Samantha Carbon is a therapist based in Central London

What attracted you to become a therapist? 

My own experience of personal therapy formed part of the attractions. I appreciated the feeling I got when one person genuinely accepted me without judgement. I have a passion for making a difference and a strong interest in learning what it means to be human.


Where did you train?

I trained at the Metanoia Institute, London. Which was challenging and painful at times when juggling a full-time job, along with family commitments and academic requirements.


What sort of people do you usually see?

I specialise in working with individuals with addictive behaviours along with common presentations such as bereavement, depression, anxiety and cultural and work-related challenges. I also work with individuals struggling with Gender Dysphoria which inspired me to write a book called “Sons and Daughters, A View to Understanding Transgender Issues”. I really enjoy relationship counselling and I am drawn to it because it can be challenging but also rewarding when new discoveries and connections are made.


What do you like about being a therapist? 

I enjoy accompanying my clients on their journey of self-discovery and witnessing their transformations and the aha” moments that emerge from the work.


What is less pleasant? 

The un-sociable hours


How long have you been with welldoing.org and what do you think of us? 

I’ve been with welldoing.org for approximately 3 years. It’s a great website, packed with tons of really useful blogs, events and a detailed therapist directory.


Have you used the booking and payment system? And how do you find that? 

I'm signed up for it, and hope to make use of it in 2018.


Have you joined the welldoing.org Therapist Community on Facebook? If so, how did you find it? 

Yes, its good to be in a group with like-minded professionals.


Do you ever suggest books or apps to clients?

I recommend Counselling for Toads by Robert De Board. It’s a very easy read for individuals curious about their process using the Parent, Adult, Child Ego State Model. Clients are able to talk around the characters in the book, linking their own stories and experiences.

I also recommend Home Coming: Reclaiming and Championing Your Inner Child Paperback by John Bradshaw. It’s another easy read and thought provoking with exercises that can give individuals more insight and understanding about their inner child.


What you do for your own mental health?

I have personal training twice a week and take part in the 5K parkruns. I also have my own personal therapy which I continue to do post qualifying as self-care is important to me.


What’s your consultation room like? 

My main one in Baker Street which I set up last year is very bright, cozy and warm. It a safe space for clients and for other therapists to practice from.


What do you wish people knew about therapy?

Therapy can be both thought-provoking and transformative. I believe as people get to know and understand their beliefs and desires, they can begin to realise they no longer need to remain trapped in one fixed version of who they are. Therapy gives individuals a permission to get to know those parts of the self which can be life changing. The consistency and stability of therapy can be rewarding.


What did you learn about yourself in therapy?

The process of therapy has allowed me to identify who I am with my strengths and weaknesses and to be okay with them. I have gained understanding on my cultural and family scripts that have shaped who I am. I do believe that the more I work with my own sense of difference in what that means to me, the more I am able to work with clients’ differences. Fundamental to my learning is the importance of being attuned to my clients which has been my experience in my own therapy. I believe as one begins to understand how their historical influences illuminate their current problems, one can then begin to gain better insights and make different choices.