Therapeutic support
A dedicated space for clarity
Sometimes the things weighing on us are not about a decision or a role. They are about how we are feeling, what has happened to us, or a sense that something is not right and has not been for a while. Therapeutic support is a place to talk about that with someone who will listen carefully, take you seriously and help you make sense of it.
This service is separate from our coaching. Coaching focuses on your leadership, your decisions and your working relationships. Therapeutic support focuses on you as a person, whether or not what you bring is connected to work.
What people bring
There is no right or wrong reason to get in touch. People often come because of:
stress or pressure that has started to affect sleep, mood or relationships
loss, including bereavement, the end of a relationship, or the end of a career chapter
anxiety, low mood or a feeling of being stuck
patterns that keep repeating, in relationships or at work, without being clear why
a major life change that has stirred up more than expected
a feeling that something is missing, even when things look fine from the outside
You do not need a diagnosis, and you do not need to know exactly what the problem is before we start.
How we work
Our approach is psychodynamic. We pay attention to how past experiences and relationships can shape the way we feel and react now, often without our being aware of it. Understanding those patterns can give you more choice about how you respond.
We also work pluralistically. People want different things from therapeutic support at different times. Some want space to talk and be heard. Some want to understand themselves more deeply. Some want something more practical. We talk with you about what you want from our work together and how we might get there, and we check in regularly on whether it is helping.
There is no fixed programme or set number of sessions. The work is shaped around you.
Working online
All sessions take place online by secure video call, so you can work with us wherever you are. We ask that you join from a private space where you won't be overheard or interrupted, so the time feels as protected as it would in a room. If the connection drops, we'll call you back on an agreed number.
What to expect
First conversation. A free 20-minute call to talk about what has brought you here and whether this feels like the right kind of support.
Initial session. A longer first session to understand your situation in more depth and agree what you'd like to focus on. We'll also talk through fees and practical arrangements.
Ongoing sessions. Usually 50 minutes, at a regular time each week.
Reviews. We regularly look back at how the work is going and whether anything needs to change.
Ending. You can stop at any time. Where possible, we plan endings together so they are part of the work rather than an abrupt stop.
Confidentiality
What you say in sessions stays between you and your practitioner. As with all therapeutic support work, there are some limits to this, for example if there is a serious risk of harm to you or someone else. We explain these limits fully at the start, so you know where you stand before anything is shared.
If this isn't the right fit
Sometimes a different kind of support would help more, such as a specialist service, your doctor, or a practitioner with particular expertise. If that's the case, we'll say so and help you think about where to go next.
This is not an emergency service. If you are in crisis or worried about your immediate safety, please contact your local emergency services or your doctor. In the UK, you can call NHS 111, call Samaritans free on 116 123, or go to your nearest A&E.
Who you will be working with
Therapeutic support at Room to Think and Grow is offered by Jim and Paulo. They met while training at the University of Oxford, where both completed a postgraduate qualification in psychodynamic counselling.
Jim has spent more than 25 years in senior roles across national and local government, consultancy and public investment, including at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, UKRI/Innovate UK, Capgemini and The Crown Estate. That work has given him a close understanding of how responsibility, pressure and organisational life can affect people, often in ways that are hard to talk about at work. Alongside his Oxford postgraduate qualification, he has undertaken further training in psychotherapeutic counselling. He works in English.
Paulo has more than 15 years of experience in international organisations, having lived and worked in Brazil, the United Kingdom and Italy. Moving between countries, languages and cultures has given him a particular understanding of what it means to adapt, to feel between places, and to rebuild a sense of belonging. He works in Portuguese, Italian and English.
We work in line with the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions. At the start of our work together we'll share how we apply it, including confidentiality, record keeping and how to raise a concern if something isn't right for you.
In the first conversation, we'll talk about which of us is likely to be the best fit for you.
Coaching or therapeutic support?
If you're not sure which is right for you, that's fine. Coaching may suit you better if your focus is a leadership challenge, a decision or a working relationship. Therapeutic support may suit you better if your focus is how you are feeling, something that has happened in your life, or patterns you want to understand at a personal level. We can talk it through in the first conversation.
We don't offer coaching and therapeutic support to the same person at the same time. If it becomes clear that a different service would help more, we'll discuss that openly with you.
Getting in touch
Contact us for a free 20-minute exploratory conversation at jim@roomtothinkandgrow.com. There is no obligation to continue.
