Integrative Therapy for Altruists and Activists.
I help impact-driven people navigate psychological challenges, towards inner growth, integration and empowerment.
- Online sessions
- 60 minutes
- Free initial consultation
A Culture of Burnout
The world needs the people working to improve it to be well. Yet it's far too common for people working on mission-driven projects to struggle with their mental health, and the pattern repeats across every field.
AI safety
6+
distinct psychological challenges
reported by the median respondent in a survey of people working in AI safety. Most reported at least one.
Read the survey →Sustainability
62%
experienced burnout
of respondents working in sustainability, in a 2024 study of the environmental sector.
Read the study →Although we can point to some common threads, such as compassion fatigue, existential angst, high-pressure cultures and large systemic trends, each individual's story, challenges and context are unique to them.
The cost reaches far beyond the individual. As a society, we lose out when our most compassionate, thoughtful and hard-working people suffer this way. Unmanaged mental health difficulties directly impair our collective capacity to do this vital work.
Everyone striving to make the world a better place deserves to thrive in the process.
Therapy offers a highly effective, evidence-based and time-tested way of navigating life's challenges.
What I Can Help With
Burnout is one reason people come to me, but far from the only one. I work in a person-centred way, so rather than starting from a diagnosis, I start with you: what's happening in your life, and how it feels.
People often come to me with things like:
- Anxiety and stress
- Low mood and depression
- Burnout and exhaustion
- Compassion fatigue
- Existential, climate or AI-related anxiety
- Relationship difficulties
- Feeling stuck or unhappy with life
- Something you can't quite name yet
I work with mild to moderate difficulties. If what you're going through feels more severe or complex, a different kind of support, such as your GP or a specialist service, may serve you better. We can talk this through openly in your free consultation, and if I'm not the right fit, I'll help you find who is.
An Integrative Approach, Tailored to You
Research shows that for most clinical conditions, the specific therapeutic modality matters far less than the therapeutic relationship. That's why my practice is rooted in person-centred therapy, an approach built around the relationship itself.
As an integrative practitioner, I draw on a wide range of modalities. There's no one-size-fits-all answer to psychological challenges, so we work together to find what suits your context, problem and personality, rather than forcing your issue to fit inside a single framework.
- Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy
- Gestalt
- Parts Work (IFS)
- Hypnotherapy
- Psychodynamic
- Mindfulness-based
What Makes Therapy Work?
How much of the difference in client outcomes each factor explains
Source: Wampold (2015), "How important are the common factors in psychotherapy?", World Psychiatry, drawing on Wampold & Imel, The Great Psychotherapy Debate (2015)
About Me
As a former non-profit founder, I know the heavy toll of impact-driven work. After experiencing burnout, and witnessing friends and colleagues suffer from the same struggle, I stepped away in search of a more sustainable way to live and serve.
That search led me to spend years studying contemplative practices under renowned teachers, living in Thai monasteries, and immersing myself in intentional communities. Whilst my experiences studying Eastern spirituality were profoundly transformative, I found that they could not resolve all of the psychological challenges that come from engaging with the modern world.
That realisation drove me to study Western psychotherapy. I began my initial training in Cognitive-Behavioural Hypnotherapy, a modality that bridges Western psychology with an Eastern emphasis on mental training, before advancing to psychotherapy training on a UKCP-accredited programme. Today, my practice is informed by both Eastern and Western approaches to psychological well-being and healing.
What to Expect
Starting therapy can feel like a big step. Here's how one-to-one therapy with me works, so there are no surprises.
-
A free consultation
We'll talk through what's bringing you to therapy and, just as importantly, what you're hoping to get out of it. Together, we'll shape clear goals for our work.
-
Finding your rhythm
We'll agree on how often to meet. Most people start weekly, though some prefer fortnightly or monthly, and the rhythm can change as your needs evolve.
-
Milestones & review
I usually suggest working towards an agreed number of sessions, then reviewing together: to keep going, change our rhythm, or recognise that your goals have been met. If you'd prefer an open-ended relationship from the outset, that's welcome too.
- Session length
- 60 minutes
- Format
- Online
- Join from wherever feels most comfortable
- Frequency
- Usually weekly
- Adjusted to suit your needs as they change
I also run small relational practice groups and men's peer support groups, and offer bespoke support groups for impact-driven organisations. Get in touch to find out more.
Integrative Therapy for the AI Safety Community
Many in the community struggle to find a therapist who grasps the depth of AI risk and the existential anxiety it can provoke. I offer dedicated support, with low-cost places for those who need them.
Questions
Anything else on your mind? Get in touch, I'm happy to help.
How much does therapy cost?
My standard rate is £75 for a 60-minute session. For people on lower incomes, I also offer sliding-scale places from £30 per session.
If cost is a barrier, you can apply for a low-cost place, whatever field you work in.
Is what I share confidential?
Yes. Confidentiality is at the heart of our work, and I want you to feel able to talk about whatever you need to.
Like all therapists, I discuss my work with a clinical supervisor, and there are a small number of situations, such as a serious risk of harm or a legal requirement, where confidentiality might not apply. I set these out clearly in our written agreement before we begin, and I'm always happy to talk them through.
What if we're not a good fit?
That's exactly what the free consultation is for. If I'm not the right person for you, I'll do my best to point you towards someone who is.
Do you work online?
Yes, all sessions take place online, usually at a regular day and time we agree together, so you can join from home or wherever you feel most at ease.
What's your cancellation policy?
I ask for at least 24 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule. Sessions cancelled with less notice, or missed, are charged at your usual fee.
If I ever need to cancel, I'll give you as much notice as I can, and you won't be charged.
Do you have client testimonials?
No, and that's deliberate. The UKCP Code of Ethics, which I follow, asks therapists not to use client testimonials in their advertising.
Therapy relies on trust and confidentiality, and asking a client for a review can put them in an awkward position, or blur a relationship that should be entirely about them. The free consultation is the best way to get a feel for whether working together is right for you.
Can I contact you between sessions?
You're welcome to message or email me with thoughts or reflections as they come up. I'll read everything, but rather than replying to it in writing, we'll explore it together in our next session. Between sessions, my replies are just for practical things like scheduling.
How do you look after my data?
Carefully. My notes are pseudonymised, using a reference code rather than your name, and kept in encrypted, two-factor-secured systems, in line with GDPR. You can read more in my privacy notice.
Ready to Begin?
Book a free consultation: a relaxed conversation about what's going on for you, what you're hoping for, and whether we're a good fit.
- Free, with no obligation to continue
- Online, from wherever you're comfortable
- A chance to ask anything before deciding
No time that suits? Send me a message instead.
Calendar not loading? Open the booking page
Prefer to write first?
Send a short message and I'll get back to you personally. There's no need to go into detail; we can talk properly on a call.
Your message is confidential and only read by me.
Email me at
hello@finnmjclancy.com