About therapy
Many people come to therapy because they feel that something in their life needs changing.
Perhaps you feel stuck, experience anxiety, have trouble sleeping or focusing on your work. Or you’ve lost interest in things you used to enjoy. Maybe you find yourself repeatedly in similar situations and want to better understand how you keep ending up there. You might like to be closer to others but find it difficult to form lasting, satisfying relationships.
You may spend a lot of time tending to other people’s needs and emotions, but struggle to make space for your own. Relying on others can feel impossible. You may be preoccupied with how others perceive you and be unsure who you are at the same time.
And sometimes, major changes in your life make you feel disconnected from who you thought you were. This might include a bereavement, a breakup or separation, a physical illness or injury, or trauma, whether recent or long ago. Other significant shifts, like becoming a parent, changing careers or retiring, moving to a new town or immigrating to another country, can also leave you feeling untethered.
Therapy can help you process experiences like these, feel more connected to your own needs and emotions, and relate more authentically to others.
Working with me
As an integrative therapist, I draw on a range of psychotherapy approaches, which allows me to tailor our work to your specific needs and goals.
My practice is informed by the psychoanalytic tradition. This means that we pay attention to the often unconscious ways in which your earliest relationships and personal history may impact how you experience yourself and others.
I also draw on existential psychotherapy approaches, which help us explore your capacity for agency within your personal and universal givens. I believe that therapy also needs to acknowledge the role social norms and injustices play in individual difficulties, and how they shape the way we inhabit the world and our bodies.
My work is client-centred: I respect your autonomy, and you choose what you bring to therapy.
Born in Germany, I’ve lived in France, Austria, the US, and, for most of the last sixteen years, in the UK. I’ve had my own share of endings and new beginnings, and I’m ready to be alongside you as you experience yours.
The relationship between therapist and client is one of the strongest predictors of positive therapeutic outcomes. This means that even if all this sounds good on paper, it won’t help if you don’t feel right in the room with me. This is why I offer a free 20-minute phone consultation which allows us to get a first sense of each other and discuss whether I’m a good fit to help you with whatever brings you to therapy.
I offer therapy in English and German.
Qualifications and experience
I’ve worked with adults experiencing a range of difficulties, including anxiety, depression, bereavement and loss, trauma, relationship problems, experiences of discrimination, and life and work transitions. This has included working with male clients on issues around masculinity, fatherhood, and sexuality. My practice is LGBTQI+ affirming.
I’ve worked as a counsellor in community services providing low-cost therapy in the London boroughs of Brent and Islington.
I hold a Diploma in Counselling from the Minster Centre in London, one of Europe’s leading Integrative Psychotherapy training institutions, and am currently also working towards an MA in Psychotherapy at the Minster Centre and Middlesex University. I am registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and abide by its Ethical Framework. I also have a PhD in German Literature from the University of Cambridge. Before becoming a therapist, I worked for over fifteen years in academic research and teaching, which included publishing and lecturing on psychoanalytic theory and the cultural history of emotions.
- Diploma
- Integrative Counselling, The Minster Centre, London (taught and assessed at Level 7, postgraduate level)
- MA
- Integrative Psychotherapy and Counselling, The Minster Centre and Middlesex University (in progress)
- PhD
- German Literature, University of Cambridge
- BA, MA
- German Literature and Philosophy (BA); German Literature (MA), Freie Universität Berlin
- Registration
- BACP Registered Member 421889
Practicalities
- Time and frequency
- Sessions take place once weekly, on the same day and at the same time, and last 50 minutes.
- Duration
- I offer long-term, open-ended as well as short-term (12 sessions) therapy. You can end therapy at any point.
- Fee
- £80 for a 50-minute session. I have limited availability of low-cost places for people on a lower income. Please mention this when you get in touch if this applies to you.
- Where
- I work in person in therapy rooms in Finsbury Park (N5) and Queen’s Park (NW6). Occasional online sessions, for example when you are ill or travelling, can be arranged.
- Accessibility
- My Queen’s Park rooms (NW6) are on the ground floor and fully wheelchair accessible, including a step-free entrance and an accessible toilet. My Finsbury Park room (N5) is not accessible for wheelchair or rollator users, but I can book an accessible room nearby in N7, or we can work online. Please get in touch to talk about what would work best for you.
- Getting started
- I offer a free 20-minute phone consultation which allows us to get a first sense of each other and discuss whether I’m a good fit to help you with whatever brings you to therapy.
