Claudia Kempinska Psychodynamic Psychotherapist & Associates MBACP Accred

24/04/2026

I am in Bath over the next few days. Today, I meet my Psychodynamic Clinical Supervisor face-to-face ! Patrick has been my Clinical Supervisor for just short of 11 years and because he lives in the USA, we have only met face-to-face once before. I cannot put into words how important my Clinical Supervision with Patrick has been and continues to be. Looking forward to thinking together today and exploring Bath!

22/04/2026

Off to see my favourite theatre production. I wrote about phantom from a psychodynamic perspective: read it on my website. Link in bio and on story

22/04/2026

Happy Wednesday.....is this you?
Www.claudiakempinska.co.uk Info@claudiakempinska.co.uk

21/04/2026

21/04/2026

Looking forward to reading this!

20/04/2026

A small terracotta pot with sunflower seeds has been placed on my therapy room windowsill. I look forward to watching them grow—much like in psychodynamic therapy, where with time, patience, and the right conditions, what is hidden beneath the surface gradually begins to emerge, take root, and flourish.
Www.claudiakempinska.co.uk

17/04/2026

Today I hit the heaviest plated press I’ve ever done — 40kg each side for 15 reps. That might not turn heads for everyone, but for me, it’s huge.

Two years ago, after an inguinal hernia operation, my body learned to protect my right side. Not consciously, but deeply — like a built-in safety mechanism. Since then, it’s been months of rebuilding, strengthening both sides, and reconnecting my mind and body so that “protection” doesn’t override performance.

From a bodybuilding perspective, this is what progressive overload and neuromuscular adaptation really look like. Strength isn’t just about muscle fibers getting bigger — it’s about the nervous system learning that it’s safe to recruit more motor units, to fire more efficiently, and to distribute load evenly. That symmetry doesn’t just appear; it’s trained, patiently and deliberately.

Psychodynamically, it’s fascinating. The body holds onto past experiences, especially ones linked to vulnerability or trauma, and creates protective patterns to avoid perceived threat. My right side wasn’t weak — it was guarded. And unless you address that underlying “story,” you can train all you want and still hit invisible limits.

That’s where EMDR principles come in. Reprocessing past experiences allows the brain to update its internal model — shifting from “this is dangerous” to “this is safe now.” Over time, new neural pathways form, new associations are built, and the body starts to respond differently. You’re not just getting stronger physically — you’re rewriting how your system interprets effort, strain, and capability.

So today wasn’t just a lift. It was evidence. Evidence that the brain and body can recover, adapt, and build new experiences that override old protective patterns.

And honestly — I’m bloody proud of myself!

15/04/2026

Forensic & Court-Informed Psychotherapy | Psychodynamic & Trauma Specialist

My practice includes extensive experience working at the intersection of mental health, forensic contexts, and the legal system, offering psychodynamic and ethically grounded therapeutic input in complex and high-risk cases.

Forensic, Prison & Offender-Related Experience:

• Therapeutic work with individuals presenting with histories of offending, violence, and complex trauma

• Experience supporting prison and frontline staff, addressing the psychological impact of working in high-risk environments
• Skilled in working with risk, safeguarding, and complex behavioural presentations, including severe and enduring mental health difficulties

Court & Legal Work
• Court-instructed psychotherapy within Children Act proceedings
• Specialist experience in parental alienation and high-conflict family cases
• Working therapeutically with children, adolescents, and parents within legal frameworks
• Multi-agency collaboration with social care, CAMHS, and legal professionals
• Comprehensive assessment, formulation, and risk management in complex cases

Specialist Training
• Advanced training at the Tavistock & Portman Clinic in psychoanalytic ideas on violence, delinquency, and sexual deviance
• Ongoing application of psychodynamic and psychoanalytic thinking to forensic and offender-related work

My approach brings together clinical depth, forensic awareness, and psychological insight, enabling thoughtful and containing work within some of the most complex and sensitive areas of practice.

PortmanClinic ClinicalExcellence

15/04/2026

Welcome to my new followers! Here's me, the Professional bit:

Psychodynamic Psychotherapist | Clinical Supervisor | Trauma Specialist

I offer a discreet, highly specialised psychotherapy service for private clients, organisations, and court-instructed work, grounded in depth, clinical excellence, and extensive experience across NHS, private practice, and academia.

For Private Clients
A confidential, containing space to work at depth with:
• Complex trauma, anxiety, depression & relational difficulties
• Personality dynamics and long-standing emotional patterns
• Identity, sexuality and gender-related exploration
• Short-term focused work or longer-term, transformative therapy

For Organisations
Consultative and clinical leadership expertise including:
• Supervision and support for clinical teams
• Trauma-informed frameworks and service development
• LGBTQIA+ inclusive practice, training and consultation
• Organisational consultancy with a psychodynamic lens

For Legal & Court Work
Specialist therapeutic input in complex cases:
• Parental alienation and high-conflict family dynamics
• Work with children, adolescents, and parents
• Sensitive, informed work with LGBTQIA+ young people and families
• Experience within court-directed and multi-agency settings

I have extensive experience working therapeutically with LGBTQIA+ clients across the lifespan, including:
• Young people exploring gender identity and sexuality within CAMHS pathways
• Adults navigating identity, relationships, and belonging
• Delivering teaching and training on working affirmatively with LGBTQIA+ clients
• Working within diverse cultural and social contexts with sensitivity and depth

My approach is thoughtful, boundaried, and attuned — offering a premium, ethical, and deeply informed service tailored to each individual and context.
Www.claudiakempinska.co.uk

And...I love animals, running, going to the gym, reading, going to gigs, theatre and making pretty much everything into a song ( don't worry, I won't do that during our sessions!!)

TraumaSpecialist CourtWork EMDR Psychodynamic MentalHealthProfessionals

14/04/2026

I'm really pleased to have been invited back as guest lecturer for D Clin Psy students at the University of Leicester in two weeks. I will be talking about working therapeutically with LGBTQIA young people. . University of Leicester is where I completed my Master's in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, and Lectured on the MA in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and various counselling courses there... I have extremely fond memories of the place and look forward to being there again.

14/04/2026

I am pleased to continue to support by remaining a member of their counselling and therapist directory. I have also had the pleasure of facilitating a workshop for Gendered Intelligence last year.

Alongside this, I bring extensive experience (over 12 years) working alongside trans and non-binary individuals, and previously held a leadership role within the NHS as a Gender Identity Pathway Lead in a CAMHS NHS Service. I remain deeply committed to providing inclusive, affirming, and knowledgeable support to the LGBTQIA community.
Www.claudiakempinska.co.uk Info@claudiakempinska.co.uk