Dr Erica Eassom

Dr Erica Eassom (DClinPsy, BSc) is a Clinical Psychologist at Harrison Psychology Group, London

I am a Clinical Psychologist with a specialist relational focus. I work with people to understand their present difficulties in the context of their past relationships. In doing so, I help them understand the ways that they might have developed to survive and cope with experiences that can leave them feeling stuck, often in repeating patterns.

Difficult relational experiences include not just the impact of individual relationships, but wider experiences within society, that impact how you feel towards yourself and others, for example how oppression can become internalised in people’s self-beliefs and self-image.

In my practice, I mainly use Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT), which combines cognitive therapy's practical and collaborative approach with psychodynamic therapy's depth and relational focus. This allows us to go into deeper underlying issues in a time-limited way that encourages both of us to work towards change.

If you are experiencing any of these things, I can help:

·       Feeling repeatedly let down, hurt, or rejected, or fearing abandonment

·       Feeling depressed, anxious, ashamed, self-critical

·       Lack of intimacy, lack of trust, or fear of others

·       Being affected by past trauma

·       A problem with food and eating, self-harm, unstable emotions, problem drinking or substance abuse

·       A struggle to be assertive and 'people pleasing'

·       Consistently finding yourself in vulnerable situations and problematic relationships

·       Having difficulty establishing long-term relationships or connecting with emotions

·       Struggling with anger, jealousy or conflict issues

·       Feeling unsure of yourself and having difficulty defining yourself

It is crucial that the relationship between us be authentic, sensitive and compassionate to build trust and explore problems with relating and new ways of connecting safely. We’ll explore the healthy parts of you and your relationships and work to build these up. My practice is trauma-informed, which includes thinking about the effects of historical, cultural and intergenerational trauma, including systemic racism and other forms of oppression. I’m affirmative and experienced in working with relationship, gender and sexual diversity.

I have over a decade of experience working with people with complex emotional problems in academia, the NHS, and the third sector. I have a special interest in working with survivors of childhood abuse and domestic violence and have worked as an expert witness in gender-based violence and complex trauma. Alongside my work in the Harrison Psychology Group I work in the homelessness sector.