- Getting in touch
- Email me to ask about availability or to book your free phone consultation.
mariekolkenbrocktherapy@proton.me
Therapie auf Deutsch
Als Muttersprachlerin biete ich Therapiesitzungen für deutschsprachige Klient_innen an.
Therapie ist eine persönliche Erfahrung, in der Sie sich mit oft schmerzlichen und komplexen Erinnerungen, Erlebnissen und Gefühlen auseinandersetzen. Auch wenn Sie fließend Englisch sprechen und schon seit Langem in Großbritannien leben, kann es eine Entlastung sein, über das, was Sie bewegt, auf Deutsch sprechen zu können. Vielleicht erlaubt Ihnen die von Ihrer Kindheit her vertraute Sprache einen anderen Zugang auf lange zurückliegende Erlebnisse, die Sie heute noch beschäftigen. Oder Sie wünschen sich einfach einen therapeutischen Raum, in dem Sie in Ihrer Muttersprache kommunizieren können.
Wenn dies auf Sie zutrifft, melden Sie sich gern für eine kostenfreie, zwanzigminütige telefonische Erstkonsultation an.
Privacy Notice
At a glance
- Your information is confidential. I only share it in a small number of specific situations, explained below.
- I collect only what I need to arrange and provide therapy: your contact details, some background information and brief session notes.
- Everything is stored securely in encrypted Proton Drive and Proton Mail accounts. I do not use paper records.
- Sessions are not recorded unless we have agreed this separately in writing. I never use AI note-taking or transcription tools.
- I keep records for 6 years after therapy ends, then securely delete them. If you enquire but don't start therapy, I delete your details within 3 months.
- You have rights over your information, explained below.
- Questions? Email me at mariekolkenbrocktherapy@proton.me.
About this notice
This notice explains what I do with your personal information, from your first enquiry until after therapy has ended. It covers what I collect, why, who might see it, how long I keep it and your rights.
I follow UK data protection law, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003.
Who I am. I am Marie Kolkenbrock, a therapist practising as a sole trader under the name Marie Kolkenbrock Therapy. I work with individual adults (18+). Under data protection law I am the "data controller": the person responsible for your information.
- ICO registration number: ZC244293
- Email: mariekolkenbrocktherapy@proton.me
I'm happy to answer any questions about this notice. Please get in touch by email.
What information I collect and when
When you first get in touch. I collect what I need to respond to your enquiry: your name, email address and anything else you choose to share in your emails.
Occasionally a GP or other health professional may refer you to me and send me your details. If that happens, I will send you this notice within one month of receiving your information.
When we start working together. In or shortly after our first session, I will ask for your:
- address, phone number and date of birth
- next of kin or emergency contact (name, relationship and contact details)
- GP details
- relevant health information
During therapy. I write brief notes after each session. I also keep our email correspondence and a record of payments (your name, the amount and the payment reference).
You don't have to give me any of this information. However, I may not be able to offer therapy safely without your contact, emergency contact and GP details.
How I contact you. Email is my main way of keeping in touch. I do not use text messages. I will only phone you, from a withheld number and with your permission, if I need to cancel a session at short notice and can't expect you to see an email in time. You can always cancel or contact me by email, even at short notice.
Online sessions. I occasionally offer sessions by Zoom. I do not use Zoom's recording feature.
Recording and AI. I do not record sessions, in person or online, unless we have agreed this separately in writing, for example as part of a training arrangement. Any such arrangement comes with its own agreement explaining how recordings are made, stored, used and deleted. I never use AI note-taking, transcription or summarising tools in any session or in my notes.
I do not make any decisions about you by automated means, and I do not use profiling.
Why I'm allowed to use your information
Data protection law says I need a "lawful basis" for using your information. The basis depends on the stage we're at.
| Stage | My lawful basis |
|---|---|
| You're enquiring about therapy or currently in therapy with me | It is necessary to set up and carry out our therapy contract |
| Therapy has ended | My legitimate interests in keeping accurate records, meeting professional requirements and responding to any complaint or legal claim |
| Financial records | I have a legal obligation to keep records for tax purposes |
| In rare cases I need to share information to protect you or someone else, or because the law requires it | Protecting someone's vital interests, or a legal obligation |
Health information, and anything else sensitive you share with me, is called "special category" information and has extra protection. My basis for using it is that it's necessary to provide health care (in this case, therapy) under a contract with a health professional. This is permitted by Article 9(2)(h) of the UK GDPR and Schedule 1 of the Data Protection Act 2018.
