Psychotherapy for BRCA & Hereditary Cancer Risk

Living with a BRCA gene variant can bring psychological challenges that are often overlooked or minimised. Whether you are navigating genetic testing, surveillance, preventative surgery, fertility decisions, family conversations, or the ongoing sense of uncertainty, the emotional impact can be significant.

This work recognises that BRCA-related concerns are not only medical; they can profoundly affect your identity, relationships, body image, and how safe or settled you feel in your own body and future.

Our sessions may explore:

1. Chronic uncertainty and anticipatory anxiety
2. Decision fatigue around surveillance, surgery, or treatment options
3. Changes in body image, sexuality, or sense of self
4. The psychological impact of “preventative” medical decisions
5. Guilt, responsibility, or fear around family members and inherited risk
6. Feeling misunderstood or unsupported by others who “don’t get it”

This is not advice-giving, but a space to think, feel, and make sense of experiences that are complex, ongoing, and often invisible.

Genetic counselling and psychological therapy

Many people affected by BRCA will have had genetic counselling through NHS services. This is not a replacement, but a different kind of support — one that focuses on the emotional, relational, and internal impact of living with ongoing uncertainty and risk.

My Approach

I am a BACP-accredited psychotherapist and work from a psychodynamic perspective. This means we pay attention not only to current difficulties but also to how past experiences, family history, and unconscious processes shape how BRCA affects you emotionally.

There is no expectation that you are “coping badly” in order to come to therapy. Many people seek support precisely because they are functioning—but at a high internal cost.

Sessions are tailored to your pace and needs. Some people come with a specific decision or moment in mind; others come because something feels unsettled, overwhelming, or hard to put into words.

Reduced-fee Spaces

I am committed to making this support accessible and offer a limited number of concessionary spaces specifically for those affected by BRCA. This recognises the long-term emotional and practical demands that hereditary risk places on individuals over time.

If you would like to enquire about current availability or discuss whether this support might be right for you, you are welcome to get in touch.