Private Psychological Therapy · London

Praxis Psychology

Private psychological therapy for people seeking depth, clarity and lasting change.

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London Online
Dr Sanya Krljes · Consultant Clinical Psychologist · London & Online Scroll
20+
YEARS
EXPERIENCE

Who I Work With

You present well on the outside. Inside, something feels different.

I work primarily with professionals, executives and high-achieving individuals who carry more than anyone around them sees. You may be accomplished, capable and used to managing — and yet feel exhausted, disconnected, or quietly aware that something needs to change.

I also work with people navigating significant life transitions — including the psychological dimensions of menopause and midlife — and with those who want to understand how psychological wellbeing shapes not just how they feel, but how long and how well they live.

Why Therapy

"Therapy offers something different from advice, coaching or willpower — it changes the patterns that are driving the problem."

Many of the people I work with have tried other things. What therapy offers — real, deep, evidence-based psychological work — is the possibility of understanding what is actually driving your experience, and changing it. Not managing it. Changing it.

From Neuroscience to Clinical Practice

The brain gave rise to the question. Clinical psychology gave me a way to answer it.

I started in neuroscience — genuinely fascinated by the biology of who we are. I spent years studying how electrical impulses, neurotransmitter systems and neural architecture shape the way we think, feel and behave. It was absorbing work. It was also, eventually, not enough.

The deeper I went into the brain, the more I ran into questions biology alone could not answer. Why do people stay stuck in patterns they understand perfectly well? Why does not insight produce change? And when something genuinely shifts in a person — not just cognitively, but across their whole experience — what has actually happened?

Those questions led me to Ken Wilber's Integral Theory — a framework that takes seriously every dimension of human experience: what is happening inside a person, in their body, in their relationships, and in the wider context they inhabit. Wilber's insight is simple but radical: reduce a person to any one of these dimensions and you miss something essential. Hold all of them together and you begin to see the whole person.

I completed a second doctorate — in Clinical Psychology at UCL — because I wanted to sit with people and help them change. Not study them. Not theorise about them. Actually help them. My neuroscience background did not become irrelevant when I became a clinician. It became the lens I look through every day.

What This Means in Practice

Science that serves the person, not the other way around.

My neuroscience background shapes how I understand what I am seeing and hearing — and, critically, how I think about what kind of change is possible, and why. It gives the clinical work a precision that goes beyond technique.

Why insight alone rarely produces change

Cognitive understanding and emotional change operate through different brain systems. Knowing what is driving a pattern and being able to change it emotionally are not the same thing — and therapy that treats them as equivalent rarely works at depth.

Why chronic stress is not simply exhaustion

Sustained psychological pressure produces measurable changes in the brain — in self-regulation, decision-making and emotional recovery. Understanding this changes how I work with burnout, and what recovery actually requires.

Why the sequence of therapeutic work matters

A dysregulated nervous system cannot access the same therapeutic processes as a regulated one. The order in which we approach things — what comes first, what becomes possible later — is informed by an understanding of how the brain actually works, not just clinical convention.

Why the whole person matters

Drawing on Wilber's Integral framework, I attend to all dimensions of a person's experience simultaneously — interior and exterior, individual and collective. Change that only happens in one dimension rarely holds. Lasting change moves through all of them.

I do not work from a single therapeutic model. I draw on whatever the evidence and the individual in front of me calls for. My research background means those choices are grounded in an understanding of why particular approaches work — not simply that they do.

What I Can Help With.

Areas of Work
01
Anxiety & Emotional Overwhelm

Persistent worry, self-doubt, overthinking and the sense of being unable to settle or slow down — whatever the external picture looks like.

02
Burnout & High Achievement

For professionals who appear successful and capable on the outside yet feel exhausted, disconnected or under relentless internal pressure. You cannot think your way through this one.

03
Relationships & Attachment

Recurring patterns in relationships — intimacy, conflict, parenting, emotional closeness. Understanding what drives them and how to change them.

04
Trauma & Difficult Experiences

Making sense of the lasting impact of adverse experiences, loss, emotional neglect and complex trauma — at depth, not just symptom level.

05
Self-Esteem & Identity

Developing a stronger, more stable sense of self — greater confidence, emotional grounding and clarity about who you are, beyond what you achieve.

