Linette Hatfield

I have been employed in the world of therapy since 1994 when I started as a volunteer for the mental health charity Mind in Harrow.

I trained in 1995-98 with the Westminster Pastoral Foundation (WPF) and qualified with a Postgraduate Advanced Diploma in Psychodynamic Therapy awarded by the Roehampton Institute. Since then my practice has been very varied; following graduation I started establishing a private practice which included EAP as well as open ended face to face work; I was employed by WPF on the Serious Physical Illness Project; we wrote a text book published by Karnac: Dual Realities, The Search for Meaning, Psychodynamic Therapy with Physically Ill People.

I was also employed by Mind in Harrow as a Women's group worker and a Befriending Scheme worker and in the training of volunteers.

In the last fifteen years I have worked exclusively in private practice doing open ended as well EAP work. I have seen a considerable number of people with a wide range of presenting problems and acquired great experience in assessment and on- going work.

My practice is now online or on the telephone, mainly once weekly, however I will offer twice weekly sessions if required. The sessions have a set time and day of the week with limited flexibility. Time boundaries are respected by both sides.

In the best way therapy is offered and works I will listen sensitively and carefully, reflect on what is said. I will ask for  clarification or expansion occasionally to better understand.  Interpretations and challenges will be offered in due course. This is not a directive method of working, advice is not generally offered. 

My work is based on psychodynamic therapy principles. They  include an exploration of experiences, events or situations which may have contributed to the sense of being 'stuck' people feel when they seek help.

Open ended work offers the opportunity to explore gently and in depth the possible obstacles to change and/or to move forward. Although open ended therapy does not usually have a set direction, it will be reviewed regularly to assess its benefits as we go along.

If it is decided at the assessment session that solution-focused or time limited work is  more appropriate for the presenting problem, the work will involve setting a limited number of sessions and a focus will be established.

The first contact is usually a telephone conversation and together with the first session they constitute the initial assessment. Naturally assessment is an ongoing process.

The first session is 50 minutes long, as are all subsequent sessions. It will establish a range of agreements regarding fees, holidays and missed sessions as well as the taking of personal details. It will be charged at the agreed sessional rate.