Jo Mercer London Therapy

19/08/2025

In this moving article in the Guardian, Stephen Grosz speaks of his work as a psychoanalyst for over 40 years.

The piece is excerpted from his “Love’s Labour”.

“As a young man I believed if I could just find the “right” person, happiness would automatically follow. There was so much I didn’t understand. That each of us is responsible for our own happiness. That if I didn’t treat myself with consideration and care, chances are others wouldn’t treat me that way either.

I didn’t understand pain. I thought the many kinds of pain we suffer when we love another person – longing, anxiety, grief – were feelings to avoid, symptoms to be removed. I didn’t understand that pain is the finest instrument we possess for knowing what we desire.

We deceive ourselves about love – the who, what and why. But we also have the power to undo self-deception. Love’s labour is the work we must do to see clearly ourselves and our loved ones – it is our attempt to join the world as it is.”

A married man’s hidden bis*xual life; a PhD student’s sideline in s*x work; a nun’s fear of pregnancy – over my long career, all have been laid bare in the intimate space of my consulting room

06/06/2025

This article from the Monday edition of The Guardian communicates a profound understanding of the experience of being in therapy.

“Meaningful therapy has helped me to understand that what I wanted was not what I needed. That my search for the right answer, born out of my conviction that there is a right way to do life, could only ever keep me stuck. I see now that this powerful treatment can offer something far more valuable than strategies: a fertile environment in which a mind can grow, so that a new space can open up between sensing an emotional experience inside you and having to get rid of it immediately. In this space, you can develop the capacity to tolerate something that previously was experienced as unbearable – and this gives you time to feel, to think and to respond with agency, rather than remaining a slave to your reactions

This can be utterly transformative for our relationships, for our working lives, for our parenting and for our self-respect. It is not something we can try to do, it is not something someone can tell us how to do, it is not something we can read about in a newspaper article (even this one, I’m afraid). It is the outcome of a meaningful, sustained therapeutic relationship, and there is no shortcut”.

What we want is quick, clever fixes. What we need is quite different: the ability to tolerate intolerable feelings, to sustainably change and grow

09/03/2025

I've been connected with Putney since 1996, so it was a natural decision to base my psychotherapy practice in an area where I feel rooted. My consulting room is very accessible, just off the High Street, and a few minutes walk from both Putney Rail Station and East Putney Tube. I offer open-ended and time-limited Psychodynamic Psychotherapy to adults. Contact me to book an initial consultation to explore which option would be the right path for you.

I'm an experienced Putney therapist offering individualised professional help for common emotional difficulties. Schedule a free chat today.

08/03/2025

Short-term therapies have gained popularity due to their structured, goal-oriented approach. While these approaches can be effective for symptom relief, they may not always address the underlying emotional and relational patterns at the root of psychological problems. By contrast, psychodynamic therapy engages with deeper psychological processes, focusing on unconscious conflicts, early relational experiences, and ingrained emotional patterns. Much like slow living, psychodynamic psychotherapy engages in the deeper work necessary for lasting change, rather than being a quick fix.

The slow living movement offers valuable insights into mental health. Like crafting a well-made life, deep therapies such as psychodynamic psychotherapy prioritise lasting, sustainable change over quick fixes, fostering profound personal growth.

22/02/2025

I recently relocated my Wandsworth psychotherapy practice to Putney. My new consulting room is far more accessible by public transport. It is just next door to Putney Library, 2 minutes from Putney rail station, and 5 minutes on foot from East Putney tube station.

31/10/2024

The last week has seen considerable news coverage of the risks of psychotherapy, calling for greater regulation of Psychotherapists and Counsellors in the UK. It feels important to pause to think about this spate of disturbing stories. I would like to offer some advice on steps members of the public can take to assure themselves that they are engaging an ethical practitioner.

The last week has seen considerable news coverage of the risks of psychotherapy, calling for greater regulation of Psychotherapists and Counsellors in the UK. It feels important to pause to think about this spate of disturbing stories. I would like to offer some advice on steps members of the public

08/06/2024

If you’re a counsellor or psychotherapist looking for clinical supervision, do visit my page “The Psychodynamic Supervisor”. For ease, the link is in the comments.

16/05/2024

An interesting new study has found that stand-alone psychotherapy is more effective than antidepressants - or antidepressants combined with therapy - in relieving severe depression.

The study is linked in the comments.

New study finds psychotherapy alone to be the best first-line intervention option to mitigate the risk of su***de attempts and other serious psychiatric adverse events.

16/05/2024

This really helpful article published by the British Psychotherapy Foundation provides great food for thought when considering whether to begin in therapy.

Whether you’re struggling with a particular challenge in your life right now, or you want to gain a better understanding of yourself, the support of a qualified therapist can be incredibly beneficial. However, finding the right therapist can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially if it’s not so...

14/05/2024

LAPC (London Analysis, Psychotherapy and Counselling) is launching a low-cost therapy service. This blog post explains the process to getting started.

If you are seeking help for your mental health struggles, our reduced fee scheme may be an option

13/05/2024

13 to 19 May 2024 is Mental Health Awareness week.

“Movement: Moving more for our mental health” is the theme of Mental Health Awareness Week this year.

Mental Health Awareness Week 2024 is taking place 13 to 19 May, and the theme is Movement. Join the UK-wide campaign by sharing your for your mental health.