06
Life Transitions

Support through periods of significant change, uncertainty and adjustment — career, relationships, loss, ageing, or the sense that something needs to shift.

07
Menopause & Midlife

More than symptoms — a profound psychological transition. Identity, self-worth, relationships and what comes next. Evidence-based, integrative, grounded in the latest research.

Explore this area →
08
Longevity & Psychological Wellbeing

The missing dimension in longevity medicine — self-acceptance, purpose, resilience and social connection are among the strongest predictors of how long and how well we live.

Explore this area →
09
High-Achieving Professionals

You are accomplished and driven, yet something feels out of alignment. Your mind rarely switches off. Therapy offers a place to step back, think clearly and understand what is driving this.

Explore this area →
Dr Sanya Krljes — Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Dr Sanya Krljes

About

Consultant Clinical Psychologist.

I am a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with over 20 years of experience working across specialist NHS and private settings. My academic and clinical training spans neuroscience, cognitive psychology and clinical practice — a combination that is unusual in private practice and that informs the depth and rigour I bring to this work.

Academic & Clinical Qualifications
MSc
Neuroscience
King's College London
PhD
Cognitive Neuroscience
Department of Psychological Medicine, Imperial College London
DClinPsy
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
University College London (UCL)

Over more than twenty years I have worked with people across specialist NHS and private settings — many of them high-achieving professionals who function well on the outside while carrying something that feels unsustainable on the inside. I have also worked with people navigating trauma, significant loss, relationship difficulties and the kind of chronic pressure that eventually takes a toll whether you acknowledge it or not.

I have formal training in a range of evidence-based therapeutic approaches — including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Schema Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT) and Compassionate Mind Training. I do not work from a single model. I draw on whatever the person in front of me actually needs — and my research background means I understand not just which approaches work, but why they work, and under what conditions. I have a particular clinical interest in the psychology of burnout and high achievement, in the emotional and identity dimensions of menopause and midlife, and in what psychological wellbeing actually contributes to a long, well-lived life.

I try to create a space that feels genuinely private and unhurried — somewhere you can think out loud, say the things you have not said elsewhere, and begin to make sense of what is difficult. Warm, yes. But not soft. The aim is real change, not just a better understanding of why things are hard.

"I chose this work because I believe that understanding what drives human behaviour — at every level, from neural architecture to lived experience — is one of the most important things a person can do. And that helping someone change is one of the most meaningful."

Professional Registrations & Memberships

HCPC Registered Practitioner Psychologist — Clinical Psychologist
BPS Chartered Psychologist & Associate Fellow, British Psychological Society
ICO Registered with the Information Commissioner's Office

The Experience of Therapy

What You May Find.

You might find yourself feeling genuinely heard for the first time. Not managed, not advised, not assessed — just understood. That sounds simple. It often is not. And for many people, it is quietly revelatory.

You may start to see patterns you have never quite named — in how you respond under pressure, in what happens in your closest relationships, in the gap between how you appear and how you actually feel. Seeing them clearly is usually the beginning of being able to change them.

If you come feeling depleted or stuck, the change rarely arrives all at once. But people often notice, gradually, that something has shifted — that they are less reactive, less hard on themselves, more able to be present. A quieter, steadier relationship with their own life.

Menopause & Psychological Wellbeing

More than symptoms.
A profound transition.

Much of the conversation around menopause focuses on physical symptoms — hot flushes, sleep disruption, fatigue. These are real and often significant. But for many women, the deeper challenge is psychological: a shift in how they feel about themselves, their relationships, their sense of purpose and their place in the world.

Menopause frequently arrives at a time when professional women are already managing considerable pressure — at the height of their careers, balancing demanding roles, family and the expectations of others. The transition does not arrive in isolation.

This is an area I work with as part of my broader practice — not as a declared specialism, but with genuine clinical depth. I bring over 20 years of experience, a close understanding of identity and attachment, and a range of evidence-based approaches that are well suited to the complexity of what this transition actually involves for women.

What the work addresses

  • —Anxiety, low mood and emotional volatility
  • —Shifts in identity, self-worth and confidence
  • —Sleep difficulties and their psychological impact
  • —Impact on relationships and intimacy
  • —Self-criticism and perfectionism under pressure
  • —Making sense of this transition and what comes next
  • —Developing a more compassionate relationship with yourself
Woman on mountain — menopause and midlife

A shift, not an ending.

