THE THOUGHT HOUSE PARTNERSHIP
PSYCHOTHERAPY & COUNSELLING FOR INDIVIDUALS AND COUPLES
Helen Mayor - Founder / Director
Integrative Psychotherapist & Psychosexual Therapist specialising in Couples and Relationships
MA in Integrative Psychotherapy and Counselling
Post Graduate Diploma in Integrative Psychosexual and Relationship Therapy COSRT Approved course
Registered member of UKCP
Helen is a fully qualified and accredited Integrative psychotherapist, which basically means she draws on different therapeutic theories to meet the needs of those she works with. Following years working with clients Helen decided to undertake and additional training and is now also a fully qualified Psychosexual and Relationship Therapist. Helen's diverse experience includes working in a bereavement centre, the NHS and many years in private practice.
Before training as a therapist Helen worked in dynamic and intense business environments which she feels enables her to relate to some of the pressures of those she meets, juggling, working life, relationships and perhaps also the demands of family. It is her belief that good therapy can be a form of human alchemy, and the relationship with the therapist sits at the heart of that alchemy.
As a Relationship and Psychosexual Therapist, her focus is to try to assist both individuals and couples in improving the quality of their relationship by exploring and considering all areas where there is struggle. Her focus is to provide a safe space, to be empathic and balanced and always work with equality keeping the focus on the goals defined within the relationship and provide tools for continued success outside the therapy room. Additionally her work looks at sexual health, wellbeing and sexuality, including working with sexual dysfunction or difficulties and using her work and experience as a Psychotherapist to help clients unpick the possible origin of these difficulties. Helen is down to earth, approachable and aims to make therapy accessible and un-intimidating allowing those working with her to explore whatever presents in the work. Helen specialises in work with couples.
Helen currently works in private practice from rooms Central London W1 and Hampstead NW3. However it is also her long held view that, for some clients working outside can lend something beneficial to the work and those she works with. Consequently her Masters dissertation was about Walking Therapy and she now works with clients in London's green spaces of Hampstead Heath, Regents Park and Hyde Park.
The location however, is secondary to the most important factor, a supportive relationship which can offer the safety and space each week to think, talk, share and explore what is bothering her clients and work tirelessly to help them gain some agency and sense of comfort in where they are.
Helen writes and contributes to media on the topic of sex and relationships, particularly on her work with couples and Walking Therapy. She is happy to join panel discussions and as a guest on podcasts where she can.
Marianne Johnson - Founder / Director
Individual and Couples Psychotherapist (UKCP)
Masters Degree in Integrative Psychotherapy and Counselling
Post Graduate Diploma in Integrative Psychosexual Therapy
Advanced PG Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy and Counselling
Certificate in Relational Couples Therapy
EMDR standard training EMDR Europe Association
Accredited member of the UK Council for Psychotherapy
COSRT member
Marianne is an experienced accredited psychotherapist working with both individuals and couples. She has worked in the NHS, private practice, at a university performing arts school and in a specialist trauma foundation. Marianne has experience in treating a wide range of issues with a particular emphasis on those relating to anxiety, relationship problems, sexual difficulties, work burn out, low self esteem and trauma. Her focus is to work with people to create a deeper sense of connection with themselves; exploring what may be getting in the way of moving forwards and supporting and challenging with a warm and open approach.
Marianne's integrative method incorporates psychodynamic, humanistic and contemporary relational psychotherapy models. She has a special interest in approaching emotional and psychological problems in the context of the body and mind as a whole system.
Marianne provides media contributions to publications including The Guardian, ITV & The Sunday Times.
