Dr Natalie Raiher, Chartered Psychologist

MPhil DPsych CPsychol AFBPsS

I am a Chartered Counselling Psychologist with extensive experience helping adults overcome anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties and other emotional challenges. I have particular expertise in working with perfectionism, burnout, people-pleasing and patterns of over-control that can leave people feeling exhausted, stuck and disconnected from themselves.

My approach

Experiences of distress, loss and change can impact us in different ways. They might cause us to adopt coping mechanisms that help in the short-term but create greater difficulties down the line. I therefore work with both the symptoms of distress as well as the reasons they have come about, such as traumatic incidents and complex trauma, losses, and struggles with identity and transition.

Together we explore the thoughts, emotions and patterns that keep you feeling stuck. Alongside gaining insight into why these developed, you’ll learn practical ways of responding differently so that difficult experiences become more manageable and less overwhelming. This allows us to let go of beliefs and habits that may no longer be serving us and find new, healthier and more flexible ways to live our lives. We cannot rewrite history but we can transform our relationship to it, and live more fully and freely in the present.

My work is grounded in psychodynamic and relational psychotherapy, which I integrate with trauma-informed practice, CBT and mindfulness based approaches. Rather than following a fixed model, I tailor therapy to each person’s needs, goals and way of working.

I offer a confidential and creative space to adults and young adults to help them experiment, heal and grow. I wholeheartedly believe that there is always something to be gained from adversity and I support my clients to develop their strengths and build on their resources so that they might experience greater vitality, coherence and movement in their lives.

What I can help with

Psychological therapy encompasses a broad range of approaches and tools and as such, can help with many different problems. I have extensive experience in working with:

  • Anxiety, stress and burnout
  • Perfectionism and people-pleasing
  • Depression and low self-esteem
  • Relationship difficulties
  • Bereavement, loss and life transitions
  • Immigration and cultural adjustment
  • Gender and sexuality exploration
  • Living with physical illness

This is not an exhaustive list. Sometimes people don’t know what they want to work on but are aware that something doesn’t feel right and they want relief. In that case, I tailor the course of therapy to help them understand what it is that doesn’t feel right, and what they might do about it.

Training, qualifications & experience

I am a Chartered Counselling Psychologist. I am registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and am an associate fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS).

My qualifications include:

  • Associate Fellow of The British Psychological Society (AFBPsS)
  • Doctorate in Counselling Psychology (DPsych)
  • Master in Philosophy (MPhil)
  • Bachelor in Social Sciences (BSocSci hons)
  • Bachelor of Arts (BA)

My career has spanned NHS, private and community settings in the UK and abroad, and has included psychiatric inpatient and outpatient facilities including The Nightingale Hospital and The Royal Free Hospital. I have worked in teams specializing in trauma, eating disorders and problems regulating extreme emotions. I have also worked in outpatient teams specializing in women’s health and chronic illness.

I have worked across primary care, secondary care and inpatient services in the UK, spanning adult psychiatry and child and adolescent mental health. I am committed to my ongoing development and learning as a practitioner and engage in regular specialist training courses. Before becoming a psychologist, I worked in media and the arts.

I currently divide my time between my private practice, writing, developing my meditation practices and rock climbing. Before becoming a psychologist, I worked in media and the arts and I enjoy bringing this element of creativity to my practice.

I am registered with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and I am an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (AFBPsS).

If you would like to make an appointment please email the Practice or call 020 7018 0770.

I also offer free call-backs to discuss how I might be able to help.