Dr Sam Reawood
About therapy with me
With over 15 years of experience as a Child & Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist in the NHS, I have worked extensively with young people, adults, and families navigating complex emotional and relational difficulties. Alongside this, I am a trained EMDR therapist, integrating trauma-informed approaches into my work.
My practice is deeply rooted in psychoanalytic thinking, which offers a space to explore how past experiences shape our present relationships, patterns of thinking, and emotional well-being. I also incorporate contemporary understandings of trauma and attachment, ensuring a nuanced and flexible approach tailored to each individual.
I am currently training as a Psychosexual Therapist, expanding my work to include therapy for individuals and couples facing challenges related to intimacy, sexuality, and relationships. This allows me to offer a holistic perspective, recognizing the deep connections between early emotional life, relational dynamics, and sexual well-being.
How I Work
At the core of my approach is a commitment to in-depth, long-term psychotherapy that goes beyond symptom management, helping individuals achieve lasting emotional growth and change. My work is informed by evidence-based models, drawing on psychoanalytic theory, EMDR, and psychosexual therapy, alongside a deep respect for each person's unique story.
Many of the people I work with come to therapy feeling stuck—whether in patterns of anxiety, depression, or relational struggles. Others are seeking a space to explore themselves more deeply. I aim to provide a therapeutic relationship that fosters curiosity, self-awareness, and transformation.
Areas of Expertise
I offer help for a variety of relationship and sexual difficulties, including but not limited to:
Relationship struggles and attachment difficulties
Psychosexual and intimacy-related concerns
Childhood trauma and complex PTSD
Identity, gender, and/or sexuality concerns
Seeking more satisfying or pleasurable intimate experiences
Addressing adverse sexual experiences or trauma
Navigating a discrepancy of sexual desire or other related issues within relationships
Vaginismus and/or pelvic pain
Overcoming orgasm difficulties
Supporting individuals experiencing erectile dysfunction
Exploring and addressing low sexual desire
Anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem
What to Expect
Starting therapy is a significant step, and I understand the importance of finding the right fit. I offer an initial consultation to explore what brings you to therapy and to think together about whether my approach is right for you. My practice is open to individuals of all backgrounds, and I work in a way that is inclusive, affirming, and non-judgmental.
If you would like to arrange a free 15 minute initial telephone consultation, please get in touch.
How does therapy work?
Psychotherapy is a talking treatment specifically designed for use with people experiencing psychological or emotional difficulties, often expressed through the body (such as behavioural or sexual difficulties). Therapy provides a space that allows the person to understand confusing or difficult feelings, emotions and behaviours so they can make changes in their own time.
In psychotherapy, the person can talk if they wish or use other methods to express themselves. The therapist will make use of these communications to identify and give meaning to underlying worries or difficulties that may be affecting the person’s thoughts and/or behaviour.
It is important to note that psychotherapy is not a “cure”. Instead, it works from the basis that thoughts, feelings and behaviours reflect an internal model built up from experiences and expectations over time. Through the development of a secure, supportive working relationship with the therapist, any unsettling, frightening or disturbing feelings can be explored and understood. Facilitating a different experience of difficult thoughts and feelings can allow the person to become more self-aware and (importantly) think about how to change or manage their behaviours or expectations themselves.
Any change that is brought forward depends on having an experience of something different in which the difficult feelings are contained and held by the therapist until the person learns to be able to contain and manage them themselves. This process takes time as it cannot be consciously ‘willed’. Equally, rushing this process may result in the person finding it too difficult or scary to make any change.
This working relationship is also used as an example from which other key relationships can be explored and this can help the person relate in more effective ways with the world around them.
Membership Associations
Membership of the Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP): Child & Adolescent Psychotherapists have a long, rigorous and thorough training to prepare for this work. They are trained to understand and to support patients through transitions and changes, in order for progress to take place. Once the training is completed, Child & Adolescent Psychotherapists are then eligible for full membership of the ACP and are governed by its policies regarding conduct and good practice. The professional body monitors the training, appointment and registration of practitioners. For further information, please visit the ACP website.
Membership of EMDR UK: I completed the Standard Accredited Training for Eye-Movement Desensitization & Re-processing (EMDR) with EMDR Works in 2021 and have been practicing since, working towards Accredited Practitioner status. For further information, please visit the EMDR UK website.
Student Membership of the College of Sexual & Relationships Therapists (COSRT): I am currently training as a Psychosexual Therapist with Tavistock Relationships. As part of this training, I am a student member of COSRT. For further information, please visit the COSRT website.