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Kate Moyle - Founder
Psychosexual & Relationship Therapist
EFS & ESSM Certified Psycho-Sexologist
Accredited Member of COSRT
Registered Member of UKCP
Masters Degree in Relationship Therapy
Post Graduate Diploma in Psychosexual Therapy
BSc Degree in Psychology
Kate Moyle is an Accredited Psychosexual & Relationship Therapist. She specialises in working with those that are struggling with difficulties with their sex lives and sexuality, including many in their twenties and thirties who are impacted by the stresses of modern life. She considers a client’s problem or sexual dysfunction in terms of their personal context and meaning and the role it holds for them as an individual. Kate works empathetically with people to recognise their personal understanding of their sexuality and sexual health; with the view that issues have roots in psychology, emotion, the physical body, and a person’s history and culture. Ultimately her aim is to help people get to a place of sexual health, happiness and wellbeing. Kate is passionate about having open, honest and realistic conversations about sex; that help people to feel educated and aware in order that they can make the informed decisions that are best for them and feel comfortable in their sexuality.
Alongside her work as a therapist Kate is also UK Sex Expert for Luxury Sex Toy Brand Lelo and is a regular event speaker and contributor to the media on the topic of sex and relationships.
Kate has recently written a book: The Science of Sex: Every Question About Your Sex Life Answered by Kate Moyle (DK, 7 September). Available for pre-order via https://geni.us/TheScienceOfSex on Amazon, Waterstones, W H Smith & Queerlit
Kate hosts The Sexual Wellness Sessions Podcast , where she takes the conversations from inside the therapy room, into the mainstream. Each episode is informal but informative, focusing on a different area of sex and relationships such as desire, sexual dysfunction, sexual mindset, infertility and more.
Magda Piesiewicz
Psychosexual and Relationship Psychotherapist
Registered Member of COSRT
MSc Psychology
Diploma In Clinical Sexology
Magda is a London-based Psychosexual and Relationship Therapist with an MSc in Psychology. Magda studied Psychotherapy at Regent’s University and has completed her Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Sexology at Contemporary Institute of Clinical Sexology in Cambridge.
Her prior occupation as a teacher has sparked the passion for further studying of human behaviour and lifelong development. Late in her education career, Magda started exploring work in mental health field, working in SEN School for young adults suffering from severe autism and by volunteering for SANE, a helpline for people with mental distress. Magda undertook her two-year student placement in one of the Harley Street clinics, where she had a chance to acquire skills to work with individuals and couples struggling with compulsive sexual behaviours and relationship difficulties.
In her work as a GSRD (Gender, Sexuality, Relationship Diversity) affirming and culturally sensitive practitioner, she aims to create a non-judgmental, supportive space where she encourages openness and honesty, embracing diversity and uniqueness of her clients. Magda applies a pluralistic approach, taking into account the socio-cultural and psychological factors factoring into the underlying issues. As an integrative psychosexual therapist, she derives from various approaches including psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural, narrative, relational, transaction analysis and trauma therapy.
Magda primarily works with people struggling with sexual compulsivity (often misunderstood as sex addiction), but also helps couples and individuals with psychosexual and relationship struggles. She adopts a range of diverse, evidence-based and client-focused interventions whilst maintaining centrality of therapeutic alliance
Shana Laffy
Integrative Individual and Relationship Therapist
Psychosexual Therapist (advanced trainee)
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MSc in Contemporary Psychosexual Therapy (in progress)
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Diploma in Clinical Supervision
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Advanced Diploma in Humanistic Integrative Counselling
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Development Model of Couples Therapy – Level 1
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Certificate in Working with Couples and Other Relationships
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Diploma in Child Counselling
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Certificate in Counselling Skills
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Emotion Coaching Practitioner Trainer
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PGCE - Qualified Teacher Status
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BA Hons - Fine Art
Shana is an experienced Individual and Relationship Therapist, Supervisor and Trainer. She is passionate about helping people improve their relationships, develop authentic communication and heal from past challenges and trauma.
Shana is a co-director of The Centre for Psychosexual Health and one of the lead tutors on the ‘Certificate in Couple and Relationship Therapy’ with The Grove Practice. She also facilitates training for mental health professionals on topics such as SandStory Therapy®, safeguarding in clinical practice, and working with intimate partner and family violence.
After an extensive 20-year career in education, safeguarding and social care, Shana trained at the Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education, offering creative arts therapy to children and young people. Shana then went on to qualify as a therapist with adults and as a relationship therapist. She now focuses on her work primarily with adults, couples, and people in relationships and provides clinical supervision to counsellors and psychotherapists.
