Alina Barnett

Alina Barnett

Alina Barnett

Therapy with me

Beginning therapy can feel like a big step. You might have a clear sense of what’s troubling you, or perhaps you just feel that something isn’t quite right. Whatever brings you here, my hope is that we can work together to explore your experiences, find ways to better understand them and uncover what might be holding you back.

I work with clients facing a range of challenges, including:

  • Anxiety, stress, and overwhelm

  • Depression or a sense of disconnection

  • Relationship difficulties

  • Low self-worth and self-criticism

  • Trauma and its lasting effects

  • Major life transitions

  • A desire for deeper self-awareness and personal growth

I also have a special interest in working with individuals facing medically unexplained conditions and autoimmune challenges, offering support as they navigate the complexities of both their health and emotional well-being.

Therapy can be short-term (a few weeks or months) and focused on a specific issue or it can be a longer journey of self-exploration. Together, we’ll explore an approach that hopefully works best for you.

How I work

My therapeutic approach is rooted in Gestalt Psychotherapy, Developmental Somatic Psychotherapy and is trauma-informed, though therapy will always be tailored to what works best for you:

Gestalt Psychotherapy

Gestalt is a creative, relational, dialogic and embodied approach that emphasises self-awareness, personal responsibility, and living in the present moment. 

Creative points to sometimes using imagination and experimentation—through talk, silence, writing, movement, or other forms—to explore your experiences. Relational recognises that we are shaped in relationship, and that change can happen through authentic connection. Dialogic means we meet in authentic conversation, where both our voices matter. And embodied refers to paying attention to the body—sensations, posture, breath—as a source of insight.

Gestalt psychotherapy also recognises that your experiences don't exist in isolation, but unfold within your wider relational, social, and environmental context in which you live.

In practice, this means we don’t just talk about your struggles but explore also how they show up in the moment—how it feels to share them with me, what arises in your body, and how you make meaning of your experience, for example. By staying curious together, I hope that we create opportunities for new awareness, choice, and change.

Gestalt Psychotherapy

Gestalt is a creative, relational, dialogic and embodied approach that emphasises self-awareness, personal responsibility, and living in the present moment. 

Creative points to sometimes using imagination and experimentation—through talk, silence, writing, movement, or other forms—to explore your experiences. Relational recognises that we are shaped in relationship, and that change can happen through authentic connection. Dialogic means we meet in authentic conversation, where both our voices matter. And embodied refers to paying attention to the body—sensations, posture, breath—as a source of insight.

Gestalt psychotherapy also recognises that your experiences don't exist in isolation, but unfold within your wider relational, social, and environmental context in which you live.

In practice, this means we don’t just talk about your struggles but explore also how they show up in the moment—how it feels to share them with me, what arises in your body, and how you make meaning of your experience, for example. By staying curious together, I hope that we create opportunities for new awareness, choice, and change.

Gestalt Psychotherapy

Gestalt is a creative, relational, dialogic and embodied approach that emphasises self-awareness, personal responsibility, and living in the present moment. 

Creative points to sometimes using imagination and experimentation—through talk, silence, writing, movement, or other forms—to explore your experiences. Relational recognises that we are shaped in relationship, and that change can happen through authentic connection. Dialogic means we meet in authentic conversation, where both our voices matter. And embodied refers to paying attention to the body—sensations, posture, breath—as a source of insight.

Gestalt psychotherapy also recognises that your experiences don't exist in isolation, but unfold within your wider relational, social, and environmental context in which you live.

In practice, this means we don’t just talk about your struggles but explore also how they show up in the moment—how it feels to share them with me, what arises in your body, and how you make meaning of your experience, for example. By staying curious together, I hope that we create opportunities for new awareness, choice, and change.

Developmental Somatic Psychotherapy

This approach explores how early life experiences and physical movements shape our emotional and psychological well-being. From birth, our bodies communicate our feelings, needs, and desires through movement, forming our first "language." In therapy, I pay attention to and, if helpful, I also encourage you to notice your body's sensations and movements. Together, we’ll explore how the wisdom stored in your body shapes your thoughts, emotions, and the way you relate to yourself, myself and others

Developmental Somatic Psychotherapy

This approach explores how early life experiences and physical movements shape our emotional and psychological well-being. From birth, our bodies communicate our feelings, needs, and desires through movement, forming our first "language." In therapy, I pay attention to and, if helpful, I also encourage you to notice your body's sensations and movements. Together, we’ll explore how the wisdom stored in your body shapes your thoughts, emotions, and the way you relate to yourself, myself and others

