Alessandra Samson, BACP

Alessandra Samson works with people who routinely apologise for things that are not their fault, say yes when they mean no, and rehearse conversations only to avoid them. Outwardly dependable at work and easy-going in relationships, many arrive to therapy presenting anxiety, resentment, and a hollow sense of being diminished beneath an "I'm fine" facade.

Having spent a long time being what everyone else needs, some individuals no longer recognise their own wants or identity. They arrive exhausted from managing other peoples' feelings while their own needs are sidelined, and they carry guilt around setting boundaries. Alessandra frames repeated people-pleasing as a learnt way to feel safe - a strategy developed to avoid conflict, rejection, or being perceived as "too much". It may have helped for a while and then stopped working, leaving clients wondering how caring for others became self-abandonment.

Her work begins with making sense of those patterns and then supporting practical change. Alessandra acknowledges that reaching out can feel difficult or selfish after years of prioritising others. She offers therapy on Mondays and some evenings, and provides both short-term and longer-term options, adapting the pace to what feels right for each person.