To further specialise, she is in the final stages of an MSc in Psychosexual Therapy and is currently offering lower-cost sessions for psychosexual therapy during her final year.
The topics of sex, connection, desire and sexuality are at the centre of the therapy Shana offers. She adopts a pluralistic and client-tailored approach, utilising a range of tools such as psychoeducation, tasks and programmes that reconnect people with their senses and body awareness, as well as therapeutically exploring unconscious beliefs and blocks. Shana works with a wide variety of sexual challenges, and her practice is GSRD-positive and inclusive.
Shana works integratively in her private practice, centring around psychodynamic theory, behavioural approaches, transactional analysis, and Imago Relationship Therapy. She is also trained in the Developmental Model of Couples Therapy with The Couples Institute in the USA. Shana has recently completed Advanced Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy training with Tavistock Relationships in London.
Shana offers a brief introductory call free of charge to answer any queries and questions.
Alison Walsh BA (Hons), RegCOSRT
Psychosexual and Relationship Therapist
Post Graduate Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy
Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Level 5, Equine Facilitated Psychotherapist in training
Alison is a fully qualified psychosexual and relationship, integrative and CBT psychotherapist with 16 years’ experience of working in Public Health and the NHS.
Working with adults of all ages, Alison’s therapeutic style is open, warm and collaborative. Alison specialises in creating a safe, non-judgmental space where clients can explore what they might be finding challenging. Working together in a supportive space, she enables clients to develop a greater understanding of what might be holding them back sexually or in terms of their relationships with themselves or others and work together to find a positive way forward.
Placing her clients at the heart of their therapy. She works with both individuals and couples with a wide variety of issues from relationship and intimacy difficulties, psychosexual issues, conflict, communication issues and sexual function difficulties, to grief therapy and supporting those living with long term health conditions.
Alison is a trauma informed practitioner and uses an integrative theoretical approach which draws on Psychodynamic therapy (how your past affects your present), CBT (How your thoughts and feelings affect your behaviour), Somatic (Body) awareness, and Transactional Analysis (relationship dynamics), Imago/Conscious Communication and Attachment Theory. However, central to all the therapy she offers is a person-centred approach – each individual person being at the heart of the work, offering a creative space to explore, understand and find resolution.
Alison is passionate about her continuous professional development and is currently studying a level 5 Diploma in Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy at LEAP. She occasionally has space to offer free taster sessions in North London / Hertfordshire.
Alison is media trained and has successfully presented on behaviour change and wellbeing on numerous national television, radio and webinar platforms and is a guest lecturer for the University of Hertfordshire.
Ella Boynton
Integrative Psychotherapist and Psychosexual / Relationship Therapist
Diploma in Psychosexual and Relationship Therapy
Diploma in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy
Certificate in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy
Ella is an Integrative Psychotherapist who specialises in psychosexual and relationship therapy. She has gained a wealth of experience from her many roles in mental health settings including those in the charity, NHS and private sector.
Through her work with clients, she has developed a deep respect and understanding for the unique journey each client takes. From this she can see that building a supportive, boundaried, and non-judgemental relationship is key in allowing clients to bring the parts of themselves that they find difficult to share or try to keep hidden. Ella’s holistic approach means that she takes into account the biological, social, and psychological elements of her client’s experience. Supporting them in gaining broad awareness and insight into their lives.
Ella works with a broad range of issues relating to sex and sexuality including sexual disorders, relationship issues, body image, and sexual health.
Through exploring these topics together, clients can gain the awareness, confidence, and education they need to develop the relationship they have with themselves and their body.
Ella sees both individuals and couples and is happy to talk through any questions you may have.
Jim Reynolds
Sex and Relationship Therapy
NAOS Advanced Diploma in Relationship Psychotherapy (with Distinction)
London Diploma in Psychosexual and Relationship Therapy (with Distinction)
RegCOSRT
Jim is a fully qualified sexual and relationship psychotherapist, and a registered member of the College of Sex and Relationship Therapists (COSRT). The philosophy behind his practice is that the therapy room can be a place to heal, grow, and flourish – whoever we are, and whatever the difficulties we face.
