Dr Maja Jankowska is a Clinical and Counselling Psychologist specialising in the assessment and treatment of trauma and other psychological and emotional difficulties. She has worked with people presenting with a range of psychological problems as well as those who wanted to learn, develop and grow as individuals. Her PhD was in the area of personal growth and development, and she is particularly interested in practices that facilitate resilience and post-traumatic growth, guiding her clients in their journey beyond the pain of their past and into the discovery of meaning and purpose in life.
Maya has worked with numerous performers including vocalists (opera, musical theatre, jazz as well as other genres), classical musicians, actors as well as writers, artistic directors, TV producers, visual artists, dancers and other creative minds involved in the performance. She supports artists not only in the therapy room but she also volunteers in her local theatre and a youth opera company.
Maja has a specialist interest in performance-related traumas, intergenerational trauma, workforce wellbeing, and in treating psychological presentations in the aftermath of traumatic experiences. She is interested in body-brain integration work and approaches that facilitate growth. Maja is committed to working in a collaborative, enabling and empowering way and is responsive to the needs and preferences of her clients.
Maja can help with all aspects of performance psychology, in particular: stage fright, anxiety, managing nerves, dealing with and recovering from the psychological effects of injury (including so called medically unexplained symptoms – MUS or persistent physical symptoms PPS, focal dystonia and tinnitus), preparing for auditions, managing setbacks and rejection, dealing with pressure to be perfect and pressure from social media, dealing with social comparison, social anxiety and jealousy, time management, building resilience, and improving mental preparation for performance as well as managing ‘post show’ slumps.
Maja has also a long-standing experience in lecturing in Psychology and CBT and delivering clinical supervision as well as workshops and training. She is a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow of British Psychological Society and a Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy. She provides specialist teaching, training, supervision and consultation in relation to trauma as well as work-place wellbeing and stress management.
Maja has significant experience of working with individuals from the global majority (previously referred to as ethnic minorities). She has also been involved in significant pieces of research within this area, including co-publishing a Positive Practice Guide for the NHS.
Maja is fully bilingual and can also deliver therapy in Polish.