Welcome to Olga Gelfman Psychotherapy

Are the demands of life becoming overwhelming?

Do you seek a sanctuary to pause and reflect?

A space to explore your thoughts and emotions, and regain your sense of balance?


I am Olga Gelfman, a dedicated Psychoanalytical therapist registered with the UKCP, with a wealth of experience spanning over 17 years. While my consultancy room was once nestled in Surbiton, South West London, I have since relocated to the vibrant city of Singapore.


Today, I proudly serve clients not only in Europe but also across Southeast Asia. My practice thrives on the power of remote online therapy, which allows me to connect with individuals from various corners of the world. Whether you're in Surrey, London, Paris, Singapore, or anywhere else, I'm here to offer the support you need.


My focus is on working with both adults and adolescents, offering flexible therapy options, whether short-term (6-8 sessions), open-ended, or within a defined time frame. My ultimate goal is to empower you to enrich your life and embrace it more fully.


I am unwavering in my commitment to providing counselling and psychotherapy within a safe, confidential, and non-judgmental environment. Together, we can embark on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth.


Thanks,

Olga

My Approach

Psychoanalysis

Psychoanalysis is an intensive form of talking therapy designed to get at the source of emotional problems and change them fundamentally. It's not only about the relief of symptoms of tension. It's about knowing fully our upsetting impulses and conflicts and mastering them. It's about recognising and modifying the way the early relationships affected our current relationships. Understanding at this level is what fosters growth and personality change.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy may be dynamic or cognitive-behavioural in approach. Dynamic psychotherapy applies psychoanalysis to the individual treatment of those who want relief through understanding but who do not seek radical change. Cognitive behavioural therapy is short term, directive, and focused on changing your thoughts. My approach in psychotherapy is informed by attachment theory and research, relational psychoanalysis, object relation theories, the literature on trauma, affect regulation, reflective functioning and developmental neurobiology.

Object Relations

Object relations is the brand of psychoanalysis I practice and supervise. It is a very human approach to psychological sufferings. This theory stems from the study of relationships, beginning with the foundational infant-parent relationship. We are born with the ability to relate to our mother and other family members. As babies we are totally depend on our parent for nurturing. We need to feel that we are matter to them.

Taking in and coping with frustrating experiences sets up personality patterns that should mature at each developmental stage, but sometime they get stuck instead of shifting to the new challenges. So children and adults can feel held back, frightened, inadequate, anxious, sad, lost and lonely. Psychoanalysis and psychotherapy reach in, unlock the logjams left over from the early years and open the personality to the new learning and new relationships.

How I Work

People come to counselling and psychotherapy for many reasons from being rocked by a significant life event, to a general sense of dissatisfaction and distress with life that they are struggling to make sense of. Working with me will give you an opportunity to gain more insight and awareness into yourself, your situation and the way you relate to others. I will help you to make your own decisions and to take more control over your life.

I offer short and long-term online therapy to individual adults. Working remotely via Zoom or Skype allows me to work with you whether you're in Surbiton, Surrey, London, Paris, Singapore, or anywhere else.

Please don't hesitate to contact me to enquire about booking an initial assessment and to see if we might work well together.

"I very much appreciate how easy it is to work with Olga."

What issues can therapy help with?

People come to me for help a wide range of issues. Here are a few of the more common difficulties that I support:

Abortion

Stress

Redundancy

Relationship problems

Problems with confidence or self-esteem

Anxiety

Depression

Bullying

Stress

Grief, loss or bereavement

Panic Attacks

Abuse

Family life

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?

Counselling and psychotherapy, although two completely different terms, are both essentially the same thing. Both counsellors and psychotherapists provide a service for people who are looking for support and treatment for a wide range of mental health and emotional issues. The possibility that there is a difference between the two is a heavily debated question in the field of mental health treatment, and one that has yet to be answered. Some experts claim that counselling tends to tackle problems at the time of the crises, whereas psychotherapy focuses on long-term, deeply embedded psychological problems. However, this is not a universally agreed contention and you are advised to contact professionals personally to find out more about how they work.

How do I know if I need counselling/psychotherapy?

Only you can decide whether you wish to try counselling or psychotherapy. Just talking to someone confidentially who is not a friend or family member can make all the difference. Counselling or psychotherapy provides a regular time for those in distress to explore their feelings and talk about their problems. A counsellor can help you develop better ways of coping, allowing you to live the life you deserve.

How long does each counselling sessions last?

Each session will usually last 50 minutes or one hour. However this is often flexible and should be discussed with your therapist before attending the first session.

What are your fees?

Psychotherapy sessions for individuals last 50 minutes, usually taking place on a weekly basis, and cost £80 per session. I also provide a limited number of spaces for those on low-income or for students; contact me to enquire about availability. Initial assessment appointments last around 50 minutes.


