Dean Palmer

I offer confidential psychotherapy, counselling, and executive coaching for adults who are functioning on the outside but struggling on the inside — people who want to understand themselves more deeply, interrupt unhelpful patterns, and build a steadier sense of self-worth and clarity.

If you’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed, therapy offers a space to pause, explore what lies beneath those experiences, and respond with greater clarity and confidence.

My work is thoughtful, collaborative, and grounded in trust. Whether you’re facing anxiety, relationship difficulties, identity questions, work burnout, or a persistent sense of being “not quite okay,” therapy provides a structured and reflective space to make sense of what’s happening and move forward with greater steadiness.

I hold an MSc and Clinical Diploma in Psychotherapy from the Metanoia Institute and a Business Coaching Certification from the University of Cambridge. I am a UKCP-accredited psychotherapist and a BACP-registered counsellor, and I work with AXA and Vitality insurance providers.

Who I work with

I work with adults (18+) and particularly support people who are:

• Thoughtful, capable, and high-functioning, but internally unsettled
• Living with chronic anxiety, stress, or overwhelm
• Navigating complex family dynamics, past or present
• Repeating difficult relational or attachment patterns
• Living with persistent self-criticism, shame, or a fragile sense of self-worth
• Managing significant life transitions or decisions
• Professionals under sustained pressure at work — navigating burnout, imposter feelings, or the emotional cost of responsibility
• Gay and lesbian clients exploring identity, relationships, belonging, or internalised shame, seeking an affirming and professionally held space

Many of the people I work with are used to coping. Therapy often begins when coping is no longer enough.

My approach

I am an integrative psychotherapist, meaning I tailor the work to you rather than fitting you into a single model.

I draw on psychodynamic and relational therapy, person-centred and trauma-informed practice, existential therapy, and coaching tools where appropriate. Sessions are collaborative and reflective, grounded in warmth, clarity, and clear professional boundaries. I work at depth while remaining attentive to how therapy supports your life beyond the consulting room.

I also work as an executive coach, where the focus is future-oriented and goal-directed. Coaching helps you clarify direction, strengthen decision-making, and take practical, purposeful steps forward in your personal or professional life.

My qualifications and background

• MSc (Distinction) in Integrative Psychotherapy – Metanoia Institute and Middlesex University
• Clinical Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy – Metanoia Institute
• Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling – Metanoia Institute
• Business Coaching Certificate – Møller Institute, Churchill College, University of Cambridge

Before training as a therapist, I studied law, journalism, and creative writing at City, University of London and spent many years working as a television executive in high-pressure creative and corporate environments. This background gives me a strong understanding of performance, identity, stress, ambition, and the psychological impact of sustained responsibility.