Sex and relationship issues are experienced differently by different people. Jim's approach therefore addresses the needs of each person or relationship as unique. This requires an integrative therapeutic way of working. He blends the techniques of sex and relationship therapy with psychodynamic, gestalt, existential, and transpersonal work into his whole-person approach. Sexual and relationship difficulties can be deeply uncomfortable, and even traumatic. Consequently, Jim puts empathy at the heart of therapy, and offers a warm, supportive, and respectful environment to all, regardless of gender, sexuality, or relationship diversity.
The therapists below are not based at The Thought House,
but we know their work and include them as Associates. They can be contacted directly.
Ryan Campinho Valadas – Integrative Psychosexual and Relationships Therapist
Postgraduate Diploma in Integrative Psychosexual & Relationships Therapy
MA Dramatherapy
MA Hons Politics and Theatre Studies
Registered member HCPC; COSRT
Ryan is a queer-identifying and queer-affirming integrative therapist. His approach focuses on reframing perspectives, proactive action, feelings of aliveness, and self-compassion.
Ryan works as an individual, couples, and group therapist, and has worked with substance misuse, sexual health, trauma, LGBTQIA + wellbeing, general adult mental health, and children’s mental health within education. This has given him a well-rounded understanding of a person’s lifespan, as well as the importance of relationships in our lives.
His psychosexual and relationships practice is based upon building healthier connections to identity, pleasure, relationships, and life journeys. Ryan is keen to support individuals and relationships around communication challenges, influence of social and cultural narratives, healing from sexual shame, recovering from sexual trauma, sexual wellbeing and pleasure, consensual non-monogamy, and diverse sexual and gender identities.
Andy Maxwell BA(Hons), DipCouns., MBACP
Diploma in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Foundation Certificate in Psychodynamic and Person-Centred Counselling
Advanced Certificate in Person-Centred Counselling
Andy will help you look within yourself, so you can explore your issues and find ways to overcome the difficulties you are struggling with. By talking through your problems with an experienced therapist who is not connected with your daily life, you’ll discover better coping strategies that will relieve your anxiety whilst you get closer to the root cause of your suffering. Processing your feelings, thoughts and behaviours in this way will help you decide what changes you’d like to make in your life and how to achieve them.
Andy offers a supportive, non-judgemental, non-discriminatory, compassionate, and safe space for you to do that. Together you’ll delve into your past, so you can better understand the origins and meanings behind your current painful patterns and make more informed choices to change your present and your future.
Andy welcomes all clients who are struggling with how they feel about themselves. As suffering is subjective and personal, he draws from a variety of different yet complimentary therapeutic methods - including Relational, Psychodynamic and Humanistic – and introduces them as and when they become appropriate for each client.
In his previous career – 30 years as an Architect and Creative Director - Andy experienced how we are all creative in one way or another, and particularly in the ways we adapt to cope with the difficulties we face daily. Andy’s aim is to help his clients create the improvements they want in their lives.
Dr Amani Zarroug - Associate
Clinical Psychologist and Relationship and Psychosexual Therapist
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (D Clin Psy)
Masters in Relationship and Psychosexual Therapy (MSc)
Masters in Cognitive Neuropsychology (MSc)
Bachelors in Psychology with Combined Studies (BA Hons)
Registered Member of HCPC
Registered Member of COSRT
Dr Amani Zarroug is a Clinical Psychologist, as well as, a Relationship and Psychosexual Therapist. She specialises in a variety of mental health problems, and has trained in a number of different psychological models including CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), Psychodynamic Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Schema Therapy, and Personal Construct Therapy.
She has been working in this field since 2000. Amani is also a Relationship and Psychosexual therapist, and enjoys working with individuals and couples to improve the quality of their relationships, and their sexual satisfaction. She believes a warm and knowledgeable approach is fundamental to her work, and aims to offer a therapeutic environment that feels safe and hopeful. Amani caters to the individual style of each client in order to help them achieve their goals.
This approach is based on her training, experience, and love of working with people in a therapeutic way.
