Attachment-based psychoanalytic psychotherapyBath city centre & online
You don’t need to
know where to start
Sometimes it can feel as though life has got stuck. It might be that you’re struggling to move on from something in your past, or that you’re feeling low, anxious or exhausted without quite knowing why.
Feeling this way is often a sign that something deeper inside is asking for attention. We can work it out together.
Attachment-based psychoanalytic psychotherapy works gently and at depth. Together, with care and curiosity, we’ll explore what brings you to therapy and what might be taking place beneath the surface.
Over time, you might find that you begin to feel more connected to yourself and others, with the clarity to make choices that serve you, and a sense of self-compassion and freedom that once felt out of reach.
My approach
How I work
Attachment-based
In our earliest months and years, before we have the words to express ourselves, we are learning what to expect of the world: how to get our needs met, how much of ourselves it is safe to share, what love feels like. These lessons become templates that can shape the rest of our lives – our sense of security in the world, and our ability to trust and connect with others. Often, we are no more aware of them than the air we breathe.
Psychoanalytic
Much of what shapes our lives happens outside conscious awareness. We might find ourselves falling into familiar roles in our relationships, or getting in our own way just as we come close to something we want. In psychoanalytic psychotherapy, we pay close attention to what is being played out beneath the surface, so that it can be understood and, over time, worked through. In this way, real psychological change becomes possible.
Trauma-informed
Whether from a single event or from something complex and difficult to name, trauma can shape the way we move through the world, making its mark on the body as much as on the mind – leaving us braced, long after the danger has passed. Trauma-informed therapy works gently and at your pace, to support you to make sense of what happened, find steadier ground, and gradually rebuild a sense of safety inside.
About me
Rebecca Freestone
Portrait to be added
I approach my work with care and respect, and aim to create a collaborative, trusting space where you feel safe enough to bring all of yourself – including the feelings you’ve had to set aside – and to explore deeply, at your own pace.
I’m a Registered Psychotherapist in Training, working towards accreditation with the UKCP, and am completing an in-depth, four-year clinical training at The Bowlby Centre – part of the UKCP’s Council for Psychoanalysis and Jungian Analysis College (CPJA). I know from my own experience how meaningful and life-changing this kind of therapy can be.
I follow the codes of ethics of both the UKCP and The Bowlby Centre, and discuss my work regularly and confidentially with my supervisor, as required by the UKCP.
Who I work with
What brings people
People come to this kind of therapy for all sorts of reasons. Some know exactly what they want to work on. Others just know that they need someone to talk to, to help them work things out.
It might be that you’re feeling disconnected – empty, lost or full of self-criticism. Perhaps you’re struggling in your relationships, or feeling lonely even when there are people around you. Maybe you’re finding yourself unable to move on from the past, or you’ve found ways of coping – work, shopping, food or sex – that seem to help at first but leave you feeling worse.
We can work it out together.
Arrange a callAnxiety · Burnout · Stress · Imposter syndrome · Low self-esteem · Perfectionism · Self-sabotage · Depression · Trauma · Relationship difficulties
Next steps
Getting started
First
A free consultation call
Send me an email or fill out the form on my contact page and I’ll get in touch to arrange a 15–20 minute call. During this call you’ll have the space to tell me a little about what brings you to therapy, and to ask any questions you might have.
Next
Getting started
In our initial sessions, we will explore in more depth what brings you to therapy, your history, and your hopes for the process. Together we’ll see how it feels to work together, and get clear about the purpose of the therapy. I usually suggest we begin with an initial commitment of four sessions.
Then
For as long as it feels useful
Attachment-based psychoanalytic psychotherapy is open ended work that unfolds gradually, and depends on the secure, honest connection we build between us. We might work together for several months or several years, meeting once or twice a week.
Everyone brings a unique history. Race, class, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, neurodiversity and ability inform our experience, shaping how we are treated and the opportunities that are available to us. These things matter, and we can explore them together.
The room
Photograph of the roomto be added
My room is a peaceful, private space in central Bath. It’s a short walk from the bus station and Bath Spa train station, with paid on-street parking nearby. Charlotte Street and Kingsmead Square car parks are each a few minutes away.
The room is on the lower ground floor of a townhouse, and is reached by a flight of stairs, so I’m sorry to say it isn’t accessible if stairs are difficult for you. If that’s the case, do mention it when you get in touch – I also offer sessions online and by phone.