Gillian Lock

How Gillian works and who she can help: Gillian is registered as an Integrative Psychotherapist and works with adult, couple relationships, adolescent, group and family therapy and career consulting. Integrative psychotherapy works with the whole person taking into consideration the body, mind, emotions and familial, social and cultural context of the individual. She will aim to explore a broad range of influences throughout the lifespan to assist the client to develop a deeper understanding of themselves, their relationship to others and to society. There will be an exploration of both the internal and external world of the client and the interaction between the two. There are a range of different therapeutic approaches which can be employed depending on the issues and age of the client. Integrative psychotherapy places emphasis on the confidential relationship developed between the therapist and client, with both actively engaged in the exploration of difficulties the client may be facing, the focus and direction of the therapy and the evaluation of the outcomes. Therapy may be short or longer-term and the duration will be agreed with the client. Gillian will maintain a non-judgemental, analytic, open minded curiosity towards the client, recognising that there are multiple truths and perspectives which are subjectively interpreted by each of us. Through open and honest dialogue, the client will be encouraged to develop the ability to take responsibility for themselves, the way they think and reflect, their future direction in life and how life events change and shape them but more importantly, how they choose to adapt to life’s challenges. Clients often wonder how therapy can be helpful to them and whether it is right for them. Gillian always suggests that the client tries a few sessions and then they can decide whether they feel at ease, feel comfortable being open with her and want to continue with what is always a very personal and subjective experience. A free 20 minute initial conversation by zoom or phone is available on request.

Gillian is an Integrative Psychotherapist and Counsellor with over 25 years of experience working with adults and families and registered with both the General Psychotherapy Council (GPsyC) and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). She also works with clients requiring career consulting and coaching, taking a psychologically informed approach to career and work-related issues. Gillian has an M.A. in Psychotherapy and Counselling and an Advanced Post Graduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and Counselling training to work with adults. She has a particular interest in peri-natal issues and the development of family relationships, having completed a thesis on post-natal depression and the impact on family development. She also has Post Graduate Diplomas from the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust in Applied Systemic Theory and Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Wellbeing. She has undertaken trauma training and mindfulness training at the Tavistock. She has completed further training modules at the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families in trauma-focused CBT for children and young people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mindfulness-based approaches and supporting emotional resilience in children and young people, mentalization-based treatment and parent-infant work. She has also trained in bereavement counselling. She has worked for MIND, the NHS in both primary and secondary schools and in a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) team providing therapy for families with children with complex disabilities. Gillian has also developed a private practice for over 20 years, supporting a wide range of clients including adult, couple relationships, adolescent, group and family therapy and career consulting and provides supervision to other therapists. Gillian is also an architect, qualifying in New York State, with an M.A. in Architecture from Princeton University. She studied and worked in Boston, Princeton and New York City for 12 years, working on major projects. On her return to London she worked as an architect and design project manager. She was appointed to the board of directors of media group WPP and was responsible for a multi-disciplinary design team in offices based in London, Bristol, Edinburgh and Kuala Lumpur.

I am registered as an Integrative Psychotherapist and Counsellor with the BACP and GPsyC, trained in several different therapeutic modalities. I work with adults, individually or as couples, adolescents, families and groups.
I also work with clients requiring coaching, taking a psychologically informed approach to issues around study, career and work-related matters. I have a background in business and have held board level positions.
I studied for an M.A. in Psychotherapy and Counselling and then continued to take an Advanced Post Graduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and Counselling training to work with adults.
I have further Post Graduate Diplomas in Applied Systemic Theory working with families, and Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Wellbeing, focusing on supporting emotional resilience in children and young people. I have also trained in trauma therapy for PTSD, mindfulness and bereavement counselling and mentalization-based treatment for parent-infant work.
I have worked in private practice for over 25 years, supporting a wide range of clients including adult, couple relationships, adolescent, group and family therapy. I have provided study and career-workplace coaching and provide supervision to other therapists.
I have also worked with adults at MIND, in the NHS in both primary and secondary schools and in a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) team providing therapy for parents who have children with complex disabilities.
I am also a USA (State of New York) qualified architect, with an M.A. in Architecture from Princeton University. I have lived in the USA, Spain and France. I was appointed as a main board director to media group WPP and was responsible for a multi-disciplinary design team in offices based in London, Edinburgh, Bristol, and Kuala Lumpur.