Note that if you want to cancel an appointment I require 48 hours’ notice; otherwise you will still need to pay for any sessions missed. I accept payment in cash, by cheque or by bank transfer.

Where do sessions take place?

I have relocated from Surbiton, South West London to Singapore and since Covid now serve clients on an online only basis.

Working remotely offering online therapy, I am able to connect with you via Zoom or Skype, whether you're in Surrey, London, Paris, Singapore, or anywhere else.

Contact me to find out more about how online therapy works.

My Approach to Supervision

Paramount is the safety and wellbeing of the client and the wellbeing of the therapist. To these ends, I see supervision as a secure base from which you as a supervisee, can feel safe to explore and reflect, develop your skills, and grow in confidence in your own thinking and in finding your unique way of being as a clinician. In my experience supervision at its best is a collaboration, a relationship in which we can think together, explore alternative perspectives and approaches, increase awareness of unconscious processes/communications, and attachment dynamics.

I work from a relational perspective – the Bowlby Centre’s values of offering psychotherapy with warmth, respect, readiness to relate, free from discrimination, and without pathologising survival strategies are dear to me, and reflect my own values in offering supervision.

About Me

I have 20 years therapeutic experience of working with individuals who have experienced a wide array of relationship/sexual issues, depression, anxiety and work related difficulties. I am a clinical supervisor and also taught psychotherapy students at Bowlby Center (Center for Attachment based Psychoanalytical Psychotherapy) in London.

I was born and grow up in Moscow, Russia, where I graduated from Moscow State University of Civil Engineering. Soon afterwords I moved to the UK and trained as a therapist. I began my four years professional training as a psychotherapist in the Center for Attachment Based Psychoanalytical Psychotherapy.

Since then I have become a Mother to two beautiful children, who are teenagers now. I have developed a particular interest in child-parent relationships and childhood traumas.

I am a member of the UKCP and abide by their code of ethics.

I continue to learn from life and the clients with whom I have worked.

Testimonials

"It is not an exaggeration to say that Olga has changed my life. I have seen many therapists before over a number of years but Olga's Attachment based approach has been the first to get to the nub of the issue and effect substantial change. It made it clear to me that all the issues I was struggling with had a common basis and we worked together. I now have a deeper understanding of myself, and there have been immensely positive impacts on my day to day life.

Olga has a caring, empathic and wholly professional approach and is a delight to work with."

"Olga is a very kind-hearted and supportive professional. During our time spent together, she greatly guided me on how to get out of a very stressful and toxic situation. Her wise advice and professional help empowered me to better understand myself and my roots, control my negative emotions and be aware of my own sense of good and worthiness. I am very grateful for her help and would recommend her to anyone facing challenges with increased anxiety, depression, lack of self-love, and issues with a toxic workplace."

My name is Frank and I am a Senior Manager in a multinational company and run an organisation with several hundred colleagues. I started to take psychological counselling with Olga 3 years ago. At that time, I was probably in burn-out but wouldn’t acknowledge that to myself. As a consequence I was suffering from existential anxiety and severe sleeping disorders.

Olga’s attachment based approach of developing a trustful relationship and centring on expressing emotions systematically led me to explore the root causes of my condition. Articulating my thoughts was fundamental to reduce suffering and regain self-confidence. Olga also introduced me to breathing and meditation practices – invaluable not only to regain personal stability and improving sleep but also to return to professional high performance.

We agreed clear goals for our therapeutic relationship and have constantly upped the bar – now working on improving relationships within the family. Last but not least, I very much appreciate how easy it is to work with Olga. She is very flexible in her sessions which she holds in-person, via video or telephone and she is highly organised and reliable.

Through my regular sessions with Olga I learnt how to have a better understanding of how my mind works, having previously given little regard to it. This has made me better equipped to deal with life’s many challenges and has markedly improved my personal relationships and materially reduced work related stress. Olga is a kind, empathetic listener and very easy to talk to.

I have been receiving attachment-based psychotherapy from Olga since 2011 (with a two-year break). It has been a rollercoaster and at times very difficult, but I can honestly say that my decision to seek counselling has been one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life. Olga is empathetic, kind, professional and VERY good at what she does. She has changed the way I view myself, and with her knowledge and guidance I have worked through my myriad issues and reached a place of strong self-awareness and insight, together with the tools to deal with issues as and when they inevitably come up. I feel very fortunate to have worked with Olga (and continue to). I have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending Olga.

Get in Touch

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how I work or to arrange an initial assessment appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to therapy, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.


You can also call or text me on 07799418592 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first. I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have prior to arranging an initial appointment.


All enquires are usually answered within 24 hours, and all contact is strictly confidential and uses secure phone and email services.