Orla Blakelock

Hello, my name is Orla (they/them), welcome to my page. I am an integrative, relational psychotherapist offering individual, as well as couples and relationship therapy. I am also a qualified reiki master.

As a psychotherapist and human, I am all too aware of how daunting it can be to take that first step towards psychotherapy. If you are reading this page, well done for getting this far. Sometimes in life we can start to feel stressed or overwhelmed and we need some help, someone to listen. It isn’t always possible to work out what we need or how to feel more whole within the communities or support systems we may already have in place.

Psychotherapy is a process of discovering yourself. It can be exciting, but also scary. I practice with curiosity, creativity and empathy to help you unfold your story and have a space that honours you and your process. I am down to earth in my approach and aim to make sure you feel as comfortable as possible. I work very much human to human when working with clients to break down hierarchy and encourage empowerment in the therapeutic process. I can offer you a safe and understanding space in which you can explore whatever it is that is on your mind. No problem is too small or too big, because you matter.

I am trauma-informed in the work I do and work deeply with clients to identify what wounds are holding them back in life, helping them to lean into the pain so it can receive the attention it needs to heal. We are taught to avoid or fix our pain, this is a misguided myth; in the context of therapy, the solution is in building enough trust in the therapeutic relationship to make space for the grief to breathe. In doing this inner freedom is enabled. It’s hard work, but it’s heart work, and I am here to guide and hold you in this process.

I work with a wide variety of issues: couples and relationship therapy, abuse (including narcissistic abuse), sexual trauma, racial trauma and identity, depression, empath and HSP (highly sensitive people) challenges, eco/poly-crisis distress, activist burnout, LGBTQ+ (including gender dysphoria and transitioning), relationship issues, codependency, low self-esteem, stress, bereavement, inner child work, sex and love addiction, anxiety, self-harm and more.

Working with issues concerning intersectionality and identity journeying are areas of particular passion for me. For those it is meaningful to, I identify as a Non-binary, Queer person with British and European heritage. I have AuDHD and mental health lived experience; my lived experience informs my practice and I provide an inclusive space in which all aspects of identity can be honoured and repaired where there has been shame planted. Whether you have had wounding in your identity as a result of your gender, ethnicity, religion, spirituality, age, disability, class, neurodiversity, health, relationship diversity, education or sexuality – together we can cultivate an environment in which you can move through the fire of that shame and walk out into empowerment and pride.