Mili Layla is a BACP registered psychodynamic psychotherapist and counsellor. She practises as an associate of this practice, under the clinical supervision of Dr Philippe Jacquet.
The work she does
Anxiety, depression and stress. And, with particular depth, bereavement and grief, and the difficulties that gather around identity and relationships.
In her own words: “I offer a confidential and non-judgemental space for you to explore and reflect on your thoughts and feelings safely, and begin to make sense of patterns of thought that may be contributing to experiencing life negatively.”
Loss that is not a death
What distinguishes her practice is a wide reading of what loss means.
“I understand that loss can take many forms, not only the death of a loved one, but also losses related to identity, relationships, family expectations, or life transitions.”
That matters clinically, because a great deal of grief arrives without a funeral attached to it and so is never named as grief. The life not lived. The version of yourself a family expected and you could not be. The relationship that ended without ending.
She adds: “My personal background and clinical experience have made me especially attentive to how culture, family systems, and unspoken expectations can shape emotional life.” For anyone carrying obligations that were never stated out loud but were perfectly understood, that attentiveness is not a small thing.
You do not need to arrive with the problem already named
“You don’t need to have a clearly stated problem ready to bring into therapy. Often the reasons why something doesn’t feel quite right emerge naturally as part of the work.”
This sits closely with how the practice as a whole thinks about symptoms: what a person brings first is rarely the thing itself, and the work is to understand what it has been doing for them.
How she works
Her approach is psychodynamic, which recognises how past experience has shaped, and continues to shape, how we feel and relate to ourselves and others today.
“Together, we explore the patterns and thoughts that might be repeating in your life and keeping you stuck, and work to find new ways of understanding and responding, to create possibilities for meaningful change.”
She describes the work as collaborative, and as leading towards greater self-awareness, emotional freedom and a stronger sense of agency. “Often, the work begins with curiosity about yourself and your experiences.”
Practical details
Sessions are in English only, in London and online.
Her registration can be verified through the BACP register.
Mili is one of our associates. Every associate is in regular clinical supervision with Dr Jacquet, and the practice takes collective responsibility for the standard of the work.
Common questions
What does Mili Layla specialise in?
Anxiety, depression and stress, with particular experience in bereavement and grief, and in difficulties relating to identity and relationships. She is a BACP registered psychodynamic psychotherapist and holds an MSc.
What is Mili Layla's approach?
Psychodynamic. She works from the understanding that past experience continues to shape how we feel and relate to ourselves and others, and that the patterns which keep repeating can be understood rather than simply managed.
Do I need to know what my problem is before starting therapy?
No. In her words, you don't need to arrive with a clearly stated problem. Often the reasons why something doesn't feel quite right emerge naturally as part of the work.
Does Mili Layla work in French?
No. Sessions with Mili Layla are in English only. Dr Philippe Jacquet is the clinician in the practice who works in French.