Renana Solomon

A conversation with Renana Solomon

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

  After more than 20 years working as a community pharmacist, I realised that the part of my work I valued most was often not about medication at all. It was the conversations — listening to people when they were anxious, overwhelmed, grieving, struggling with their health or simply going through a difficult time.
  Over the years, I became increasingly drawn to understanding the person behind the problem and wanted to have the time, skills and space to support people in a more meaningful way. That led me to complete a Master of Counselling and ultimately to establish my own counselling practice.
  My background in healthcare still shapes the way I work. I’m comfortable talking about health, uncertainty and the complicated relationship between our physical and emotional wellbeing, but my practice is much broader than health concerns. I work with people experiencing anxiety, stress, overwhelm, life changes, relationship difficulties and those times when life simply feels harder than it should.
  For me, counselling is about giving people a place where they can speak openly, feel genuinely heard and work out what they need — without judgement and without being told how they “should” feel.

• Which philosophical approaches have influenced your professional development?

  My work is strongly influenced by a person-centred approach and the belief that people are the experts in their own lives. I see the therapeutic relationship as central to counselling — people need to feel safe, respected and genuinely heard before meaningful change can occur.
  I also take a strengths-based and trauma-informed approach. Rather than asking “what is wrong with you?”, I am interested in understanding what has happened in a person's life, how they have learned to cope, and what strengths and resources they already bring with them.
  My practice is integrative and pragmatic. I draw on different therapeutic approaches depending on the individual rather than expecting every person to fit one particular model. I value curiosity, collaboration and compassion, alongside practical strategies that can help people make sense of what they are experiencing and create meaningful change in their everyday lives.

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

  I am particularly interested in how people cope when life doesn't go according to plan — periods of anxiety, uncertainty, loss, change, relationship difficulties, parenting challenges, health concerns or simply feeling overwhelmed by the demands of everyday life.
  I am fascinated by the way our experiences shape how we see ourselves and how easily people can become stuck in patterns of worry, self-criticism or feeling that they should be coping better than they are. I enjoy helping people understand what is happening for them, recognise their own strengths and find practical ways forward.
  With my background in healthcare, I also have a particular interest in the intersection between physical and emotional wellbeing. This includes health anxiety, adjusting to illness or a diagnosis, navigating healthcare and coping with uncertainty about our own health or the health of someone we love.
  More broadly, I am interested in the very human experience of trying to manage relationships, responsibilities, identity and change while still finding room for ourselves.

• What methods do you use?

  I use an integrative approach, which means I tailor counselling to the individual rather than working from one particular therapeutic model. My work draws on person-centred therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), solution-focused and strengths-based approaches.
  Sessions are conversational and collaborative. Sometimes the most valuable thing is having the space to talk openly and make sense of what is happening; at other times, we may focus more practically on identifying patterns, developing coping strategies, challenging unhelpful thinking or finding different ways to respond to difficult situations.
  I don't believe therapy should feel like something being “done” to you. We work together, and I will adapt my approach according to what you need, what feels useful and what you hope to get from counselling.

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

  There isn't a set timeframe for progress, because every person comes to counselling with different experiences, circumstances and goals. For some people, simply having a safe space to say things out loud and feel understood can bring a sense of relief from the first few sessions.
  Over time, progress might look like understanding yourself a little better, recognising patterns sooner, feeling less overwhelmed by difficult emotions, responding differently to situations that once felt unmanageable, or feeling more confident in the choices you make.
  I don't think progress always means that the difficult feelings disappear. Sometimes it means they feel more manageable, you understand where they are coming from, and you have more confidence in your ability to cope with them. We will regularly check in about how counselling is feeling and whether we are working towards what matters to you.

• How has therapy made a difference in your life?

  Being a client myself has given me a much deeper appreciation of what it takes to sit on the other side of the room and talk honestly about the things that are difficult, uncomfortable or painful.
  Therapy has helped me understand myself better, recognise patterns in how I think and respond, and become more accepting of the fact that being human can be messy. It hasn't been about having someone give me the answers, but about having a space to work things through, gain perspective and understand myself with a little more compassion.
  It has also influenced the therapist I want to be. I know how important it is to feel genuinely comfortable with the person you're talking to, and how valuable it can be to have someone listen without judgement while also being willing to gently challenge you when that is helpful.

• What do you like most about being a therapist?

  I love being able to have the conversations that people don't always feel able to have anywhere else.
  It is a privilege when someone trusts me enough to let me into the parts of their life that feel difficult, confusing or vulnerable. I enjoy helping people make sense of what they're experiencing and watching the moments when something begins to click — when they recognise a pattern, see themselves differently or realise they have more choices than they thought they did.
  I also genuinely enjoy getting to know people. No two clients are the same, and I like the curiosity that comes with understanding someone's individual story rather than making assumptions about what their experience must be.
  Most of all, I value being able to offer a space where people don't have to perform, have everything figured out or pretend they're coping better than they are.

• Do you ever have 'bad hair' days?

  Absolutely. I have long curly hair, so the struggle is very real. Some days it behaves beautifully and other days it seems to have made its own plans. I've learned not to take it personally.

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

  I think loneliness is one of the most significant problems we face. We can be surrounded by people, constantly connected through our phones and social media, and still feel profoundly alone.
  Loneliness isn't always about physically being alone. It can be feeling that nobody really knows you, that you don't have anyone you can be completely honest with, or that you're carrying difficult things by yourself.
  I think genuine human connection matters enormously to our wellbeing. Having people in our lives with whom we can feel seen, heard and accepted can make an extraordinary difference.

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

  Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom has stayed with me for many years. I love its reminder that, ultimately, so much of what matters in life comes down to our relationships, the way we connect with other people and how we choose to spend the time we have. It's simple, deeply human and something I've found myself thinking about at different stages of my life.