Esther Benson

I am a Transactional Analysis (TA) therapist with many years of experience working in the mental health sector in a range of professional roles. I offer a calm, relational, and reflective approach to therapy and am known for providing a steady, supportive space where clients feel listened to, respected, and emotionally safe. My work is culture-informed and shaped by both professional experience and lived understanding of how race, culture, family, religion, and social context influence emotional wellbeing.

As a Black British therapist of Nigerian heritage working in the UK, I am particularly attentive to issues of identity, power, belonging, and marginalisation, and how these can impact self-esteem, relationships, and life choices. I work with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, low self-worth, relationship difficulties, and the longer-term effects of early or ongoing adversity. My practice is trauma-informed and recognises that many difficulties are rooted in past relational experiences that continue to shape present patterns, often outside conscious awareness.

A key area of my work is supporting people affected by religious contamination, where religious or spiritual beliefs have become internalised in ways that are shaming, controlling, or emotionally restrictive. I hold a respectful and non-judgemental stance towards faith and spirituality and recognise that religion can be a source of meaning, resilience, and community. At the same time, I work carefully and ethically with the effects of religious oppression, misuse of authority, and internalised fear or guilt, supporting clients to develop autonomy, discernment, and a more liberated relationship with belief.

As a TA therapist, I am interested in how early experiences shape life scripts, expectations of self and others, and patterns of relating. I work relationally and collaboratively, paying attention to what unfolds in the therapeutic relationship and using this thoughtfully to support insight and change. I am committed to ethical, reflective practice and work in line with professional standards and ethical frameworks. My work is supported by regular clinical supervision and ongoing professional development.

How I Work / What to Expect

I offer a warm, thoughtful, and boundaried therapeutic relationship. Sessions provide a confidential space to explore thoughts, feelings, and relational patterns at a pace that feels manageable. I work collaboratively, combining gentle challenge with compassion, and support clients to increase self-awareness, expand choice, and develop more self-directed and fulfilling ways of living.