Cynthia Rao

My own experience of therapy has influenced the kind of therapist I have become.

Sometimes the difficulty is not finding the courage to speak, but finding the words to explain something you do not yet fully understand yourself - particularly to someone you do not know. I also know how unhelpful it can feel when very little comes back. I therefore work in an engaged and responsive way. I listen carefully, but I will also reflect what I notice, ask questions and offer my thoughts when I believe they may be helpful.

I am particularly drawn to working with people who are tired of repeating the same patterns and want to understand why they react as they do. They may recognise that something is affecting their relationships or holding them back, yet find that insight alone has not enabled them to respond differently.

I do not assume that the same way of working will suit everyone. Talking can be valuable and may help you make sense of your experiences, but understanding alone does not always lead to the changes in behaviour you hope for. Some people need a different way to reach feelings that may be difficult to put into words. The way we work therefore needs to be shaped around you, rather than expecting you to fit a particular method.

For this reason, alongside Psychosynthesis psychotherapy, I also use Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), often known as tapping. EFT can help to calm difficult thoughts and emotions and provides a practical technique that you can use for yourself outside our sessions. It will not be necessary or appropriate for everyone, but for some it can offer another way of working when talking alone has not been enough.

I also use Matrix Reimprinting, an approach developed from EFT. It involves using tapping while working with memories or whatever arises during a session. It offers a way of connecting with different parts of ourselves and the feelings they may be holding. I have found it especially helpful when fear and anxiety make it difficult to reach what may lie beneath them.

I am a BACP registered Psychosynthesis counsellor.

I trained at the Psychosynthesis Trust based in London Bridge. I have a Post Graduate diploma in Psychosynthesis.

I am also an EFT and Matrix practitioner.

Growing Up Around Addiction

I work with people who grew up in families where alcohol or other addictive behaviours were present. These experiences can affect the roles we take on, how we relate to others and what emotional safety feels like in adult life.

Trauma and Complex Trauma (CPTSD)

We will work carefully at how trauma is affecting your life now, without asking you to relive painful experiences. Together, we can begin to understand and change the emotional patterns trauma may have left behind, without overwhelming your nervous system.

Survivor experiences in the family

Supporting people who carry the experience of being the child who survived, such as when there have been miscarriages, pregnancy loss, or the death of siblings. These experiences can quietly influence identity, belonging, and feelings of responsibility.

My work combines Psychosynthesis psychotherapy with Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). I have a particular interest in generational trauma, family dynamics and codependency, and how these influences continue to shape the way we think, feel and relate to others.

Therapy is not about endlessly analysing the past or giving advice. It is about developing a deeper understanding of yourself and those around you.

Many of the ways we cope in adulthood began as ways of coping with earlier experiences. While these strategies may once have protected us, they can later become the very patterns that keep us feeling stuck.

My role is to help you recognise these patterns with curiosity rather than criticism. As understanding grows, so does the ability to respond differently instead of automatically reacting.