Meet the therapist: Romy Wakil

Romy is a Psychotherapist and joined the team in April 2019. We sat her down to learn more about her approach and role within Orri.

How long have you been a clinician for and what were you doing before Orri 

I qualified in 2015 and have been practicing in the field of trauma for 4 years. After graduating I moved back home to Cyprus for a couple of years where I set up free trauma therapy for asylum seekers whilst working at an NGO. I have been working and living in London for two years now and working primarily in the field of eating disorders.  

Can you tell us about the type of therapy/discipline that you practice? 

I trained in both the person-centred and psychodynamic traditions. Whilst I tend to lean more towards the psychodynamic tradition in practicing, each client is unique in terms of their story. With this in mind, I draw from different traditions depending on my client’s needs during their journey of recovery.  

What do you enjoy most about your role?  

It is a humbling experience to be given the opportunity to ‘witness’ the shifts that occur in clients’ lives throughout their therapeutic journeys.  

What is the most challenging aspect of your role? 

Clients often struggle with the cyclical process of recovery. Witnessing a client’s pain and frustrations throughout this process can be challenging.  However, I have found that holding on to hope and simply being with a client as they explore their frustrations can lead to powerful moments of remarkable growth.  

What do you wish people knew about therapy/psychology? 

Therapy is first and foremost about engaging in one’s relationship with oneself – individuals can access it at any point in their lives.  

What do you feel is most unique about Orri? 

Orri provides a sheltered space in which clients are supported by a multidisciplinary team in tackling their eating disorders – both within Orri and the outside world.

Outside of work, what do you do for your own mental wellbeing? 

Spending quality time with my family and friends always makes me feel energised as well as music – there’s nothing like a live gig or listening to my favourite playlist!  Also, I take any opportunity I can to go to the beach as it’s the space I feel most grounded in.   

What is your favourite inspirational quote? 

Anything written by Nayyirah Waheed speaks to me, but this quote is one of my all-time favourites:   

“remember, 
you were a writer  
before    
you ever  
put  
pen to paper. 
just because you were not writing  
externally.  
does not mean you were not writing 
internally.”  
― Nayyirah Waheed  

Do you have a mental health hero? 

My clients – who engage in incredibly challenging reflective work and inspire me in their bravery and courage.  

If you had one piece of advice for a therapy-seeker, what would it be? 

Therapy is a unique space in which clients are supported in listening to their internal dialogues. As a result, therapy can be useful for anyone as it can provide a powerful platform for personal growth.  

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