Paul Christelis

Psychotherapy, counselling & supervision

I’m Paul, and I’ve been a psychotherapist for the past 30 years.​

Living in London, Working with people locally and internationally

As a child I grew up in a secure home, within a divided country (South Africa). My nature was also divided: on the one hand I was easy going and socially extravert, whilst also deeply at home in my internal world and with observing people and events from a distance. Realising that I was gay in a largely homophobic society created even more internal conflict, which I dealt with by retreating further into my private space.  As I’ve grown older, these parts of myself have become more integrated, bringing an abiding sense of serenity and self acceptance. 

I’m sharing this here because I believe we are all seeking to integrate disparate and wounded parts of ourselves in a quest for internal peace. It’s what the world is seeking too. Psychotherapy opens a space in which this integration becomes possible, where we can thrive and transcend our internal splits and conflicts. If we heal these wounds, gradually the world heals of its own accord. 

I have lived with anxiety, low self esteem, and insecurity; with the struggles that we all experience in our own ways. But the process of my own personal therapy, as well as an energetic and spiritual ‘waking-up’ in my early twenties, has also opened me to what lies beyond these struggles: a sense of being truly, fundamentally okay in myself, and in the world, regardless of the my past conditioning or current life situation

When I’m not working as a therapist I’m probably getting enrichment through the arts, meditating, running and writing. I have experience working with plant medicines and psychedelics and have helped clients to integrate such experiences. Increasingly, I spend time in satsang, immersing myself in non-dualistic teachings. 

How I Work

My approach to therapy

is integrative, relational and collaborative, meaning that I draw upon and bring together several philosophies and methods, with the therapeutic relationship always at the heart of the process. Humanistic, transpersonal, psychodynamic, Jungian, CBT, gestalt, mindfulness, non-duality,  body and energy psychotherapy are the core modalities I have trained in and practise. 

I believe different approaches work for different people so together we will find out what’s best for you. 

Sometimes we are archeologists, scouring the past in order to make sense of the present. 

Sometimes we are working with the body to safely dislodge frozen trauma and addictive patterning. 

Sometimes we are peeking into the shadowy parts of ourselves and, by exposing them to light, befriending and transforming them.

Sometimes we are simply acknowledging what it feels like to be human. 

Sometimes our illusions and identifications fall away and we know ourselves as we truly are. 

Sometimes we surrender to the mystery of it all.

At the heart of it though, is our working relationship. If that feels safe and comfortable then what needs to happen will happen. 

I work with a diverse range of people and feel privileged to help facilitate change, transformation and healing in my clients.

It goes without saying that I am LGBTQI+ affirmative!

Therapy can often feel like hard work, and it does require commitment. But it can also be enjoyable and playful. Sometimes, the most transformative moments in a session happen in laughter, when the inner child feels safe enough to express itself freely and spontaneously. 

Qualifications & Experience

Qualifications

Professional Qualifications

I am a registered member of the BACP, and accredited with the NCPS.

Work Experience

Relevant Experience

Throughout the years, I have attended and facilitated diverse trainings, workshops and retreats, all of which inform my current work practice. These include:

Rates

Individual Therapy Sessions

50 Mins

Weekly (or fortnightly after an initial weekly period

£85

Individual Supervision Sessions

50 Mins

Fortnightly or monthly

£85

Supervision & mentoring

I work with therapists who are new to the profession as well as experienced practitioners. As your supervisor I will seek to meet you in your preferred modality as well as offering you fresh perspectives to consider and integrate. I am committed to your growth and to supporting you to embody your uniqueness as a therapist.

Bits & Pieces

Click here for information on a series of books I’ve written for children on mindfulness

Here is a recent podcast of a discussion between myself and therapist Ali Bushell on the broad spectrum of approaches to therapy, and working outside of the mainstream

I was a guest on the Seeking the Self podcast where I talk about my Ayahuasca experiences

I have contributed a chapter to the collection The Wisdom of Not Knowing.

And here’s an excerpt from a podcast with therapist Alan Bordeville where we riff on ideas about playfulness and creativity in psychotherapy.

And between these two, my life turns.
When I look outside and see that I am everything, that is love.
When I look inside and see that I am nothing, that is wisdom.

Nisargadatta Maharaj.