Psychosis Therapy Project

Mental Health Recovery Pathway – Structured Integrated Support

The service offers opportunities for psychotherapeutic treatment with a team of psychoanalytically trained practitioners working in the area of psychosis. The Project is committed to strategies of stabilisation and the management of persistent symptoms.

The therapeutic work we offer is long-term, giving clients time and space to articulate distressing experiences and cultivate robust and enduring solutions.

The Psychosis Therapy Project takes place at the Despard Road centre, 48 Despard Road, London N19 5NW. The centre can be contacted on 020 7062 9891.

We welcome referrals and enquiries from all boroughs. A low fee applies to access the therapy service. Referrals can be made via the online form.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is psychosis?

The term “psychosis” is generally used to describe states of mind characterised by experiences such as:

• Hearing voices
• Seeing or sensing things that other people don’t
• Experiencing unusual beliefs and paranoia
• Experiencing invasive ideas or bodily sensations
• Major depressive episodes

These experiences can be frightening and overwhelming. They are much more common than most people think.

What kind of therapy does the Psychosis Therapy Project offer?

The Psychosis Therapy Project is a specialised psychoanalytic service customised to the needs and aspirations of individuals who experience psychosis. There is no focus on delving into the past and no interest in uncovering or “unpicking” anything.

The service provides a safe, non-judgemental and strictly confidential therapeutic space where individuals can articulate their experiences and cultivate enduring strategies. Therapists are there to help clients develop their own understanding of the experiences they bring to therapy, with a view to alleviating distress, anxiety and depression. This involves engaging in a conversation that can help people in the management of persistent symptoms so that they may feel more resilient and self-assured. In the long term, individuals can develop new ways of relating to themselves and their experiences, including strategies of self-acceptance and self-respect which will lead to improved self-esteem. Thanks to this kind of therapy, individuals experiencing psychosis are likely to feel less vulnerable and less isolated. They will feel safer and more self-confident.

Isn’t psychoanalysis a bit old-fashioned?

No. Although psychoanalysis was developed in the late 19th century, it has continued to develop and inform therapeutic work. Today it is practised by thousands of clinicians around the world. Although psychoanalysis was not initially developed as a treatment for psychosis, psychoanalysts have made numerous contributions to the theory and treatment of psychosis.

How do I make an appointment to see a therapist at the Psychosis Therapy Project?

Fill out the online form or call the Project Manager, Dorothée Bonnigal-Katz, on 020 7062 9891. You will be invited in for a consultation in which you can tell the therapist about your circumstances and discuss the possibility of starting psychotherapy.

How do I refer someone to the Psychosis Therapy Project?

The service welcomes referrals from mental health professionals across London. If you would like to refer a patient for psychotherapy, please fill out the online form or call the Project Manager, Dorothée Bonnigal-Katz, on 020 7062 9891.

Placement Opportunities

We welcome candidates on psychoanalytic training courses as well as qualified therapists wishing to acquire (more) clinical experience in the area of psychosis. We also welcome the participation of experienced analysts who would like to take part in the didactic ambition of the project and become involved as supervisors.

To inquire, call the Project Manager, Dorothée Bonnigal-Katz, on 020 7062 9891.