Linda Bartolone

A conversation with Linda Bartolone

• What led you to choose psychotherapy or counselling as a profession?

  I was drawn to counselling through both my professional and personal experiences. Working in corporate and advocacy roles showed me how much emotional strain people carry beneath the surface, often without space to be heard. Through my own life experiences, I’ve also seen how easily people learn to cope by pushing through and holding a lot alone. Counselling felt like a natural way to bring together my curiosity about human experience, my values, and my desire to offer a calm, compassionate space where people can make sense of their emotions, strengthen relationships, and navigate life’s transitions.

• Which philosophical approaches have influenced your professional development?

  My professional development has been strongly influenced by humanistic and existential philosophy, particularly the idea that meaning is not given but created through lived experience, choice, and relationship. I’m guided by the belief that people are not problems to be fixed, but individuals seeking understanding, connection, and purpose. Elements of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy also inform my work, especially its focus on values, presence, and psychological flexibility. Together, these philosophies shape a therapeutic approach grounded in empathy, curiosity, personal responsibility, and respect for each person’s unique way of being in the world.

• Which particular aspects of health or the human journey are you interested in?

  I’m deeply interested in how people carry their inner worlds through everyday life, especially the quiet struggles that often go unseen. I’m drawn to the ways individuals and couples navigate stress, change, relationships, and identity, and how they make meaning during times of uncertainty or transition. I’m particularly interested in what helps people feel more connected to themselves and others, develop emotional resilience, and live with greater clarity, authenticity, and compassion over time.

• What methods do you use?

  I use a multi-modal, integrative approach to therapy, drawing from evidence-based methods including person-centred therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), strengths-based and existential approaches. I tailor therapy to each individual or couple, adapting sessions to their needs, goals, and pace, rather than using a one-size-fits-all model.

• When do you think the client will start to feel that progress is being made?

  Many clients begin to feel a sense of relief or hope within the first few sessions, often from feeling truly heard and understood. As therapy progresses, people commonly notice increased clarity, emotional steadiness, and greater confidence in navigating challenges. Meaningful, lasting change develops over time, supported by a strong therapeutic relationship and work that’s tailored to your needs and goals.

• How has therapy made a difference in your life?

  Therapy has been a deeply grounding experience in my own life. It gave me a space where I didn’t have to be strong, capable, or have answers, and where I could simply be honest about what I was feeling. Through therapy, I’ve learned to understand myself with more kindness, to sit with uncertainty, and to trust my inner experience. Knowing firsthand how healing it can be to feel truly heard and supported shapes the way I work, and reminds me every day how meaningful this space can be for others.

• What do you like most about being a therapist?

  What I love most about being a therapist is the quiet, meaningful moments that happen when someone finally feels safe enough to be themselves. I really value sitting alongside people as they begin to understand what they’re carrying, let go of self-judgement, and find a bit more ease or clarity. Being trusted with those moments, and seeing the relief or hope that can come from feeling truly heard, is incredibly moving and something I never take for granted.

• Do you ever have 'bad hair' days?

  Absolutely. Some days therapy feels calm and clear, and other days it’s more “let’s sit here together and gently untangle this, one thought at a time.” There’s no pressure to get it right. What matters is having a steady, caring space where we can figure things out together, even on the messy days.

• What do you think is the most significant problem we face, in the world today?

  I think one of the biggest challenges right now is how disconnected many of us feel. Life moves fast, there’s a lot of pressure to keep going and hold it all together, and it’s easy to lose touch with ourselves and with each other. That sense of disconnection often shows up as anxiety, burnout, or strained relationships. Finding ways to slow down and reconnect feels really important.

• Can you share the name of a book, film, song, event or work of art that inspires you?

  Harry Potter. Not because anyone in it has their life together, but because none of them are meant to. They’re flawed, messy, and figuring things out as they go, and it’s only by coming together, leaning on each other, and accepting their differences that they get through. A pretty good metaphor for being human, really.