About Paolo
Relational, trauma-informed psychotherapy with close attention to the body, the nervous system, and the pace of the work.
I’m Paolo Imbalzano, a UKCP-registered psychotherapist, UKCP-registered clinical supervisor, and BACP-registered member.
I offer a space where we pay attention not only to your thoughts, but also to how your system responds under stress, in relationships, and in the body. Where it is helpful, I may also integrate ILF neurofeedback in person.
My approach tends to suit people looking for thoughtful, in-depth therapy that does not treat symptoms in isolation from the wider person.
How I work with you matters as much as what I do
Therapy is shaped not only by the models a therapist has trained in, but by how you are met, whether the work feels safe enough, and whether the pace allows real contact with what is happening.
I work collaboratively and transparently. Together, we keep paying attention to what is helping, what feels difficult, and what the pace of the work allows.
Three foundations of my work
The therapeutic relationship
Patterns often become more understandable, and more workable, within a relationship that feels steady, honest, and thoughtful.
Attention to the nervous system
Part of the work is building stability and capacity, so that deeper therapy can happen without becoming overwhelming.
An integrative way of working
I draw on different approaches where they genuinely fit the person and the process, rather than applying them mechanically.
Taken together, these foundations help the work go deep without becoming too much.
Training highlights
My core trainings include:
Relational Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy (MSc / CTA-P)
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (Levels 1 & 2)
Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) (Levels 1–3 completed; working towards DBR-P status)
EMDR (Parts 1–3)
Neurofeedback training (ILF approach)
Clinical supervision training
What matters most in practice is not simply how many approaches I have trained in, but how they are held and used.
Psychotherapy approaches I integrate
I draw on several approaches, but not as a menu of techniques. I bring them in where they genuinely fit the person, the timing, and the therapy.
This may include Relational Transactional Analysis, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, IFS-informed parts work, EMDR, Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR), and ILF neurofeedback where appropriate.
The diagram below gives a sense of how these approaches fit together and how, when held within one integrative therapeutic process, they can support greater steadiness, more choice, and a stronger sense of living rather than merely getting through.
You can expand the sections below to read a little more about these modalities.
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Relational Transactional Analysis is the foundation of my work. It supports therapy that is both relational and psychologically deep — while staying practical and grounded.
Working relationally means we don’t only talk about your life; we also pay attention to what happens between us, moment to moment. This is often where long-standing patterns become clearer — and where change becomes possible.
The relationship is the therapy’s most valuable asset — we build it first, and we protect it throughout.
Relational TA also gives us a clear way to understand different “parts” of you — for example an inner critic, a younger vulnerable place, or a coping part that keeps pushing through. Together we slow things down, make sense of what each part is trying to do for you, and practise new ways of being with yourself and with others — with more steadiness, choice, and self-respect.
Combined with the other approaches I integrate, it allows a flexible way of working with trauma, attachment, and relationship patterns.
Read more:
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DBR is a trauma therapy that works with the body’s original threat and attachment “shock” sequence — the fast, involuntary reactions that can get locked in before words, meaning, or story-making arrive.
Rather than relying only on talking through what happened, DBR helps us track what the nervous system is doing in the present moment, with great care. Many people find this brings depth and relief — especially when they understand their history well, but their body still reacts as if something isn’t safe.
DBR is also intentionally paced. We work slowly, stay within tolerance, and prioritise stability over intensity, so processing can happen without pushing you into overwhelm.
Even in DBR, our therapeutic relationship is the most valuable asset.
Read more:
Reflections (look for DBR ones) >
A jargon-free description of DBR and current evidence >
A randomized controlled trial of Deep Brain Reorienting (research article) >
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Sensorimotor Psychotherapy is a trauma- and attachment-informed approach that includes the body as a central source of information — not to over-focus on sensations, but to listen to what your nervous system is already communicating.
Many people can understand their story clearly, yet still feel hijacked by anxiety, shutdown, numbness, or a sudden surge of emotion. Sensorimotor work helps us slow things down and track what happens in the body with care, so patterns can become more workable — and new options can emerge.
This can include building resources for steadiness, working gently with activation and boundaries, and supporting integration across somatic, emotional, and cognitive levels. We always keep pacing in mind, and we prioritise stability over intensity.
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Sometimes people feel caught between different inner responses — one part wants things to change, while another feels anxious, critical, protective, overwhelmed, or shut down. IFS-informed parts work understands these responses as meaningful adaptations, often shaped by life experience, stress, or trauma.
In therapy, we make space to notice these different parts with curiosity and compassion rather than trying to fight or silence them. This can help people understand themselves more clearly, reduce inner conflict, and feel less stuck.
In my practice, parts work is integrated with relational psychotherapy, Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR), and nervous-system awareness. The aim is not only to understand patterns intellectually, but to support deeper change as the mind and body begin to feel safer, more settled, and more connected.
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EMDR is a trauma-focused therapy that helps the brain process experiences that remain “stuck” in the nervous system. When difficult events are not fully integrated, reminders in the present can trigger strong emotional or physical responses.
EMDR uses gentle bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements or alternating taps) while the person briefly brings aspects of the experience to mind. This can help the brain gradually reprocess the memory so it becomes less distressing and more integrated.
In my practice, EMDR is used thoughtfully alongside relational psychotherapy and nervous-system regulation approaches such as Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR). The aim is to support processing at a pace that feels safe and workable.
Please note that DBR is the primary modality of how I work with trauma. I adopt selected elements of EMDR within a relational and nervous-system approach.
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Neurofeedback is a gentle, non-invasive way of supporting the brain’s capacity for self-regulation through real-time feedback. Many people come to it when they feel stuck in patterns of over-activation (anxiety, hypervigilance, racing mind) or under-activation (shutdown, fatigue, fog, low motivation) — even when they understand what’s happening psychologically.
In ILF (infra-low frequency) neurofeedback, the aim isn’t to “try harder” or force change. It’s to give the brain information it can use to settle, stabilise, and organise itself over time. People often notice shifts in sleep, reactivity, steadiness, concentration, and overall resilience.
Where clinically appropriate, I may integrate ILF neurofeedback with psychotherapy (in person) as an adjunct — especially when strengthening regulation and stability would make the therapeutic work more tolerable and effective. We go slowly, track your responses carefully, and adjust as needed.
Read more:
Principles guiding my practice
My practice is grounded in Relational Transactional Analysis and informed by contemporary thinking on trauma, attachment, and nervous-system regulation. In practice, that means working respectfully, collaboratively, and with close attention to pace, safety, and capacity.
Professional registration and memberships
I am a UKCP-registered psychotherapist and a BACP-registered member, and I practise in line with their ethical frameworks.
I am also listed in the UKCP Supervisor directory, work as a clinical supervisor, and follow the relevant supervision standards.
My professional memberships include:
IARTA
EATA
Metanoia Institute
Previous professional background
Before working full-time as a psychotherapist and supervisor, I worked in telecommunications for over 25 years.
That background still influences my way of working: clear thinking, structured planning, careful pacing, and regular review points.
For some clients, this helps therapy feel more grounded and containing, especially when life already feels confusing or overloaded.
My earlier qualifications include a degree in Computer Science from the University of Pisa, an MBA in Technology Management, and qualifications in project, programme, and business analysis.
If you would like to explore working together
You are welcome to book a free 20-minute consultation.
We can talk about what you are looking for, what you hope might feel different, and whether my approach seems like a good fit.
There is no pressure to continue.