Who I am
Eleanor Dillon
DPS, NCPS Acc., Psychotherapist
A space to feel understood
Sometimes life can feel overwhelming, and we can find ourselves feeling stuck, anxious or struggling to make sense of why we feel or behave the way we do. We might be hard on ourselves, feel that we're not coping as well as we should, or find ourselves repeating patterns that we don't fully understand.
I believe that having the space to slow down, feel heard and begin to understand ourselves can make a real difference. You don't have to have everything figured out before coming to therapy. Sometimes, having someone alongside you who is genuinely interested in understanding your experience can be a place to start.
How I work
For me, therapy is about connection. It's about having the opportunity to explore what's going on for you with someone who is genuinely curious about your experiences, your relationships and what makes you tick.
I'm interested in understanding how you've come to be the person you are today. Our past experiences and relationships can shape how we see ourselves, how we relate to others and the ways we've learned to cope with difficult situations. Sometimes these ways of coping become familiar patterns that no longer work for us, but it can be difficult to see another way forward.
I want to understand your experience without judgement and help you make sense of what might be happening beneath the surface. I pay attention to the words you use, the patterns that emerge and how you're feeling as we talk. I may invite you to slow down, return to something you've mentioned or consider something from a different perspective.
I work at your pace, taking time to explore what feels important to you. Where it feels helpful, I may gently challenge you to notice a pattern or consider another way of looking at something. I want this to feel like something we explore together, rather than me telling you what I think is happening.
I also recognise that talking about difficult experiences can sometimes feel uncomfortable or overwhelming. It's important to me that we pay attention to how you're experiencing our conversations and make space to pause when needed.
Understanding yourself and finding a way forward
I believe we're all doing the best we can, given our circumstances and the experiences we've had. Our thoughts, feelings and behaviours often develop for a reason. The ways we respond to the world may have helped us cope at one time, even if they now leave us feeling stuck or make life more difficult.
When we begin to understand these patterns, we can start to approach ourselves with greater compassion rather than judgement. We can create a little space between a thought and how we respond to it, allowing us to consider what we need and how we'd like to move forward.
This doesn't mean that change is always easy, or that we can simply choose how we feel. But with greater understanding and support, we may begin to recognise choices that weren't previously visible to us.
I believe we all have the capacity for change. Sometimes we lose sight of our own strengths and abilities, particularly when we're feeling low, anxious or critical of ourselves. I hope therapy can help you reconnect with those parts of yourself, develop a kinder relationship with yourself and begin to feel hopeful about what might be possible.
Finding space for yourself
If you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed or struggling with how you feel about yourself, I want you to know that you don't have to make sense of everything on your own.
Therapy offers an opportunity to slow down, feel heard and explore what's happening with someone who is interested in understanding you. Together, we can begin to make sense of the experiences and patterns that have shaped you, and explore what might help you find a way forward.
You don't have to get everything right, and you don't have to be a different version of yourself to be understood. Sometimes, change begins with having the space to see yourself a little differently, with more understanding, compassion and hope.
A little about me…
Alongside my work as a psychotherapist, I've gained experience supporting people and families through a range of challenges.
I've worked with Children and Family Health Surrey, supporting parents whose children have developmental concerns. This has given me experience of the worries and uncertainty that can arise when you're concerned about your child, and how these experiences can affect family life and relationships.
I also work with a charity supporting people experiencing a range of ongoing mental health difficulties. This has involved helping people explore coping techniques and connecting them with other services and support in the Surrey area. Through this work, I've gained experience supporting people affected by complex circumstances, trauma, addiction and multiple disadvantages. I've also facilitated groups, including mindfulness and OCD groups.
These experiences have reinforced for me the importance of seeing each person as an individual, rather than defining them by their difficulties or circumstances. Everyone has their own story, and I'm interested in understanding what life has been like for you and what might help you move forward.
On a personal level, I'm a parent and understand something of how busy, demanding and exhausting family life can be. We're often given the impression that we should be able to manage everything, from work and parenting to relationships and our own wellbeing, without anything having to give. In reality, we all have limits, and the pressure to meet expectations can take its toll.
I'm also interested in neurodiversity, mindfulness and the natural world. I'm curious about people and the world around me, and I enjoy continuing to learn through courses and events. I bring that same curiosity into my work, remaining open to understanding each person's individual experience.
