Psychodynamic Psychotherapy in English and Spanish
Therapy offers a space for yourself and your life: for what you are struggling with and
for the possibility of understanding yourself more fully, seeing things differently and
changing in ways that last — without having to do it alone.
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy with Victor S. Salvador
You might recognise some of these:
Anxiety and worry — alone or in social situations, at work or in relationships. A baseline but punishing sense that something could go wrong, even when nothing has or should.
Depression and low mood — more withdrawn, less energetic, physically and mentally tired yet unable to sleep well. Flat or sad, dragging yourself from place to place and from commitment to commitment, without much joy in anything. Feeling perhaps ugly, or fat, or unlovable, without much respite — or when it comes, it does not last.
Low self-esteem and lack of confidence — persistent self-criticism or self-doubt that turns ordinary decisions, social situations, or work into something to get through rather than be involved in. A sense of never being content, difficulty feeling proud, unable to look in the mirror and see something good even if little is there. A constant comparison running in your head. Often mistaken for a drive to improve — until it has tipped over into harsh self-talk.
Assertiveness & boundaries – Finding yourself agreeing to things you would rather not; difficulty having important conversations where your views, wants, and needs could be expressed; stepping away from situations to manage them, then regretting it; and feeling shame, anger, or distress in the aftermath.
Impostor syndrome: A sense of being a fraud or not deserving of your success; feeling that achievements are not fully real; difficulty feeling proud or accepting compliments; and a tendency to overlook or discount your own abilities and strengths.
Relationship difficulties — finding yourself on familiar ground with partners, friends, or family, reacting in the same ways even when trying to do things differently. Difficulty being spontaneous or showing genuine aspects of yourself, finding trust complicated, struggling to communicate with others in a way that respects your boundaries.
Compulsive behaviours, screen time, apps, and the digital world — using pornography, dating or hook-up apps, or screens in ways that are beginning to feel outside your control, or that are getting in the way of real connection. Often making in-person intimacy complicated, even anxiety-provoking. Habits that take the edge off in the moment, but complicate things down the line.
I also have particular experience working with men — heterosexual, bisexual and gay and queer.
Seeking support as a man can be a difficult step. Difficulties around low mood and self-esteem, intimacy, body image, and compulsive behaviours — including the use of pornography or dating apps — are common, sometimes alongside a growing sense of isolation, yet it can still be hard to reach out. At times, it is not only what you feel but how things are managed that begins to signal something is not working — shutting down, a shorter temper, working more, drinking more, or feeling depleted and losing interest in things. You may be used to keeping struggles to yourself, and at times even out of your own awareness.
Therapy offers a way of stepping out of some of this — making room for self-understanding, relieving some of the pressure, and allowing the possibility of things changing and not to feel so stuck.
For many gay, bisexual, and queer men, there may be a cumulative effect of stigma and earlier experiences of rejection or bullying, and the ways these have been managed — through concealment, hypervigilance, or self-monitoring. Even where life is outwardly stable, struggles can persist as background tension and self-scrutiny. It often leaves a trace in how you relate to yourself and others: difficulty sustaining closeness, a fear of dependency, or difficulties with intimacy. There can also be pressure around body image, appearance, and desirability, particularly in certain social contexts, which becomes a source of comparison and self-criticism. Substance use can become a way of managing anxiety, loneliness, or inhibition. Loneliness itself is common, even within active social or sexual lives, where deeper relationships can feel harder to establish. Alongside this, there may be struggles around self-worth or a sense of belonging. In that sense, the difficulty is rarely about sexuality itself, but about what you have had to manage and how you have had to adapt in order to live.
The psychodynamic approach I work from is about understanding why your life feels the way it does. Instead of following a pre-set psychoeducational program or a list of instructions or techniques, we protect space to look at what is going on for you. This allows us to look more closely at the roots of your difficulties—why difficulties, whether emotional or behavioural, persist and the role they play in your life now.
When you begin to make sense of what drives and maintains these difficulties, they often stop feeling so inevitable. As these automatic ways of reacting begin to lose their hold, you gain more room for choice. Change that grows from this tends to be more lasting; it isn’t something you have to ‘apply’ from the outside, but something that develops as you recognise what has been difficult and why.
My approach
My approach is psychodynamic. It takes your past, your upbringing, and your relationships as context for your present difficulties, and works with both conscious and unconscious processes — the things we tend to act out rather than speak or reflect about — to understand yourself better. As that understanding develops, responses that once felt automatic start to lose their grip. There is more room for choice — greater tolerance for difficult emotional states, the capacity to reflect rather than react, growing assertiveness, more ease in meeting yourself.
The purpose of our work is not only to find some relief but also to understand your external circumstances and your internal psychological landscape — to see more clearly how your history plays out in your day to day, and where it limits you, so that any change that emerges can be sustained.
Qualifications and Background
I hold an MSc in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy from Birkbeck, University of London, and a BSc (Hons) in Psychology, and I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
My experience spans eight years across inpatient and outpatient NHS services in the public sector, as well as private practice.
I have worked with a wide range of presentations, including personality and personality disorders, complex trauma, anxiety, depression, and addictive and compulsive behaviours, including compulsive sexual behaviour. During my training years, I worked with Dr Thaddeus Birchard, a specialist in the field, facilitating structured group therapy for men struggling with these issues.
I currently work with adults in person and online.
Contact & Availability
The best way to begin is by email, where we can arrange an initial 50-minute consultation—a chance to talk about what is bringing you to therapy and to get a sense of whether the way I work feels right for you.
There is no obligation to continue after the consultation. It is simply an opportunity to begin a conversation.
I currently offer both in-person and online consultations, with greater flexibility for online sessions and availability across the week.
- Sessions: 50 minutes, usually taking place weekly at a regular time.
- Location: in person in the City of London or online.
- Consultation: A 50-minute initial meeting to think together about your circumstances and whether this approach feels like a good fit for you.
Fees:
£100 per 50-minute session. I can offer fee adjustments if required; this can be discussed as part of the process.
Sessions:
Wednesdays: in person at Gray’s Inn Therapy Rooms (WC1R). Further days available, including online options.
