write and publish work on these areas of interest. I believe that there are many connections between literature and psychotherapy, and that being given an opportunity to tell our own stories and to pay attention to how we represent our own experience is a profound aspect of the therapeutic relationship.

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Psychotherapy

Analytical psychotherapy is a form of 'talking therapy'. It can explore emotional and psychological problems and difficulties, and the deeper feelings and experiences that may sit beneath your unhappiness, within a containing and unfolding relationship with your therapist. I offer close listening and a space for unhurried, reflective conversation; I do not necessarily focus on ‘fixing’ or identifying one specific issue, but instead take an explorative and open approach to the whole of your experience, and to what you bring to each session.Time and space is given to consider your inner world: your history, thoughts, feelings, memories, patterns of behaviour, fantasies, fears, and dreams, and how these might interact with external circumstances. This kind of psychotherapy considers the role of the unconscious mind, and how our present state can be influenced by our early feelings and experiences as well as by whatever is going on in our current life. I also work with the belief that psychological growth is a lifelong process that unfolds over time, and that when we attend to the pain or anxieties that might be blocking this process, we can fully open ourselves up to all parts of our self. This approach as a whole creates an environment in which you can grow towards an understanding of how you came to be where you are now, bringing new perspectives, relief, and creative change.

How many sessions will you offer?

I offer long-term, open-ended work. This allows the time and space needed for a collaborative, trusting relationship to form and develop, and for you to come to therapy for as long as you need to. Sessions take place between 1 – 3 times per week. Having more frequent sessions per week can be especially helpful for working with long-standing difficulties, and for exploring your emotional life in a deeper way. You may wish to change the frequency of your therapy once we have begun working together, and this is something we can explore at any time. You are also free to end your therapy whenever you want to; ending the therapy is something that we would ideally discuss together to work through that decision.Each session is 50 minutes long and, once we have found a suitable time, sessions keep the same day(s) and time(s) every week.

How do we begin?

If you are interested in exploring psychotherapy, the first step is to arrange an initial consultation. This allows us to meet and to think together about what has led you to seek help, and for us both to consider whether I am the right therapist for you. Sometimes, it is helpful to meet more than once before making a decision to begin therapy.
It is in the initial consultation(s) that we can also discuss the frequency of sessions, and the therapeutic fee.

How much do you charge?

My standard fee is £45 per session. I can consider a reduced fee if your circumstances require this, especially for 2 or 3 times weekly sessions.

Please see the ‘contact’ section of this website for my contact details, should you wish to ask me anything more or to arrange an initial consultation.I follow the ethical code and practice of the West Midlands Institute of Psychotherapy, who are accredited by the BPC (British Psychoanalytic Council).

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Contact

I am based in Bishop's Tachbrook, just outside of central Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. My practice is easily reachable from Coventry, Kenilworth, Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, and the surrounding areas.If you would like to contact me, or to enquire about an appointment for an initial consultation, you can reach me by email or telephone:Email: erin.lafford@outlook.com
Tel: 07590914443You may also wish to explore these links:

• West Midlands Institute of Psychotherapy (WMIP)