Lisa Sanfilippo (She/Her)
Registered Psychotherapist, MA, MSc, UKCP, MBACP, SEP in progress
I believe therapy is a great gift that you give to your body, mind and soul- and that gift can improve all the relationships in your personal, work and family relationships. In essence, we want to move towards more ease and enjoyment. We can get curious about what you learnt growing up and in your life to date that created your world-view, your assumptions and even your body's responses to the situations you face. We will also open up new options for your responses so that you can be more authentically yourself within your world. This doesn't just involve thinking differently but being able to use the felt-sense in your body and nervous system. Often, I experience people coming to therapy with knowledge and self awareness but that thing doesn't seem to shift the problem- because it's deep in the body response system. We can work together with all of it, not just the logical mind but what's beneath that may be quietly running the show!
I work with an integrative palette of approaches and tools, and share them with you in our conversations. We will work with thoughts and feelings as well as the responses of your body. When we start to shift what is available to our felt-sense, our perceptions and actions can shift dramatically. This is one of the things I love about the recent post-graduate training I've undertaken in Somatic Experiencing. I'm at the Advanced level of training in this method and it informs my approach to trauma, to neurodiversity and to relationships. I've also undertaken significant studies in ADHD and autism to help work with neurodivergence. I work with empathy, curiosity, compassion and respect for your intelligence and goals for yourself.
Client Focus
Session Format: Individual sessions.
Age Specialty: Adult
Demographic Expertise: Asian, Black / African American, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Hispanic / Latino, Jewish, LGBTQ+, Men, Persons with Disabilities, Women clients.
Languages: English, conversational Spanish.
Treatment Approach
- Existential / Humanistic Therapy Encourages people to explore meaning, freedom, and authenticity in their lives. It focuses on personal growth and living in alignment with one’s values.
- Feminist Therapy Addresses how gender roles, power, and social inequality affect mental health. It empowers clients to challenge limiting beliefs and systems.
- Gestalt Therapy Encourages awareness of thoughts, feelings, and actions in the present moment. It helps people integrate different parts of themselves for wholeness.
- Integrative Therapy Combines techniques from multiple approaches into a customized plan. It adapts to each client’s unique situation and needs.
- Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian) Emphasizes empathy, unconditional positive regard, and authenticity. It provides a safe space for self-discovery and growth.
- Somatic Therapy Helps clients notice how emotions are stored in the body. It uses breath, movement, and awareness for healing trauma and stress.
- Transpersonal Therapy Integrates spirituality and higher states of consciousness with psychology. It encourages growth beyond the individual self.
Approach Description: I work integratively, finding the way that works best for you. Our body and our mind work together- this is core to what I believe and how I work. This means I work 'somatically' though also with psychodynamic, humanistic, creative and transpersonal understanding (if those terms are helpful to you). I am not a therapist who sits mute! I will reflect, ask questions and where helpful we use tools and frameworks that can move us along in the therapy. I don't believe in holding out on you if there is a resource or perspective that can help. By the same token, I do understand the value of listening, being patient and allowing the work to unfold as trust builds. Our long-held patterns have taken years to form, and while we may see change quickly, patience and compassion allow us to work all the angles to dislodge the particularly tough patterns.
Fees & Insurance
Fees
- Average Session Fee £150-165
- Affordable sliding scale therapy: apply if you may be eligible.
- For a limited number of clients I am able to offer a sliding scale concession rates- this requires a separate application to the Therapy Concession Clinic. Places depend upon circumstances, availability, and if you are willing and able to be flexible with time, location/ Zoom concessions. I lead the Therapy Concession Clinic, Ltd. and have some concession spaces as well as referring to other therapists.
- Accepts Insurance
- I am registered with WPA and accept BUPA Global. Please enquire about this. You will often need to pay and submit for reimbursement from your insurer.
Education & Credentials
Lisa Sanfilippo MA, MSc, UKCP, MBACP, SEP in progress
- Female
- Practicing Since 2012
Education: MA, Transpersonal Psychotherapy (Thesis: intersections of yoga & psychotherapy) 2019, Univ. Northampton/CCPE
Diploma: Counselling & Psychotherapy, CCPE, 2017
Reg. UKCP & BACP, SE Adv 1 Training
MSc Social Policy & Planning, London School of Economics, 2003
BSc Sociology, Brown University, USA 1997
Lisa Sanfilippo Practice Details
Therapy Sessions
- Available In-Person in London, England and London, England
- Available Online for residents of United Kingdom
- Online Therapy Details: Zoom
We'll meet in person at my central London location or online.
If you're curious you can also have a look at articles I've written and interviews, particularly focussed on sleep, an area of special expertise- I have published two books on the topic.
I also specialise in helping you to identify and communicate your needs. We'll look at how we negotiate in relationships with family, with friends and at work.
Our work together will integrate an understanding of how our nervous system responses can result in PTSD (trauma), anxiety, depression and other ways of feeling stuck. My second Master's degree focussed on the intersections of yoga and psychotherapy. I have both practiced and taught yoga for more than two decades. My continuing professional development has been in working with trauma and understanding the body-mind-emotions through Somatic Experiencing Training (SE) as expressed in the work of Dr. Peter Levine and Polyvagal Theory (trained by Deb Dana, whose work I recommend checking out). I have also studied with Dr. Abi Blakeslee- the topic of implicit memory (how the body remembers). I have also looked in depth at how our neurotypes / neurodiversity affects our lives- studying the contemporary research and practice in working with ADHD and autism.
I’ve arrived here after a career in social justice, education, social policy (in which I have an MSc from the London School of Economics) and sociology (BSc from Brown University) and have briefly studied behavioural biology and Western Civilisation at Harvard. I've lived in the US and in the UK, and have worked with many expats from all over the world. As a UKCP registered therapist, I can provide therapy to trainees at any UKCP accredited psychotherapy training programme.
If you think we might be a good fit, please do get in touch for a free 15-20 minute meeting.
We'll forge new ways to meet life's challenges and move towards feeling more fulfilment and enjoyment in life.
*Please get in touch for a free Zoom-based or telephone conversation if you think therapy with me might be a good match for you.*