Integrative Psychotherapy
FITZROVIA ● CENTRAL LONDON ● ONLINE
Integrative Psychotherapy
How we relate to others, to ourselves, to our history, and to life itself is often at the heart of our suffering.
It can also be where something begins to shift.
Welcome, I’m glad you’re here. My name is Matthew Frener and I am a Relational Integrative Psychotherapist and Dialectical Behaviour Therapist working in Fitzrovia, Central London, and online. I offer individual therapy for adults seeking support with anxiety, trauma, relational difficulties and addiction. Whether you are in a crisis or simply curious about therapy, reaching out can feel like a significant step. I hope this space gives you a sense of who I am and how I work. If you have any questions, you are very welcome to get in touch.
Matthew Frener
Integrative Psychotherapist
Pronouns: he/him
Accredited & Registered with
ABOUT ME
A relational
approach to therapy
I became a therapist because I believe that being truly heard by another person is one of the most powerful experiences we can have. Much of the suffering people carry, whether it's anxiety, trauma, addiction, or a quiet sense of disconnection, is shaped by relationships. And in my experience, it's through relationship that real healing becomes possible.
I trained as an Integrative Psychotherapist and my work is underpinned by relational and developmental theories, and I believe we are innately wired for connection. From the very beginning of life, our relationships shape how we come to understand ourselves, others, and the world around us. When life, history, or trauma makes connection feel unsafe, we often adapt by hiding parts of ourselves or finding ways to protect against being hurt again. Those protections can make sense, but over time they can also leave us feeling cut off from the very thing we are biologically built for - meaningful relationship, safety, and belonging. In therapy, I’m interested in helping people understand those patterns with compassion, and in creating a space where they can begin to feel more seen, more understood, and more able to connect with themselves and others.
I draw on a range of techniques and approaches depending on what feels most helpful for you, such as psychodynamic, person-centred, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), attachment-based, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS). Some clients want to understand the roots of their patterns. Others need practical tools to manage what's happening right now. Most need both, and we work that out together.
I have a particular interest in developmental trauma, anxiety and addiction and work extensively with LGBTQIA+ clients. I know that finding a therapist you feel genuinely comfortable with can be daunting, especially if you're navigating questions of identity, or if previous experiences of therapy haven't felt like the right fit.
My pronouns are he/him, and I aim to create a space where you can show up exactly as you are.
My practice is conveniently located in Fitzrovia, Central London, a short walk from Oxford Circus, Goodge Street, Great Portland Street, Bond Street and and Tottenham Court Road. I also work with clients online.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
What I help with
People come to therapy for many different reasons, but often beneath the surface there is a wish to feel more understood, more grounded, and more able to navigate life differently. These are some of the areas I commonly support clients with.
Anxiety, depression & mood
Many people come to therapy carrying a persistent undercurrent of worry, dread, or low mood that they can't quite shake. I work with anxiety in its many forms: generalised worry, social anxiety, panic, as well as depression, OCD, and the kind of exhaustion that comes from simply trying to hold it all together.
Addiction & compulsive behaviour
Addiction is rarely just about the substance or the behaviour. I work with people struggling with alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling, and other compulsive patterns, looking not just at what needs to change, but at what the behaviour has been trying to do.
Relationships & identity
Whether it's difficulties in your closest relationships, questions about who you are, or a sense of not quite belonging anywhere; these are deeply human struggles. I work with relational patterns, self-esteem, loneliness, and the ongoing work of understanding yourself more clearly.
ADHD & neurodivergence
Whether you’ve spent years feeling misunderstood, falling short, or wondering why things seem harder for you, therapy can help you understand your mind, ease the emotional weight you carry, and work with yourself rather than against yourself.
Trauma, complex trauma & attachment wounds
Some experiences leave a mark that doesn't fade with time. Whether you've lived through something acute or carry the quieter weight of complex or developmental trauma, therapy can be a place to make sense of what happened and begin to find ground again.
Eating & the body
Our relationship with food and our bodies is rarely straightforward. I work with a range of eating difficulties, including restrictive eating, bingeing, and the complex feelings of shame, control, and identity that often sit underneath them.
LGBTQ+ experiences
I offer an affirming, non-judgmental space for LGBTQ+ clients. Whether you are navigating questions of identity, coming out, relationship structures, experiences of discrimination, or simply want a therapist who understands your world without needing to explain it; you are welcome here.
Grief, loss & life transitions
Loss takes many forms: bereavement, the end of a relationship, a shift in role or identity, or simply the feeling that life has not turned out as expected. I work with people navigating these transitions, including burnout, anger, and the search for meaning.