Catriona Boffard - Associate
Psychosexual and Cognitive Behavioural Therapist
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) – University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Masters of Psychology – University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Masters of HIV, STIs and Sexual Health – University of Sydney
European Certified Psychosexologist – European Federation of Sexology/ European Society for Sexual Medicine
Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy – Royal Holloway University of London
Member of COSRT, BABCP, BACP,SASHA
Accredited by BABCP, BACP,UKCP
Catriona Boffard is a Psychosexual and Cognitive-Behavioural Therapist, Sexuality Researcher & Educator and Author. She is a globally recognized authority on sex, and has delivered her expert advice on TV, radio, corporate and public platforms. She is an expert in the field of sexual behaviour and well-being, with a particular interest in helping couples and individuals reinvent their sexual intimacy, and helping to empower women to embrace and explore their sexuality. She works from a biopsychosocial perspective; assessing and treating clients through an integrative approach which explores the physiological, psychological and social factors behind their concerns. Catriona also treats clients with mood, anxiety or lifestyle related concerns.
Catriona offers offers online consultations only.
Rima Hawkins -Associate
Psychosexual and Relationship Psychotherapist
Accredited Member of COSRT
Registered Member of BACP
Registered Member of UKCP
Rima is a COSRT Accredited Psychosexual & Relationship Psychotherapist who initially trained as a teacher but developed her career both privately and in the NHS. She worked in sexual health with adults as well as young adults & completed her training as a psychotherapist, relationship & psychosexual therapist in 2001. Rima is also a trained EMDR Therapist
Rima's special interest is in cross cultural relationship issues and she recently completed an Advanced Diploma in Couple's Therapy from NAOS.
Rima is also StopSo trained in the prevention of sexual offending behaviour. www.stopso.org.uk
Rima offers appointments out of West London, SW6 rather than in The Thought House Partnership’s Central London location.
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Benedict Hoff PhD - Associate
Psychosexual and relationship therapist, mindfulness teacher, group facilitator
Diploma in Clinical Sexology
Diploma in Schools and Adolescent Counselling
Diploma in Integrative Counselling
Advanced Certificate in Mindfulness Teaching
PhD in Cultural Studies (Gender/Sexuality Focus)
Member of COSRT, BACP and BAMBA
Benedict is an experienced therapist working with individuals, couples/thruples, young people and groups. He specialises in psychosexual and relationship issues, sexual identity and coming out, gender identity and (de)transitioning, compulsive sexual behaviours including chemsex, living with chronic pain/illness including HIV, sexual abuse and addiction recovery. He is also StopSo trained in the prevention of sexual offending behaviour.
Before setting up his private practice he was Clinical Lead for Mental Health at sexual health charity Spectra where he developed a Mindfulness-Based Chemsex Recovery programme seed-funded by Public Health England which he continues to co-facilitate at St Anne’s in Soho. He taught meditation/mindfulness for several years at West London Buddhist Centre and delivers workplace mindfulness on behalf of Breathworks CIC.
In terms of his approach, Benedict is interested in what works. So he won’t limit himself to a particular approach but will tailor his way of working to your needs. The relationship between you and him will be central to the work. Benedict is a warm, engaging therapist with whom you can think the unthinkable and speak the unspeakable. He’s also straight-forward and plain-talking, and you can trust him to point out your blind spots and things on the edge of your awareness you might be missing!
When he’s not seeing clients Benedict is also a researcher and writer and has contributed to various publications in the fields of cultural studies, mindfulness and psychotherapy as well as publishing a book on queer Latin American cinema. In his spare time he enjoys good coffee, the great outdoors and going to the movies.
Lotte van Kouwen - Associate
Art Psychotherapist & EMDR Therapist
Sex and Relationship Therapist
HCPC registered
COSRT Trainee member
Lotte is a fully qualified Art Psychotherapist and EMDR therapist, specialising in Sex and Relationship Psychotherapy, working with and supporting people to improve their sexual life. She offers a person centred, psycho-dynamic approach, in which a client’s concerns form the basis of shared exploration and investigation, to bring to light difficulties that are causing problems. Over the years Lotte has worked therapeutically with those who have experience of sexual trauma and those who are experiencing attachment difficulties, sexual difficulties, depression and anxiety. Lotte has also spent the last five years working in child and adolescent mental health for the NHS, employing the range of different approaches she has, to meet the needs of diverse client groups.
