Realise, Accept, Tolerate
Qualifications & Journey
1. PhD in Psychoanalytic Studies (2021-2024)(ongoing) University of Essex
2. MA in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy (2018-2021) University of Essex (BACP Accredited)
3. Pg. Foundations of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (2016-2017) Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust
4. MA in Psychoanalytic Studies (2014-2015) University of Essex
5. BSc (Honours) in Psychology (2008-2011) Open University
6. Certificate in Social Sciences (2008-2009) Open University
7. BA in History of Art (1999-2003) University of Siena (Italy)
My name is Apostolos Fournaris. I have a BSc in Psychology, which I gained in 2011. After that, I spent my time gaining experience in the public and private mental health sector and committing to continuous education and professional development. More specifically, my professional experience since then includes working in supported living organisations, psychiatric hospitals, forensic clinics, primary and secondary schools, academies, universities and charities. So far, I have worked as a support worker, an Assistant Psychologist, a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist, a Psychodynamic Counsellor and as a Specialist Mental Health Mentor for over 13 years. This has given me valuable experience in working with diverse client and age groups, in multiple settings and alongside a variety of professionals. However, it was at a very early stage of my life that I had realised my inclination towards psychoanalytic thinking and decided to pursue further training in the psychodynamic field.
That eventually led me in 2014 to make the decision to start my first MA, an MA in Psychoanalytic Studies, which I successfully completed in 2015 at Essex University. Between 2016 and 2017 I spent a year at the Tavistock clinic in London studying in their pre-clinical course in Adult Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. In 2018 I started my second MA and BACP qualifying course, MA in Psychodynamic Counselling, which I finished successfully in 2021.
I am currently studying for a PhD in Psychoanalytic Studies at Essex University. My PhD research investigates the impact of mentoring on anxiety and academic performance in adolescents and young adults in higher education. In addition, I am a Lecturer of Psychology at the Department of Psychology at University of Roehampton and a Fellow of Higher Education Academy.
I am a member of the British Psychological Society (MBPsS) and a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP). My therapeutic approach is psychodynamic and I offer long and short term once weekly psychotherapy to adults, children and adolescents. In addition, I offer consultation, facilitations of reflective groups and tailored to needs psycho-educational support to organisations (schools, charities, businesses), as well as short term brief interventions to families. I can offer my services in English, Greek, or Italian, for the time being, and soon in Spanish and French. Please contact me if you feel you, or someone close to you, need help with anxiety, depression, loss, bereavement, relationship issues, trauma, gender identity, substance misuse, addiction, or anger, amongst others; get n touch if you feel there is a family matter you wish to explore and/or resolve, or if you just feel you would like to explore who you are and how you relate to others in general. I follow and adhere to the BACP and the BPS ethical frameworks.
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy & Counselling
What is it?
Psychotherapy is a word which is formed as a combination of the Greek words for "soul" and "treatment". It therefore stands for treatment of the soul. However, in our time, it can take various forms and be understood and practiced differently by professionals and/or clients.
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy is not about changing who we are. It is about facing our emotional reality, accepting what cannot be changed, developing tolerance of internal and external discomfort. As a result, people can relate to their environment and to others in a better way, and may lead more functional, creative, and productive lives.
Generally speaking, usually, psychotherapy may differ from counselling in that it offers a more long term and in depth approach to whatever brings individuals to therapy.
Psychodynamic describes a therapeutic approach based on a couple fundamental premises:
i . our perceptions, interactions and motives can be both of conscious and of unconscious nature. This means that we are not always aware of the true motives or meaning of our actions, nor do we always control our actions to the extent we believe that we do.
ii
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When we come to this world we relate to everything and everyone around us in some way. We attach our feelings to people, places, activities, objects. The nature of our early relationships with family our carers and family members as well as with significant others along the course of our lives will have an impact on how we relate to the world and to people later in life.
iii.
We do not always experience functional ways of relating to others in our early developmental stages and as a result we may find ourselves repeating dysfunctional behavioural patterns and experiences, without understanding why or how to this happens.
iv. We experience inner conflict that is not always of the conscious nature. A lot of our "troubles" are often due to us trying to find a middle ground between the "requests" of different parts of ourselves that are competing for emotional resources.
v. Psychodynamic Psychotherapy is not about changing who we are. It is about facing our emotional reality, accepting what cannot be changed, developing tolerance of internal and external discomfort. As a result, people can relate to their environmentand to others in a better way, and may lead more functional, creative, and productive lives.
What does it involve?
Practically, Psychodynamic (rather than Psychoanalytic) also means that we will be meeting once a week for the foreseeable future if we agree to an open ended therapy, or, in the case of a non open ended therapy, for the time agreed after your initial consultation.
In your initial consultation, which will last longer than a weekly session normally would, we will try to understand your individual needs a little bit better and see if working together is the right choice for you depending on your current circumstances. Our sessions will last 50 minutes and will always be held on the same pre agreed day and time for the duration of our work together.
You are encouraged to speak freely about anything that comes to mind, no matter how insignificant or relevant you might think it is. We shall be exploring your emotional world and attempting to understand better what makes you who you are. Psychodynamic Therapy is not about changing who you are as a person, but about allowing you a safe space where you can explore who you are and perhaps help you develop greater tolerance of your emotional reality. In our sessions you have the freedom to focus on anything that you wish from your past or present and there is no need to follow any agenda. It is a journey of self-awareness that can ultimately help you live in a more fulfilled, genuine and creative way.
Psychodynamic Therapy is of a very unstructured nature and you are encouraged to utilise this freedom in any way necessary in order to reach your personal and unique individual goals. I am here to support you in finding your own answers and solutions, rather than provide you with them, or be the one to "tell you what to do".
Who is it for?
Psychodynamic Therapy has long been included in NICE guidelines as effective on various conditions and can benefit adults, children and adolescents. In addition, psychodynamic theory has applications on organisations, such as schools, charities, or businesses. Psychodynamic Therapy can help with anxiety, depression, loss, bereavement, relationship issues, trauma, gender identity, substance misuse, addiction, or anger, amongst others, or if you just feel that you would like to explore who you are and how you relate to others in general.
Let's Talk
077 257 97 394
contact@hadleighpsychotherapy.com
8 George Street, Hadleigh, IP7 5BB
