Safari Lee

A conversation with Safari Lee

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

  I’ve always been drawn to helping roles, and after more than twenty years in healthcare and social education, supporting people through life’s challenges felt like a natural fit. I have also experienced things throughout my life that have led me to seek the support of counsellors, and truly appreciated thew opportunity to talk, and be heard. This has deepened my empathy and understanding of how complex and personal challenges can be.
  
  I intentionally chose sexology and counselling, rather than psychology, as I appreciate the holistic ways of connecting with clients, with space to honour lived experience, diverse identities, and the full complexity of people’s sexual and relational lives.
  
  I’m really curious about people and what shapes their experiences, and I love learning, so psychotherapy felt like the perfect way to bring that together in a compassionate, meaningful way.

• Which philosophical approaches have influenced your professional development?

  My work has been shaped by a mix of philosophy and therapy approaches that feel very grounded and human to me. I’m really influenced by the Stoics, especially the idea of focusing on what we can control and learning to sit with what we can’t. That connects closely with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which is about making space for difficult thoughts and feelings, and still moving toward what matters to us.
  
  I also place a big emphasis on kindness, both toward others and ourselves. Being able to soften self-criticism and meet ourselves with a bit more care can be really powerful. Overall, these approaches have helped me value acceptance, curiosity, and supporting people to live in ways that feel meaningful to them.

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

  I’m particularly interested in how people navigate identity, relationships, and meaning across their lives, especially when things feel complex or challenging. This includes sexuality, intimacy, and connection, as well as how people live alongside experiences like chronic pain, stress, or change. I’m also really interested in how people work through and overcome shame, and what it takes to move toward self-acceptance and compassion. Overall, I’m drawn to helping people make sense of their experiences, build resilience, and find moments of pleasure, connection, and self-understanding, even in difficult circumstances.

• What methods do you use?

  I like to use a range of evidence-based, person-centred approaches, tailored to each person’s needs. This includes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, alongside approaches that explore meaning, identity, and relationships.
  
  I also draw on sexology-informed frameworks to support people with sexuality, intimacy, and connection, and integrate practical strategies like pacing, communication skills, and emotional regulation. Overall, my approach is flexible, collaborative, and strongly grounded in compassion.

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

  Many of my clients feel an immediate sense of relief during their first session, simply from being heard and understood, particularly when they are speaking about things they haven’t felt safe or able to share before. From there, progress often builds gradually, as we develop insight, try new strategies, and begin to shift patterns. Changes and softening of fear can happen early, but deeper, more lasting change tends to unfold over time.

• How has therapy made a difference in your life?

  Therapy has made a meaningful difference in my life by helping me better understand myself, my patterns, and what really matters to me. I’ve had periods of more intensive therapy to work through traumatic experiences, which were incredibly important in my healing. At the same time, I’ve come to see therapy as one of many tools I keep in my tool belt, as something I can return to when I want to explore an issue, get something off my chest, or gain clarity.
  
  It’s supported me in navigating challenges with more awareness and self-compassion, rather than judgement. It’s also shaped how I relate to others, communicate more openly, and sit with difficult emotions without feeling overwhelmed. Both personally and professionally, it’s deepened my empathy and strengthened my belief in the value of having a space where you can be heard and understood.

• What do you like most about being a therapist?

  What I like most about being a therapist is getting to have real, honest conversations with people. I value creating a space where someone can just be themselves, without feeling judged or needing to hold things in. It means a lot when someone shares something they’ve never felt able to say out loud, let alone to another person. I also really love celebrating even the smallest wins with people—those moments when they say life feels a bit easier. It’s simple, but really meaningful.
  
  I also really enjoy helping people soften their anxiety and find ways to work with it, rather than feel controlled by it. This might involve slowing things down, learning how to sit with uncomfortable feelings, gently challenging unhelpful patterns, or reconnecting with what matters to them. Over time, it’s about helping people feel more steady, more confident in themselves, and able to move toward a life that feels fuller and more like their own.

• Do you ever have 'bad hair' days?

  If by 'bad hair days' you mean times when I feel less in control or self-assured, well, yes. I appreciate that we all can feel this way. But an important part of the work is being able to show up in a grounded and present way, and to take care of myself outside of sessions so I can be there for others. If anything, those moments just remind me of what it’s like to be human, which helps me stay connected and real in my work.

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

  I think one of the biggest challenges we face is a growing sense of disconnection. This can be from ourselves, from each other, and from a sense of meaning or belonging. Even though we have smart devices to connect, many people feel isolated, overwhelmed, or unsure of where they fit.
  
  Alongside that, I think shame and fear often lie beneath much of what we’re struggling with, shaping how we see ourselves and connect with others. When people feel unsafe to be who they are, it can lead to disconnection, conflict, and distress.
  
  This is why I feel it is so important to create spaces for understanding, compassion, and honest conversation where people feel seen, accepted, and a little less alone.

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

  I’m really inspired by art and music, which have always been a big part of my life. I've played trumpet for 30 years, have created music myself featuring bass guitar, and my undergraduate studies were in Visual Arts. One artist I often come back to is Fernando Botero, a sculptor and painter from Colombia. His work is known for its large, rounded, and forms that are a bit out of proportion.
  
  When I look at his sculptures, they feel big, soft, and full of life. They really connect me to a sense of inner child and playfulness, and a way of seeing the world that feels light, curious, and open.