The Evidence

What the research shows.

94%
of menopausal women experience at least some symptoms at work
HEAF Study, 2023
46%
reduction in hot flush severity with CBT vs 15% with usual care
MENOS4 RCT
3,501
women in meta-analysis confirming therapy significantly improves quality of life
Soltes et al., 2024
2024
NICE now recommends CBT for menopausal symptoms — including hot flushes
NICE NG23

Prevalence of symptoms in working menopausal women

Vasomotor (hot flushes)
91.7%
Sleep disturbance
68.2%
Psychological symptoms
63.6%
Severe difficulty at work
~33%

Source: D'Angelo et al. (2023) HEAF Study cohort, 409 working women aged 50–64

NICE Guideline NG23 — Updated November 2024

Psychological therapy is now
formally recommended for menopause.

For the first time, NICE recommends CBT not only for psychological symptoms but for the physical symptoms of menopause — including hot flushes and sleep disturbance. This is a landmark development.

Vasomotor symptoms
CBT recommended for hot flushes and night sweats — a new 2024 recommendation
Sleep problems
CBT recommended for sleep disturbance associated with menopause — new in 2024
Depressive symptoms
CBT recommended alongside or as an alternative to HRT — existing recommendation strengthened

Who this is for

For women who want more than symptom relief.

This work is particularly suited to women who are interested in understanding what is happening psychologically and using this transition as an opportunity for deeper self-knowledge and growth.

Many of the women I work with are professionals in their forties and fifties who are used to managing everything competently, and who find the experience of menopause unexpectedly destabilising. Therapy offers a place to step back, think clearly and make sense of what feels difficult.

"Midlife can be a time of psychological growth and wellbeing for women — but this requires space, support and understanding."

Nature Reviews Psychology, 2025

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Research note: All findings cited are drawn from peer-reviewed published research. Key sources include: Rukure & Husted (2025) BMC Women's Health; Soltes et al. (2024) Journal of Affective Disorders; NICE Guideline NG23 (2024); D'Angelo et al. (2023) Int. J. Environmental Research and Public Health; MENOS4 RCT; Nature Reviews Psychology (2025). A full reference list is available on request.

Longevity & Psychology

The missing dimension
in longevity medicine.

The conversation about living longer has never been louder. Biological age testing, sleep optimisation, cold exposure, supplements — the longevity industry is growing rapidly, and with good reason.

But something important is missing. Almost all of it focuses on the body. The mind is barely mentioned — and the evidence suggests this may be the most significant oversight of all.

The psychological factors most robustly associated with longevity are not exotic: self-acceptance, meaningful connection, a sense of purpose, emotional resilience, and a stable relationship with oneself. These are not lifestyle add-ons. They are foundational.

What I offer

Drawing on my background in neuroscience and over 20 years of clinical experience, I work with the psychological dimensions of longevity that are rarely addressed elsewhere:

  • —Understanding and reducing chronic psychological stress and its biological impact
  • —Building self-acceptance and a more stable, grounded sense of identity
  • —Developing genuine emotional resilience — not coping strategies, but lasting change
  • —Strengthening relationships and social connection — one of the most robust predictors of longevity
  • —Finding meaning and purpose — central to both psychological wellbeing and physical health
Woman climbing — longevity and vitality

The ascent is as important as the summit.

The Evidence

What the research shows.

46%
reduced mortality risk in those with the highest sense of purpose vs lowest
Alimujiang et al., 2019
+3
years of life added by high self-acceptance, in a 20-year cohort study
Ng, Allore & Levy, 2020
29%
increased mortality risk from social isolation — comparable to smoking
Holt-Lunstad et al., 2015
19%
reduced mortality risk associated with self-acceptance, independent of other factors
Ng, Allore & Levy, 2020

Mortality risk reduction by psychological factor

High Sense of Purpose
46% reduced risk
High Psychological Wellbeing
23–27%
Self-Acceptance
19%
Interdependence
17%
Perceived Control
Independent predictor

Sources: Alimujiang et al. (2019); Ng, Allore & Levy (2020); Tamosiunas et al. (2019); Veenstra et al. (2022)

The Biology of Stress & Ageing

How chronic stress accelerates biological ageing.

