Specialist psychotherapy for musicians and high-pressure professionals in London
I work with thoughtful, resourceful people who are often outwardly high-functioning and successful yet privately struggling with difficulties that others do not see. You might come to therapy with a specific problem, or feel a general sense of unease, disconnected from the things that once brought you joy.
Making a living in the creative industries can be rewarding, but it’s also all-consuming, leaving little room to nurture other parts of life. You do not need to explain the pace, scrutiny or unspoken rules of your world. Having worked in the music industry myself, I understand the pressure you’re under.
Therapy provides a space where you can speak openly about what you are carrying and the direction your life is taking.
Based in London and working globally online, I offer confidential psychotherapy for artists, music executives, production crew and those in high-pressure or public-facing roles.
A confidential space where you can slow down and find relief.
Specialised support
for individuals and organisations.
Musicians, music executives and crew.
Addressing the unique psychological demands of writing, recording, touring and promoting records.
Public figures
and leaders.
Specialist support for people in high-pressure, public-facing roles who require insight, discretion and clinical expertise.
Consultation
and tour support.
Bespoke health and welfare programme design, safeguarding frameworks, and on-site support for labels, tours and organisations worldwide.
People seek psychotherapy for many reasons. Some are navigating difficulties that have become increasingly hard to ignore; others have recognised longstanding patterns they would like to change. For many of my therapy clients, these challenges unfold alongside demanding careers in music and entertainment.
My role is to understand your world from the inside, exploring the constellation of experiences, expectations, protective mechanisms and beliefs that shape how you see yourself and relate to others.
The themes below reflect some of the areas that frequently arise in my practice. They are not exhaustive. Each person’s story is unique, and our work together is guided by what feels most important to understand.
Areas of
Clinical focus
I am a psychotherapist, author and mental health consultant based in London. My clinical work draws on attachment theory, exploring the relational patterns that shape how we connect with others, how we see ourselves and how we cope in times of difficulty.
I have worked in and around the music industry for over twenty years, in recording studios, venues, festivals and on tour. This gives me a shared frame of reference with my clients.
I am the founder of a nonprofit called the Music Industry Therapist Collective CIC (MITC) and editor and lead author of the award-winning Touring and Mental Health: The Music Industry Manual (Omnibus Press, 2023).
About the founder
Tamsin Embleton
Touring and Mental Health.
The Music Industry Manual.
Published in 2023, Touring and Mental Health: The Music Industry Manual brings together chapters from a global team of leading performing arts clinicians. The book explores the psychological, physical and relational impact of touring, offering a framework for navigating life on the road.
The manual features personal reflections from artists including Nile Rodgers, Katie Melua and Philip Selway, alongside touring veterans such as Marty Hom, Dale ‘Opie’ Skjerseth, Angie Warner and Tina Farris. The book was named a Rough Trade Book of the Year and led to a TPi Industry Recognition Award.
It is now available in English (paperback and ebook from Omnibus Press and audiobook), with adaptations in French (paperback available through CNM) and Spanish (hardback available from Liburuak Libros).
Frequently asked questions:
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Therapy is a great option if you want to make sense of things or find a space where you can share experiences or thoughts you may not feel comfortable sharing elsewhere.
Therapy is an in-depth process of understanding yourself, your values and your needs more deeply, so you can make better choices for yourself moving forward.
You don’t need to know what you want to get from therapy before you begin, we can figure it out together.
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Use the contact form to arrange a 50-minute initial consultation where we can discuss what brings you to therapy, what you hope to gain from the process, your current circumstances and any relevant aspects of your personal history.
The consultation also offers an opportunity to experience what it might be like to work together. If we both feel it is a good fit, I will send a contract and we can begin weekly sessions the following week.
I do not charge for the initial consultation.
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Most clients self-refer. I also receive referrals from other medical and clinical professionals such as performing arts medicine doctors, psychiatrists or psychologists. Sometimes managers, A&Rs, label execs, vocal coaches or loved ones refer a client they believe could benefit from my support.
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Sessions usually begin with whatever feels most present in your mind. Together we figure out what it means or symbolises, and how it connects with other experiences you have had.
Rather than following a fixed programme of exercises, attachment-based psychoanalytic psychotherapy unfolds through reflection and careful attention to what emerges between us.
Over time, the relationship we develop becomes an important part of the work, offering an opportunity to explore patterns in how you relate to yourself and to others.
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I am a psychotherapist who uses talking therapy to help music industry clients find language for their experiences and reflect on the emotional and relational parts of their lives.
I am not a music therapist. Music therapists utilise music as a method to express and represent emotional experiences, instead of using words.
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I work with a wide range of concerns including grief and loss, trauma, fame and visibility, relationship difficulties, fertility problems, aging and coming to terms with a life-limiting disease.
I also work with clients who experience symptoms associated with clinical diagnoses such as bipolar disorder, borderline or emotionally unstable personality disorder, schizoaffective disorder and dissociative disorders.
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No. It is best to speak with your GP or a private physician, who can refer you to a psychiatrist or another appropriate specialist.
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Yes. I understand the challenges artists and music industry professionals face. I have worked in and around the industry for more than twenty years in a variety of roles (you can read more about my background here). Since becoming a psychotherapist, I have also designed and delivered specialist psychological support for tours, festivals and record labels.
Working with someone who is already familiar with the culture, unwritten rules, dynamics and pressures of the industry can save time and help us to build a rapport.
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Yes. I have worked with people from a range of industries including film and tv, the arts, fashion and finance.
For some clients their work is a central focus of the therapy, while for others it sits in the background. Each person’s situation is different, and part of my role is to understand how you view and experience your world.
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Sessions take place once or twice a week, as necessary. This creates a reliable space in your diary where we can pause and reflect together on what you are experiencing.
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This depends on what you hope to gain from it and whether you come with a specific issue or are seeking ongoing support.
I offer open-ended psychotherapy, meaning we continue for as long as the work feels beneficial to you.
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If your working life involves long hours in a studio, touring, or frequent travel across time zones, we will find a suitable session time that accommodates your schedule.
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Sessions cost £150 for 50 minutes. Sessions are billed monthly in advance and invoices are issued during the final week of each month.
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I am not registered with insurance providers.
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If you miss a session due to illness, holidays or other personal reasons, the session fee is charged in full. For clients who tour or film regularly, I offer up to four weeks per year where sessions may be missed without charge, provided that at least 48 hours’ notice is given.
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You are not charged if I cancel a session for any reason. I take ten weeks of leave per year for holidays and training and aim to give at least four weeks’ notice of planned breaks.
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Yes. Confidentiality is a central part of how psychotherapy works and I take it very seriously. What you share remains private within the ethical and legal limits that govern psychotherapy practice.
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I am not able to provide emergency support outside of our sessions. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis please contact an emergency service or attend your nearest hospital Accident and Emergency room.
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Either of us may end therapy by giving four weeks’ notice. Where possible, I recommend planning an ending together so we have time to reflect on the work we have done and bring therapy to a thoughtful close.