Chrissy Kapartis:

Trainee Psychodynamic Psychotherapeutic Counsellor (BACP / UKCP Student Member)

Hello, my name is Chrissy Kapartis, and I am a Trainee Psychodynamic Psychotherapeutic Counsellor. I work at the low-cost counselling and psychotherapy services at HQ Therapy Rooms.

My interest and passion for human psychology began when I first began therapy many years ago. I was privileged enough to have therapy with talented practitioners who, through showing me unconditional care and empathy, helped me develop self-compassion and transform how I lived my life.

Learning about how my past had shaped and moulded my view of myself and relationships enabled me to make conscious changes and to experience relationships differently. I initially trained as an actor, which opened my eyes to how healing creativity can be. I then trained as a coach and worked in an eating disorders clinic, which grew my passion for challenging diet culture and developing compassion for our bodies.

My Approach:
For me, therapy is essentially a process of self-discovery where we develop our awareness of how and why we are experiencing life in the way we do. The psychodynamic approach encompasses how our earliest relationships and experiences have impacted and shaped how we feel about and view ourselves, others and the world around us.

I aim to work collaboratively with my clients by working towards their therapeutic goals and honouring each client’s individual needs.

I believe that the relationship between therapist and client is at the root of effective therapy, and that trust and safety allow for this relationship to develop. Psychodynamic therapy focuses on both our conscious and unconscious experiences, drawing links between our past and present and shining the light on how our past may be influencing our present.

Through offering you consistent empathy and non-judgement, encouraging you to voice however you feel in our relationship, I hope we can build a trusting relationship over time. Then, following your lead, through asking questions, making reflections and making links, we can begin to understand the patterns you’ve learned in your life. From increasing your self-awareness, we can then explore how you’d like to move forward with greater self-compassion and autonomy.

As a British woman of Greek-Cypriot heritage, I am fascinated by how our cultural beliefs and values shape who we are, and which of them we resonate with or perhaps wish to let go of. I aim to provide culturally sensitive therapy by holding in mind your cultural context within our society and how systemic inequality may be impacting you.

I am also curious about how our similarities and differences in identity appear in the therapy room. I have ADHD, and I am passionate about empowering neurodivergent people to advocate for their needs and not shrink themselves to fit a neurotypical mould.