Rate Robert Ormiston

About Me

With over 25 years of experience in the mental health field, I offer a grounded, compassionate, and insight-oriented approach to therapy. My work draws primarily on Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), and is informed by a deep respect for each individual’s complexity, resilience, and capacity for transformation.

I’ve led clinical teams within the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), developed integrative care planning models, and contributed to international dialogues on the intersection between psychological healing and the human condition. My style is warm and direct—anchored in professional rigour and attuned to the often quiet, powerful moments that shape inner change.

My Approach

At its heart, therapy is about being seen—fully and without judgment. I create a space where clients can explore their internal world at a pace that feels right, in a relationship built on trust, honesty, and authenticity.

Honesty & Humanity – I believe in direct, respectful conversation that invites deeper self-understanding.

Curiosity & Self-Leadership – Growth begins when we listen to ourselves differently. I support clients in learning how to relate to their inner lives with compassion and clarity.

Collaboration & Care – Every person’s journey is unique. Therapy should reflect that.

Internal Family Systems (IFS)

IFS offers a powerful framework for understanding the many voices within us—some in harmony, others in conflict. Each “part” of us has its own story and reason for being, even when its strategies no longer serve us. Through IFS, I help clients build relationships with these parts, allowing space for healing, balance, and the return of Self-leadership—that core, calm presence within.

There’s a scene in Monty Python’s Life of Brian where the crowd declares in unison, “Yes! We’re all individuals!” It’s a tongue-in-cheek reminder of how easily we can lose touch with our inner guidance and fall into patterned responses. IFS offers a way to return to that inner guidance—one part at a time.

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR is a well-established, evidence-based method for processing trauma and distressing memories. It supports the brain’s natural healing process through bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements, taps, or sounds), helping reduce the emotional intensity of experiences and integrate them into a broader, more coherent narrative.

It’s a method I return to often when working with clients who feel stuck in cycles of reactivity, anxiety, or unresolved grief.

Experience & Background

My background includes decades of work across diverse clinical settings. Some highlights include:

Leading and supervising clinical teams within the NHS

Designing integrative models of care for practitioners and frontline staff

Exploring the relationship between psyche, meaning, and society through the International Humanities Conference

This breadth of experience informs my understanding of both personal healing and systemic complexity. Whether working one-on-one or with professionals in consultation, I bring a deep commitment to clarity, integrity, and growth.

A Personalised Process

Therapy is not about diagnosis or fixing. It’s about relationship—first with your therapist, and ultimately with yourself. My aim is to accompany clients as they make sense of their internal world, soften old defenses, and rediscover the inner steadiness that was never truly lost.

Some parts of us carry pain. Others carry wisdom. All of them belong.