Many high-achieving professionals are deeply invested in their physical health — yet chronic psychological stress quietly undermines these efforts at a cellular level.

🧠
Chronic Psychological Stress
Perfectionism, overextension, unresolved emotional patterns
→
⚡
HPA Axis Activation
Sustained cortisol and stress hormone release
→
🔬
Telomere Shortening
Cortisol inhibits telomerase; DNA repair capacity reduced
→
📉
Accelerated Cellular Ageing
Increased inflammation, cardiovascular & neurological risk
→
⏳
Reduced Lifespan
Earlier onset of age-related disease and mortality

Sources: Alhazzaa et al. (2026) Frontiers in Aging; Souza-Talarico et al. (2024) Stress and Health; Epel et al. (2006)

Six Pillars of Psychological Longevity

What psychological wellbeing
actually means for your lifespan.

Self-Acceptance
Reduces mortality risk by 19% and adds approximately 3 years of life. The single most protective psychological factor identified in 20-year cohort data.
Purpose in Life
46% reduced mortality risk in those with highest vs lowest purpose. A stronger predictor than life satisfaction. Associated with slower epigenetic ageing.
Social Connection
Quality relationships reduce mortality risk by 17–32%. The effect is comparable to quitting smoking and exceeds many established physical risk factors.
Emotional Resilience
The capacity to regulate stress and recover from adversity reduces cortisol load and inflammatory markers — both key drivers of biological ageing.
Perceived Control
An independent predictor of reduced mortality, even in high-welfare societies. Operates separately from socioeconomic factors and physical health status.
Psychological Wellbeing
Broadly associated with 23–27% lower mortality risk. The effect holds regardless of socioeconomic status — it is an active contributor to longevity, not a consequence of it.

Who this is for

Already investing in your physical health?

This work is particularly well suited to professionals in their forties, fifties and sixties who are already investing seriously in their physical health and want to address the psychological dimension with equal rigour.

People who understand that living well is not just about the body — and who are ready to do the inner work that the longevity conversation so rarely addresses.

"The most significant longevity investment many high-achieving professionals could make is not another biomarker test. It is understanding the psychological patterns that are driving their internal experience — and changing them."

Praxis Psychology · Longevity & Psychological Wellbeing

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Research note: All findings cited are drawn from peer-reviewed published research. Key sources include: Alimujiang et al. (2019) JAMA Network Open; Ng, Allore & Levy (2020) Int. J. Environmental Research and Public Health; Holt-Lunstad et al. (2010, 2015) PLOS Medicine / Perspectives on Psychological Science; Hill & Turiano (2014) Psychological Science; Alhazzaa et al. (2026) Frontiers in Aging; Tamosiunas et al. (2019) Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. A full reference list is available on request.

Golden morning light through forest

"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves."

Viktor E. Frankl

"I believe that a different therapy must be constructed for each patient because each has a unique story."

Irvin D. Yalom
The Gift of Therapy

"What we do not need in the midst of struggle is shame for being human."

Brené Brown
The Gifts of Imperfection

Golden warm morning mist nature

"Psychology is the art of finding the gold of the spirit."

Irvin D. Yalom

What to Expect

Starting therapy can feel uncertain. Here is what the process looks like.

Whether this is your first time in therapy, or you have had mixed experiences before, knowing what to expect can help. The process with me is collaborative, unhurried, and always led by what you actually need — not a fixed formula.

You are always in control of the pace and direction of the work. Nothing happens without your understanding and agreement.

At a glance

1
Free informal consultation — 30 min
Phone or video. No pressure. No obligation.
2
Initial consultation — 90 min — £320
In depth. Collaborative. A formulation begins to emerge.
3
Ongoing sessions — 50 min
The substantive work. Fees discussed at consultation.
4
Ending — when you are ready
A thoughtful, consolidating conclusion to the work.

The Process

Four stages of the work.

01
Free Consultation
A conversation, not an assessment.

We begin with a free 30-minute conversation — by phone or video — where you can tell me a little about what has brought you here. This is informal. There is no pressure and no obligation. It gives us both a chance to get a sense of whether we might work well together.

