PHILOSOPHY
The PA offers therapy to individuals, couples and groups. Therapy opens up a space for thinking that is helpful when things go wrong in our lives. The therapeutic relationship unfolds new, creative and liberating perspectives on difficulties outside.
Ther are two PA therapeutic houses in North London. People who are suffering and need space away from the pressures and demands of modern day life can live with others in these houses for extended periods, using the time spent with each other to reflect on their experiences. More fulfilling lives become possible as a consequence.
The Philadelphia Association (PA) Study Programme includes the Introductory Course in Philosophy and Psychotherapy, an online Introductory Course in Community, Philosophy and Psychotherapy, Diploma Course in Community and Psychotherapy and a Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy training.
The PA is a member of the Council for Psychoanalysis and Jungian Analysis College (CPJA) of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
We organise events including discussions, film screenings and publish a newsletter.
ACTIVITIES
The PA favours a creative approach to therapy that involves being ready to question the social norms that often contribute to someone's unhappiness.
An engagement with philosophy and other fields, including anthropology, spirituality and the practice of art, is a fundamental part of our approach. So is a belief in the value of ordinary ways of living and being together. Community and inclusive conversation have the power to alleviate what disturbs people.
Once conversation begins, paths open up that lead away from isolation and despair towards dignity and greater freedom.
THE PHILADELPHIA ASSOCIATION was founded in 1965 by R. D. Laing and colleagues in order to challenge established ways of thinking about and responding to distress. For more than fifty years we have offered an open-minded alternative approach to psychotherapy that is unique in Britain.
PA NOTICE BOARD
PHILADELPHIA ASSOCIATION HOUSEHOLDS
The Philadelphia Association provides supported housing for those who are looking for a different way of understanding and making sense of their burdens and experiences. It is our understanding that through ordinary everyday living experiences can be explored in a way that leads to increased insight, freedom and independence. The Association provides regular therapeutic house meetings, accessing1:1 Psychotherapy alongside practical housing related support.
There is currently a resident vacancy in the PA Freegrove Community House. To find out more, or to speak with a house therapist, please complete the online application form or contact the PA office.
PA FILM CLUB
Wednesday 4th February 2026
7.30pm @ Martys Yard
20 Feet from Stardom (2013), directed by Morgan Neville, explores one of popular music’s overlooked groups: the backing singer.
The film profiles extraordinary vocalists like Darlene Love, Merry Clayton and Lisa Fischer- artists whose voices helped define iconic recordings while they themselves remained largely unknown to the public.
Blending archival footage, contemporary interviews, and electrifying performances, the documentary examines why some gifted singers achieve stardom while others remain in the shadows. It features candid reflections from both the backing vocalists and the stars they supported, including Bruce Springsteen, Mick Jagger, and Sting, who discuss the complex dynamics of collaboration, ego, and the often arbitrary nature of the music business.
Released to widespread critical acclaim, the film won the 2014 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Critics praised its emotional depth and the way it celebrated the artistry of these "hidden" singers, while the film itself sparked broader conversations about recognition, success, and the meaning of artistic fulfillment beyond the spotlight.
