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UKCP Full Clinical Psychotherapist

Ayhan Alman, MSc, MA

Originally from Germany, I moved to London in 2010. I have also spent two years living and working in Marbella, Spain, where I provided psychotherapy to English and German-speaking communities. In 2022, I returned to the UK to focus on research.

“I combine clinical rigour with a down-to-earth approach, grounded in experience working across private practice, trauma services, and community settings.”

I'm AyhanPsychotherapist, EMDR Practitioner, Executive Coach

Hello and welcome. I’m Ayhan, and I’m glad you’re here. In a world that often feels fast-paced and demanding, I try to create a space where authenticity and connection come first.

About Me

We live in complicated times, and I often find myself reflecting on how people manage to keep going in the face of it all. What gives me hope is seeing the ways people resist, adapt and care for one another. I don’t have answers to the bigger problems in the world, but in my own work I try to offer a space that feels a little lighter, a little more human, and where people can simply be themselves.

I’m Human, just like you!

I know an “about me” page is meant to be about the person writing it, but I don’t exist in a vacuum. Yes, I can list credentials and the markers of a professional career. But first and foremost, I want you to know that I’m human, just like you. I wrestle with small and big things, I have moments of joy and happiness, and I also meet sorrow and despair.

Breakthroughs

It would be a lie to promise that psychotherapy or coaching can erase sorrow, make work endlessly exciting, or guarantee happiness. Growth tends to come through ups and downs, often where mental health and career meet. Change rarely arrives in grand leaps but in the choice to try again after setbacks. That’s when breakthroughs happen.

What I Bring to Every Session

The work I do is personal, but also backed by formal training in EMDR, somatic practice, group facilitation, and psychological therapy. I’ve supported hundreds of clients working through burnout, disconnection, and systemic pressure. And I bring that learning into every session.

Ok, and now let me brag a little…

Psychotherapy, Psychosexual Therapy and EMDR

I began practising in 2014 in the voluntary sector and have been in private practice since 2017. Since then, I’ve also worked in the NHS and with specialist services for male survivors of sexual abuse. More recently, I’ve facilitated monthly meetups for Autistic adults and stepped into the role of Clinical Lead at Thriving Autistic. I’ve also written about psychotherapy while living with dyslexia and shared my work at conferences.

Psychotherapeutic Qualifications

  • MSc Gestalt Psychotherapy – Middlesex University, London
  • Post-Graduate Diploma Contemporary Trauma Practice – Relational Change, Oxford
  • Part 1, 2 & 3 EMDR Europe Standard Accredited Training – EMDR Academy, Roehampton
  • Professional Certificate in Psychosexual Therapy – CICS, Herts
  • Certificate in Contemporary Intimate Partner Therapy – CICS, Herts
  • Clinical Diploma Gestalt Psychotherapy – Metanoia, London
  • Diploma in Gestalt Psychotherapeutic Counselling – Metanoia, London
  • Certificate in Humanistic Counselling – Gestalt Centre, London

Continuous Professional Development

  • Diagnosis, Assessment & Pharmacological Treatment of Adults with ADHD – UKAAN, London
  • The Utilisation of EMDR (and IFS) in Eating Disorders – EMDR Association Sussex & Pam Virdi
  • Understanding ADHD: Current Research and Practice – King’s College London
  • Understanding Autism – University of Kent

Publications & Workshops

  • Queering Gestalt Therapy: An Anthology on Gender, Sex & Relationship Diversity in Psychotherapy – Published by Routledge, London
  • Embracing Gender Euphoria: We are not alone! – GPTI Conference, Nottingham
  • Beyond Words: Embracing the Awkward Silence – UKAGP Conference, Nottingham

Professional Development and Coaching

I completed a Practitioner Diploma in Executive Coaching with the Academy of Executive Coaching in 2017 and have integrated coaching into my practice ever since. With a background in performance, acting, directing and art, I bring a creative edge that helps professionals move beyond performative leadership into authenticity. My work spans individuals, teams and systems, informed by my experience co-founding the Patterns Institute, writing on trauma-informed research, and training and supervising researchers.

Creative & Coaching Related Qualifications

  • Practitioner Diploma in Executive Coaching – AoEC, London
  • MA Digital Arts – University of the Arts, London
  • Foundation in Performance/Acting – Arts Ed, London
  • Directing: An Introduction – Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, London

Publications & Workshops

  • A Practical Guide To Trauma-Sensitive Research: Integrating Trauma-Informed Frameworks into the Qualitative Research Lifecycle – Published by Routledge, London
  • An Experiential Exploration of the Double Empathy Problem – UKAGP Conference, Bristol

Accreditation

Over the years I’ve been a member of several professional bodies, including the ICF, BACP and NCPS. The memberships I now actively support are with UKCP and the EMDR Association, as these have been the most aligned with my work.