Rachel Gismondi-Mitchell

Hi, I’m Rachel. Welcome to my profile. I understand that reaching out for therapy can feel like a big step, so I appreciate you taking the time to learn more about me and how I work.

Starting therapy can feel scary and daunting. Opening up about your thoughts, feelings and experiences takes courage, and finding the right therapist — someone you feel safe, understood and comfortable with — is an important part of that journey.

I’m an accredited CBT therapist and Integrative counsellor, and I bring a calm, compassionate and collaborative approach to my work. I support clients aged 16 and above, creating a safe and non-judgemental space where you can explore your inner world with curiosity and care.

I often work with people who appear to be coping well on the outside, but privately experience anxiety, overthinking, intrusive thoughts, perfectionism, self-doubt or emotional overwhelm. Many of the people I support are driven, responsible and used to achieving, but find themselves exhausted by the pressure to keep everything under control, get things right or constantly feel they should be doing more.

Alongside my private practice, I currently work within the corporate sector, which has given me insight into the pressures, expectations and challenges that can impact mental health in professional environments. I also have previous experience working within the NHS, supporting people with a range of mental health difficulties and gaining valuable insight into the complexity of people’s experiences.

My therapeutic approach is flexible and person-centred, drawing on CBT, integrative, attachment-informed and compassion-focused approaches. I tailor therapy to each individual, as I believe therapy works best when it feels like a partnership where we can work together to understand what is happening and move towards meaningful change.

I have a particular interest in anxiety, OCD and trauma, and in understanding how our experiences and relationships can shape our beliefs, emotional responses and the ways we learn to protect ourselves.

I am especially interested in how patterns such as perfectionism, overthinking, reassurance-seeking, avoidance or the need for control can develop as ways of coping. Together, we can explore these patterns with curiosity and compassion, developing greater self-awareness, emotional regulation and a kinder relationship with yourself.

I also have a strong interest in attachment and relationships, including how our early experiences can influence the way we connect with others and respond emotionally.

For me, therapy is not about fixing what is broken. It is about understanding yourself more deeply, supporting the parts of yourself that have worked hard to cope and developing a more compassionate relationship with who you are.

I feel truly honoured to walk alongside people as they explore their experiences and create meaningful change.