About Me

My Psychotherapy Practice - past and present

Currently, I am dedicated to my private practice. I have previously worked at a busy NHS GP practice, Croydon University Hospital, one of the UK’s largest hospices and a private practice in Mayfair. I have also taught on the Advanced Diploma in Existential Psychotherapy at Regent's University, London, and provided supervision to MA psychotherapy students there.

I have been seeing clients since 2013, and have a breadth of experience in issues such as anxiety, self-esteem, relationship difficulties, bereavement, loneliness, depression, sexuality, anger, infertility, stress, trauma, abuse, and addiction - as well as more general feelings about feeling stuck, lost or unsatisfied in life.

How I work

I am an Integrative Psychotherapist, meaning I am trained in Humanistic, Psychoanalytic and Existential approaches. I draw on my broad knowledge base of talking therapies to offer a flexible and creative approach tailored to each individual client. I bring the same open-minded attitude to everyone I meet. I am a warm, compassionate and thoughtful therapist. My style is conversational and I welcome feedback from clients about how they experience our work together. I regularly review sessions to encourage a collaborative process that is directed by a client's needs and priorities.

Rachel Noar Psychotherapist London Bridge

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Specialism

My advanced training in Existential Psychotherapy complements my integrative approach. I like its philosophy that much of therapy is about exploring what it means for each of us to live as a human: how we make meaning out of the particular world we are thrust into, confront aspects of our lives we cannot change, and open up possibilities for living by clarifying, exploring and questioning assumptions hitherto taken for granted.

This kind of approach is not so much about diagnosing and curing "mental health illnesses", but acknowledging that many of our struggles and challenges can be understood, and sometimes redefined, as problems of living - of relating with others, of living in an uncertain world, of being mortal beings. On the one hand, it is an approach that supports you to live authentically and make changes where you have choice. On the other hand, it helps you face up to life's constraints, and process, even grieve for, that which we cannot change. So despite confronting "the difficult stuff", I believe Existential Psychotherapy offers hope, asking each of us, "How do we move towards a life that is more like the one we want to live?"

Becoming a Psychotherapist

I have always been interested in people and their life experiences: their stories, rituals, beliefs and values. This led me to study anthropology to postgraduate level, before developing a career producing observational and historical documentaries. Then something shifted in me: I realised I wanted to become a psychotherapist. I retrained, and now truly love my work.

Qualifications

Advanced Diploma in Existential Psychotherapy

Regent's University, London

M.A. Integrative Psychotherapy (distinction)

Regent's University, London

Certificate Psychotherapy and Counselling

Regent's University, London

M.A. Visual Anthropology (distinction)

University of Manchester

M.A. (Cantab) Social Anthropology

University of Cambridge

Publications

'"Schizophrenia" in the Echo Chamber', Existential Analysis, 30.2, July 2021

'Working with Cultural Difference: Does Being and Time Help?', Existential Analysis, 35.2, July 2024

Professionalism

Accredited member of the UKCP

Member of the Society for Existential Analysis

I abide by the UKCP codes of conduct

My practice is covered by indemnity insurance