The body isn’t built to operate under stress for a prolonged period of time and unresolved, negative emotions are not good for health

Tell us about Seven Lion Yard
It’s a holistic health and wellbeing centre in South London that combines traditional psychological therapy with somatic approaches, to integrate the mind and the body to enhance wellbeing.

The psychology clinic offers a range of talking therapies, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing).

The group studio has been designed with relaxation, calm and restoration in mind and offers breathwork, mindfulness and meditation classes, as well as one off events, such as sound baths and workshops.

By using the two approaches of talking therapy and somatic exercises we empower individuals to develop coping skills, resilience and self-awareness to promote long-term mental health and wellbeing.

What inspired you to launch?
As a clinical psychologist, I’ve worked for a long time in an NHS burns unit, helping people adjust to scarring and overcome PTSD after injuries.

This experience sparked an interest in the way trauma impacts our physical health. I'm interested in the coming together of the body-based and cognitive approaches, both within the therapy room and other parts of life. Even 10 years ago, this crossover between mental and physical health might have been thought of as a bit wacky, but now there’s so much research about how the psychological state directly impacts medical diagnoses.

Why is this?
The body isn’t built to operate under stress for a prolonged period of time and unresolved, negative emotions which sit in the body are not good for health. In my experience, people who struggle with personal boundaries – such as being assertive and saying no – often find their bodies take the brunt of their people-pleasing behaviour. They avoid setting boundaries because of the guilt that accompanies it, but the alternative can be a build-up of resentment towards those one prioritises over oneself. This in itself can have an impact on relationships and also put a lot of stress on the body.

For people who struggle with always pleasing others, guilt can be a positive sign that they might finally be setting the boundaries and listening to their own needs.

In my therapeutic practice I found that sometimes less talking is better and tuning into our bodies can give the clues to getting unstuck. A lot of anxiety can start in the body, with a sense of unease and then our minds make a story out of it, which may or may not be true, but which perpetuates the anxious feeling.

Often anxiety comes about from something triggering a past situation, as opposed to reacting to what is actually happening and that’s very much in the nervous system. In that scenario thoughts can soothe the body, or they can make it worse.

When dealing with emotions, the environment is also very important. A calm, containing space encourages people to open up, which can have a real impact on what comes out in a session. Seven Lion Yard is intentionally designed with lots of plants, neutral colours and nature-based pictures.

Were you inspired by any other centres?
There are some lovely studios in London, such as Re:Mind which offers sound therapy, breathwork and energy healing in a serene setting and 7 Breaths which offers yoga qi gong, breathwork, and mindfulness meditation.

There are also some interesting mental health clinics popping up, including The Soke, which offers therapy in an environment which is designed to enhance a sense of wellness, comfort and security. There are reflection rooms where people can lie on a lounger after their session to digest what came up for them.

However, I'm not aware of anyone else offering psychological therapy alongside a meditation, mindfulness and breathwork studio.

What can people expect from the classes?
They’re a blend of meditation, mindfulness and breathwork, encouraging people to connect with their senses and tune into any physical sensations going on in their bodies, guiding them to be present and noticing what emotions come up.

Our sound baths create an amazing, meditative atmosphere, which can bring about a different state. It’s all aimed at getting people to tune into their bodies again.

Most of us block out what our bodies are telling us, so emotions don’t get processed and things build up, until suddenly you have a reaction to something and you think, where did that come from?

We give people the tools to listen to their bodies in a manageable, guided practice which prevents that build up, so they react to things differently and generally cope better. It also empowers them to access that state for themselves outside the session.

Is this type of offering likely to become a trend?
Going forward I think therapists using the more traditional talking therapies may move into the body-based realm. People are realising there’s more to both healing from trauma and improving your wellbeing than talking therapy. It’s an interesting time for mental health in terms of treatment, with all the research going on around psychedelics, as well as the more spiritual practices, which have always been used in other cultures and are sacred and ritualistic.

What are your plans for Seven Lion Yard?
I'd like to do more psychology group work. Creating a therapeutic provision in a group setting makes it more financially-accessible and there can be some really lovely effects that you miss out on in one-to-one sessions.

Further down the line, we might look at streamed classes to be accessible to more people and I would love to host a retreat offering psychology, breathwork and mindfulness.

What advice do you have for operators who want to support members’ mental health?
Health and fitness operators can play a valuable role in supporting their members’ mental health through somatic interventions such as breathwork, yoga, or mindful movement.

However, it’s essential to approach these practices responsibly and within the scope of their expertise. Operators should focus on general wellness such as stress reduction and body awareness, rather than attempting to address deeper mental health issues such as trauma which require specialised training.

Investing in trauma-informed certifications and understanding when to refer participants to qualified mental health professionals is key to ensuring members’ safety and wellbeing.

Creating a safe, inclusive and trauma-informed environment is important to supporting members. This includes offering choices, avoiding physical touch without consent and using non-judgmental language. Collaborating with mental health professionals for workshops or co-facilitation can add depth and credibility to offerings, while ensuring members receive appropriate support.

By fostering self-care practices, building a referral network, and being transparent about the scope of services, operators can provide meaningful mental health support without overstepping their professional boundaries.