Lotte is passionate about providing an open, kind and safe space in which sexual needs, difficulties, questions and desires can be explored safely. She believes transparent and honest communication is key in building healthy satisfying sexual lives and supports her clients to feel confident about their sexuality and their relationships.Additionally, Lotte is trained in Bereavement Counselling and Attachment Narrative Therapy allowing her significant scope to tailor the therapy she offers to the specific needs of both individuals and couples.
As she is currently training in Integrative Psychosexual and Relationship Psychotherapy, Lotte is able to offer individual psychosexual and couples therapy at a reduced rate.
Jordan Dixon- Associate
Psychosexual and Relationship Psychotherapist
COSRT registered member
Counselling and Psychotherapy cert
Diploma in Clinical Sexology
Jordan studied Psychology and Counselling at Regents University before going into her studies Psychosexual Relationship Therapy. Jordan first trained and worked within NHS led and private clinics on Harley Street before joining us at the Thought house Partnership. Jordan sees eroticism as an important dimension of human essence. Her approach style is grounded, thoughtful, and relational. She is passionately curious about unlocking human potential, believing there are no limits in our awareness and growth towards achieving optimal sexuality.
Born in Yorkshire with Chinese and Spanish heritage and a background in Social Policy and Sociology she has been described with an innate awareness and intersectional understanding of the many barriers people face in society that inhibits access to our erotic selves. This balances Jordan in a multicultural, nuanced, non judgmental and trauma informed way of thinking. The psychotherapeutic approach she employs with individuals and couples is multidisciplinary, integrative humanistic. Working alongside her clients, Jordan fuses psychodynamic, existential, gestalt, person-centered with attachment theory, queer theory and transfeminism with holistic approaches to health and wellness. She regards her role as empowering clients, supporting and guiding them through that process, achieving sustainable internal changes and expansive growth as a result. She believes therapy should help clients connect to their own power within and access insight to identify the tools required to work through underlying root causes. Jordan strives to create a comfortable atmosphere in sessions and is sensitive to helping people who have had negative experiences in therapy in the past. Jordan is GSRD affirming and qualified in GSRD affirmative therapy. GSRD being the preferred acronym that goes beyond the exclusivity and restrictions of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans) which includes everyone on the gender spectrum and diverse sexualities and practices including BDSM/Kink, asexualities, consensual and non-monogamies. She regards social inter-connectedness, freedom, sovereignty, and the right to self-determination as pre-requisites towards enriching and forging deeper long-lasting connections and change-oriented harmony.
Prior to her training as a therapist, Jordan trained and worked alongside safeguarding bringing her into contact with vulnerable victims.
Clare Faulkner - Associate
Psychosexual & Relationship Therapist
Accredited member of COSRT
Registered Member of the BACP (MBACP)
Graduate Member of The British Psychological Society (MBPsS)
Certified Imago Relationship Therapist
PGDip Psychosexual and Relationship Therapy
BSc Degree in Psychology
Certified EFT Practitioner
Certified NLP Practitioner
Diploma in the art of NLP
Certificate in Counselling Skills
Clare offers couples and individuals a safe space to look at their relationship and psychosexual concerns. This may involve addressing issues of sexual dysfunction, pornography use, conflict, infidelity, sexual shame, sexual abuse and trauma, and sexual orientation.
Clare sees therapy as a collaborative process between client and therapist. She aims to build a warm and respectful relationship with her clients to explore current and past concerns. Working together she brings insight and a deeper understanding of situations and possible behavioural patterns. She uses a variety of tools and has an integrative therapeutic approach.
Clare supports her clients in clearing and changing limiting beliefs, and allows them to release and free themselves from emotional blocks. She works with both individuals and couples to help build self-confidence, improve communications skills and form better relationships with themselves and others.