02
Initial Session — 90 min
Understanding begins here.

The initial consultation is 90 minutes — longer than a standard session because there is a great deal to understand. I will ask about your history, your current difficulties and what you are hoping for. I will listen carefully, begin to develop a formulation of your situation, and share my thinking with you.

03
Ongoing Therapy
The substantive work.

Most people begin with weekly sessions. Early sessions focus on building trust and understanding — developing a shared picture of what is happening and why. As therapy progresses, we move into deeper work: exploring patterns, developing new ways of understanding and responding, building the psychological resources needed for lasting change.

04
Ending
An important part of the process.

When therapy comes to an end, we spend time reflecting on the work, consolidating what has changed, and thinking about how to sustain that progress. Endings are not an afterthought — they are a meaningful part of the therapeutic process, and are handled with the same care as everything else.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions people often ask before getting in touch.

How do I know if therapy is right for me?

You do not need to be in crisis. Most people I work with are not. They are managing — but aware that something needs to change, or that they have been carrying something for too long. If you are wondering whether therapy might help, that wondering is usually worth paying attention to. The free consultation is a good place to start.

How long will therapy take?

Honestly — it depends on what you are bringing and what you want to change. Some people do a focused piece of work over a few months. Others stay longer, because the deeper you go, the more there is to work with. I will not push you to stay longer than is useful, or rush you to finish before the work is done. We review as we go.

What if I have tried therapy before and it did not help?

More people say this than you might expect. Therapy is not one thing — the approach matters, the fit matters, the timing matters. If something did not work before, it is worth understanding what was missing. I find that conversation often tells us something useful about what this time needs to look like.

Is everything confidential?

Yes — completely. What you say in the room stays in the room. The only exceptions are rare situations involving serious risk of harm, where I have a professional duty to act. I would always try to talk with you about this first. I am registered with the HCPC and bound by strict ethical guidelines on confidentiality.

Do you offer online therapy?

Yes. I work with clients across the UK and internationally via secure video. Many clients find online therapy just as effective as in-person work — and it offers greater flexibility around demanding schedules, travel and commitments. The process is identical to in-person sessions.

Do you accept health insurance?

Please contact me to discuss your particular policy. It is worth checking whether your policy covers psychological therapy with an independent practitioner and obtaining a referral number before we begin. Some insurers require a GP or psychiatric referral first.

What is your cancellation policy?

I ask for at least 48 hours notice to cancel or reschedule. Sessions cancelled with less than 48 hours notice are charged at the full session fee. I understand that unexpected things happen and will always try to be flexible where I can.

How is a Clinical Psychologist different from a therapist or counsellor?

A Consultant Clinical Psychologist completes a minimum of nine years of training, including doctoral-level research and a professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. The title is legally protected and regulated by the HCPC. My background — combining a research PhD in Neuroscience with clinical training across NHS and private settings — adds a further layer of scientific depth that is unusual in private practice.

Ready to take the first step?

Taking the first step can feel uncertain. Whether you have a clear sense of what you are looking for or are simply wondering whether therapy might help, I am happy to hear from you. The free consultation is a good place to start — and there is no obligation to proceed.

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Fees

Fees & Sessions.

Initial Informal Consultation
30 minutes · By phone or video
Free
Initial Consultation
90 minutes · In person or online
£320
Individual Therapy Session
50 minutes · In person or online
Fees discussed
at consultation

Sessions are available in person in London and online. Please contact me if you would like to discuss your requirements or whether therapy may be helpful for you.

If you hold private health insurance, please contact your provider to check whether psychological therapy is covered under your policy.

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Bright modern sunlit interior

Contact

Get in Touch.

Taking the first step can feel uncertain. Whether you have a clear sense of what you are looking for or are simply wondering whether therapy might help, I am happy to hear from you. I aim to respond to all enquiries within two working days.

Email
hello@praxispsychology.co.uk
Location
Private Practice, London

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Let us talk.

Please complete the form below and I will be in touch within two working days.

Get in Touch

Arrange a free consultation.

The first step is a free 30-minute conversation — by phone or video — where you can tell me a little about what has brought you here. There is no pressure and no obligation.

Please do not include sensitive personal or medical information in your message. We can discuss your situation in more detail during the consultation.

hello@praxispsychology.uk
London & Online
Free 30-minute consultation · No obligation

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