Confidentiality
Your therapy and your personal information are confidential. I will not share any information with a third party except:
- if I believe there is a threat to your safety or to the safety of others
- if I am required to do so by law
- if I am unexpectedly unable to practise, through illness, incapacity or death (see "If I am unable to practise" below).
If I need to share information for reasons 1 or 2, I will always try to talk with you first and get your consent, unless safeguarding concerns make that impossible.
Supervision. My professional body, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), requires me to have regular clinical supervision. This is to ensure good practice. I discuss my work with my supervisor anonymously, without sharing your name or anything that could identify you.
Who else may see your information
I never sell your information or use it for marketing. A small number of others may handle limited parts of it, as set out below.
If I am unable to practise. If I become unexpectedly unable to work, my supervisor will have access to your contact details so they can let you know. They will also have access to my Proton Drive, but only so they can securely delete your records. They will not read your session notes. They may offer to refer you to another therapist, but only after talking it through with you and with your permission. They do not automatically become your therapist.
Services I use to run my practice:
| Who | What they do | What they see |
|---|---|---|
| Proton AG (Proton Drive and Proton Mail) | Secure, end-to-end encrypted storage and email | Your records and our emails are stored with zero-access encryption, so Proton cannot read them. |
| Zoom Video Communications | Online sessions (occasional) | Your name or display name, email address and connection data. I do not use Zoom's recording feature |
| My bank | Receiving session fees | Your name, the amount and the payment reference |
Financial and legal. I keep financial records for tax purposes. HMRC would only see details such as names and payments if they inspected my records, as the law allows. If I use an accountant in the future, they will see only what's needed to prepare my accounts, such as payment records. They will not see any information about your therapy. In the rare event of a complaint or legal claim, I may need to share relevant information with my professional indemnity insurer or legal adviser.
I choose these services carefully, and they may only use your information for the service they provide to me.
How I keep your information safe
I take the security of your information very seriously.
- All records, including session notes, are kept in a password-protected, end-to-end encrypted Proton Drive folder. My session notes are kept separately from your contact information without a personal identifier.
- All emails between us go through my Proton Mail account and are stored in a secure inbox.
- I do not keep paper records.
- The devices I use are password-protected.
Storage outside the UK. Proton is based in Switzerland, and the UK recognises Switzerland as giving personal data an adequate level of protection. Zoom is a US company, so some connection data from online sessions may be processed in the United States. Zoom has safeguards in place for this, recognised under UK law.
How long I keep your information
| Information | How long I keep it |
|---|---|
| Enquiry details, if you decide not to start therapy | Deleted within 3 months |
| Client records, session notes and emails | 6 years from the end of therapy, then securely deleted |
| Payment records | 6 years, as required for tax purposes |
If you'd like me to delete your information sooner, just ask. I'll do so unless I have a legal or professional reason to keep it, in which case I'll explain why.
Your rights
You have the right to:
- ask for a copy of the information I hold about you
- ask me to correct anything inaccurate or incomplete
- ask me to delete your information
- ask me to limit how I use your information, or object to me using it
- ask for your information in a format you can take elsewhere.
If you ask for a copy, I'll tell you what I hold, where it came from, why I hold it, how long I'll keep it and who it might be shared with. I'll acknowledge your request promptly and respond within one month.
Some rights have limits. For example, I may need to keep certain records for legal reasons. If I can't do what you ask, I'll explain why.
To make a request, please email me at mariekolkenbrocktherapy@proton.me. You can read more about your rights at ico.org.uk/your-data-matters.
Concerns and complaints. If you're unhappy with how I've handled your information, please tell me first. I'll acknowledge your complaint promptly, respond within 30 days and do my best to put things right. I also welcome suggestions for improving how I look after your data.
You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), which oversees data protection in the UK: ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint.
Visitors to my website
My website is hosted by Netlify, Inc., a company based in the United States. Like most web hosts, Netlify automatically records standard technical information when you visit, such as your IP address, browser type and the pages you view. This information may be processed in the United States. It is used to keep the site running securely, and I do not use it to identify you. My lawful basis is my legitimate interest in running a secure, working website.
There is no contact form on my website. If you email me using the address shown, your email is handled as described in this notice.
Cookies. This website does not use cookies or any tracking or analytics tools.
Changes to this notice
I review this notice regularly and will update it if anything changes. The date at the top shows when it was last updated. If I make a significant change that affects you, I'll let you know.