In-person Shanghai | Online Elsewhere
Healing begins in a safe space, and Dr. Vilia Lyell is here to support you on your journey.
A LITTLE ABOUT ME
Dr Vilia Lyell
Many challenges do not change when you change location. Mental health challenges follow you. Factors such as work pressure, working in your local time zone and the time zone of your country of origin is a common stressor. Language barriers, isolation, settling the children into a new school, and uncertainty exacerbate pre-existing difficulties
Empowering Lives Through Compassionate Counselling
What is Therapy ?
Therapy is a safe, confidential and neutral space where you can say the things that need saying and be facilitated towards growth and healing.
Therapy aims to empower you to live your life with healthier choices and decisions which maximise your functioning.
Therapy aims to respect your rights and knowledge about your world and needs, and it couples this with the expertise of the therapist.
Therapy allows you to “hear yourself think” in a non-judgmental environment.
What To Expect ?
Set up a free 15 minute consultation and let's see how we connect.
During the first appointment, I will ask you to elaborate on what brought you to therapy and your expectations of therapy.
You will expand on what is troubling you and I can help by asking questions and clarifying what I have understood. Together we explore issues and experiences that you may never have had a chance to talk or even think about. Through this process you develop a better understanding of yourself.
Together we will explore your history, and I will ask questions about your current and past family system, the support network you have built around you and your physical and mental health. Towards the end of the session, I will try and summarise what I think may be going on for you and how we may work together.
Let's Schedule A Consultation
My Process
What is My Approach to Therapy ?
Psychodynamic psychotherapy helps us identify the patterns in life that keep us stuck and unhappy. Many of us struggle to move forward, hindered by unconscious processes operating powerfully beneath the surface. In therapy, we explore the blind spots that may be holding you back. In psychodynamic therapy, it is often said that anything in our behavior that cannot be explained by reason can be understood through the existence of the unconscious. When we bring unconscious patterns into awareness, we can implement meaningful and sustainable change.
Later in my career, I began exploring other psychotherapeutic models and expanding my training. I was inspired by the work of Dick Schwartz and his model of Internal Family Systems (IFS), which illuminates the intricate tapestry of our inner experiences. IFS posits that our psyche is composed of multiple distinct parts, each with its own role, motivation, and emotional response. Schwartz’s work emerged from the recognition that, much like a family system, these internal parts interact with one another—sometimes in harmony and other times in conflict. At its core, IFS encourages individuals to engage with these parts by acknowledging and understanding their various roles within the inner landscape, ultimately moving toward integration and healing. Compassionate Inquiry (CI) by Dr. Gabor Maté is another approach predominantly used in trauma work. CI delves into the underlying narratives that shape a person’s life, recognizing how past traumas and emotional wounds intertwine to impact present behaviors. This approach emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and empathy, creating a safe space for individuals to confront their vulnerabilities. CI highlights the significance of attachment patterns and how they shape our experiences.
I am passionate about couples therapy and have pursued further training in Relational Life Therapy with Terry Real (Level 1) and IMAGO Couples Therapy with Hedy Schleifer (Levels 1, 2, and 3). Both are pioneering figures in the realm of couples therapy, each bringing a unique perspective and set of tools to the intricate dynamics of intimate relationships. Their work is infused with strategies that encourage couples to take accountability and deepen their bonds of connection. These transformative approaches not only address the challenges that partners face but also celebrate their potential for growth. Furthermore, I regularly attend webinars by Esther Perel and David & Jill Scharff.
My Services
Compassionate Therapy Tailored to Your Needs
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Trauma
- Teen Support
- Marriage and Relationships
- Pre-Marital Counselling
- Self-Discovery
- Peer group conflict
- Coping with stress
- Life transitions
- Grief Counselling
- Work stress
- Parenting support
- Low Self-esteem and the inner critic
- Psychosomatic difficulties
How to enhance your experience in therapy
It is helpful to think about what is talked about after each session.
A great deal of work will be done in the background without you realising it. Dreams are a good example of this.
You can keep notes, write about your thoughts and feelings in between sessions.
Therapy is a process and not an event. It does not cure like headache pill.
Through the process of therapy, you gain insight into your struggles and grow to a level where you are more aware and more satisfied.
The first and foremost condition for a successful therapeutic outcome, is that the person is motivated and wants the therapy.
Book a consultation
How do I start?
