Anna Sergent

How does psychoanalysis work?

Psychoanalysis provides a unique space to speak freely. By allowing throughts to emerge, even those that seem trivial, contradictory or unimportant, we might begin to uncover unconscious patterns that shape your experience. Through this process, we can work towards lasting change, rather than focusing solely on managing symptoms. Each analytic journey is personal and unfolds at its own pace.

Why do you offer a free 15-minute psychotherapy consultation online?

I offer a free 15-minute online consultation to discuss your reasons for seeking psychotherapy, the fee, and whether we might be a good fit in therapeutic work. It’s a chance to ask questions and get a sense of how I work before committing to a full session. If we decide to work together, I’ll email my terms and conditions, covering confidentiality, sessions, cancellations, and payment. The first full session marks the start of our work and may also serve as a consultation period, depending on how the process unfolds.

What are your fees and availability?

My fee is disucssed during the initial consultation and varies depending on the frequency and nature of work. I offer sessions on weekdays from both Stratford (E20) and West Hampstead (NW6), as well as online. If we decide to work together we'll agree on a regular time that works for both of us.

What is your psychotherapy training?

My training as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist is extensive and rigorous, requiring long years of academic study, clinical practice, and personal analysis. It includes working with clients under regular supervision to ensure my practice is ethical and reflective. Additionally, I continuously engage with psychoanalytic literature and ongoing professional development to deepen my understanding and refine my work as a psychotherapist.

How long does psychoanalysis take?

Psychoanalysis is not time-limited. Unlike short-term therapy, it isn’t about reaching a specific goal within fixed number of sessions. Instead, it offers a space for long-term exploration of unconscious patterns. Some people work psychoanalytically for several years; others may continue longer. It's natural to feel uncertain about the length at first, and we can talk about this as the work unfolds.

Do you offer short-term psychotherapy?

Yes, I offer both open-ended psychoanalysis and shorter-term psychotherapy. Short-term work can be useful for focusing on a specific issue, while longer-term psychoanalysis allows for deeper exploration. What begins as brief psychotherapy can occasionally transform into an open-ended psychoanalysis.

What kinds of issues can psychoanalysis help with?

Psychoanalysis is suited to a wide range of emotional and relational difficulties, incluiding anxiety, depression, identitiy questions, relationship patterns, creative blocks and questions of meaning and purpose. Often, people seek it when they feel stuck, conflicted, or disconnected from themselves or others.

How is psychoanalysis relevant in today’s contemporary world, given that it was created at the end of the 19th century?

Psychoanalysis remains highly relevant today because it explores the unconscious forces that shape human thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. While modern life has changed, fundamental human struggles, such as identity, desire, anxiety, and relationships remain. Contemporary analysts continue to engage with and develop erly psychoanalytic ideas, integrating them with new insights from culture, neuroscience, and social change. In a fast-paced world that often prioritises quick solutions, psychoanalysis provides a space for reflection, helping patients to understand themselves beyond surface-level symptoms and engage with the deeper dimensions of their experience.

How about the relevance of psychoanalysis in the age of AI?

Psychoanalysis addresses the deeply personal and subjective aspects of the human experience that AI cannot replicate. While AI can process data and simulate interactions, it cannot engage with the complexities of the unconscious, emotional dynamics, or the nuances of human relationships.