Developmental Somatic Psychotherapy

This approach explores how early life experiences and physical movements shape our emotional and psychological well-being. From birth, our bodies communicate our feelings, needs, and desires through movement, forming our first "language." In therapy, I pay attention to and, if helpful, I also encourage you to notice your body's sensations and movements. Together, we’ll explore how the wisdom stored in your body shapes your thoughts, emotions, and the way you relate to yourself, myself and others

Trauma-Informed Care

Our past experiences, particularly difficult or traumatic ones, shape the way we relate to ourselves and others. Drawing on insights from neuroscience, interpersonal neurobiology, and sensorimotor psychotherapy, I am deeply sensitive to the impact trauma can have, and I prioritize creating a space where we can move at a pace that feels right for you. My focus is on ensuring safety, fostering empowerment, and supporting you in rebuilding a sense of agency and vitality in your life. Together, we’ll work in a way that respects your personal journey and how you want to move forward.

Trauma-Informed Care

Our past experiences, particularly difficult or traumatic ones, shape the way we relate to ourselves and others. Drawing on insights from neuroscience, interpersonal neurobiology, and sensorimotor psychotherapy, I am deeply sensitive to the impact trauma can have, and I prioritize creating a space where we can move at a pace that feels right for you. My focus is on ensuring safety, fostering empowerment, and supporting you in rebuilding a sense of agency and vitality in your life. Together, we’ll work in a way that respects your personal journey and how you want to move forward.

Trauma-Informed Care

Our past experiences, particularly difficult or traumatic ones, shape the way we relate to ourselves and others. Drawing on insights from neuroscience, interpersonal neurobiology, and sensorimotor psychotherapy, I am deeply sensitive to the impact trauma can have, and I prioritize creating a space where we can move at a pace that feels right for you. My focus is on ensuring safety, fostering empowerment, and supporting you in rebuilding a sense of agency and vitality in your life. Together, we’ll work in a way that respects your personal journey and how you want to move forward.

If any of this resonates with you, I invite you to book a free 30-minute consultation to explore whether we're a good fit.

If any of this resonates with you, I invite you to book a free 30-minute consultation to explore whether we're a good fit.

A Map of Your Therapy Journey

Your journey is personal to you and will be shaped by your needs and intentions. However, to give you a sense of what you can expect from the beginning to the end, here is a map that we can navigate and personalise together. 

  1. 1. Exploratory phone conversation

    Before our first session, we’ll have a brief, free phone conversation to get a sense of how it feels to work together and to understand what brings you to therapy. If you decide to move forward, I’ll send you a form to fill in with your contact details and GP information.

  2. 2. Assessment and goal setting

    During our first few sessions, we’ll explore what brought you to therapy and how I can best support you. We’ll look at relevant aspects of your history, your strengths, support systems, and any current challenges you’re facing. Together, we’ll clarify what you hope for from therapy, so our work is shaped around what matters most to you.

  3. 3. Therapy sessions

    Gestalt Psychotherapy is a creative, relational, and embodied approach that focuses on self-awareness, personal responsibility, and being fully present in the moment. In our sessions, we won't just talk about your struggles; we’ll explore how you experience them right here and now, hoping to create opportunities for insight and growth. I may also invite you to pay attention to your body’s sensations and movements, inviting you to deepen your understanding of how they connect to your thoughts, emotions, and experiences.

  4. 4. Reviews

    Throughout our time together, we’ll regularly check in to ensure the therapy is supporting you in the best way possible. Your feedback and insights will guide us and, if needed, we’ll adjust our approach to better meet your needs. 

    1. Ending

    As we approach the end of our work together, I hope we can plan for a smooth transition. We’ll reflect on your journey—what brought you to therapy, what you've discovered, and what you’ve achieved. Together, we can celebrate your progress and acknowledge any areas still in process. We may explore the resources you can draw on moving forward and, if helpful, discuss ways to support your well-being beyond our sessions.

Let’s get in touch

Book a free 30-minute consultation to explore how we might work together:

Schedule your call

Let’s get in touch

Book a free 30-minute consultation to explore how we might work together:

Schedule your call

Let’s get in touch

Book a free 30-minute consultation to explore how we might work together:

Schedule your call