So here I will tell you a little bit about me and my approach to individual psychological therapy.  Having both personally and professionally experienced the power of psychological therapy; how it can help to overcome emotional difficulties, nurture the inner child, build a holistic view of ourselves as adults, abolish that excessive worry that may be keeping you stuck and stop you from reaching out to your dreams, my aim is to offer a collaborative, compassionate and nurturing environment for you, where you can start to become curious about your own uniqueness, start working on reducing your emotional pain and heal internal wounds. Our wounds are often shame-based and toxic shame can make us feel small. In a confidential & non-judgmental space together we explore what stops you from thriving and then process those with the help of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).

I believe that the most important relationship we have is with ourselves: self-compassion and self-love can change our worlds, and help us to achieve in life what we want (have meaningful relationships, ability to manage anxiety, feel joy in life, accept ourselves as a combination of mind & body, stop self-medicating with external matters etc.). However, self-love and self-compassion can be so difficult to practice when you have experienced difficult life experiences and/or perhaps feel that there has been little compassion in your life. I want to bring you hope and support you in becoming your own best friend and finding acceptance of yourself. When you are ready and want to start building a better relationship with yourself, get in touch! I would love to hear from You!

My approach to couples therapy: You long to be in each others’ arms where you feel safe and loved as you are. Perhaps your relationship has lacked a real deep connection and emotional safety that allows both of you to share the innermost vulnerable parts.  Your relationship can be re(built) and you can have a relationship that you have always dreamt of. Helping couples to change the music to their private dance and changing the patterns of engagement is a passion of mine. We thrive in life when we feel safe and connected in our relationship. Emotionally focused therapy for couples helps you to transform your relationship. Soon I will have a relationship skills course coming and here you can sign up to the waiting list

Work experience

You probably want to know a little bit about my professional background. I started my career as an occupational psychologist and then re-trained in counselling psychology. My experience in mental health and other psychological services extends to over 20 years: NHS primary and secondary care, employment services charitable and private sector organisations. I have worked with a wide range of difficulties varying from emotional difficulties (bereavement, relationship and family issues, identity confusion) to common mental health problems (e.g. anxiety and depression) and more complex enduring mental health problems, such as dual diagnosis, childhood related PTSD, personality disorders, eating disorders and addictions.

My previous NHS employers include:

• Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
• Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
• Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust

My desire to want to offer people an opportunity to have tailor-made therapy that is based on individual needs and for as long as the individual needs it led me to set up a private practice.

Recent further training:

Understanding how our early relationships shape our later relationships and how trauma / emotional neglect impact individuals both emotionally & from a physiological point of view are my specialist interests and spend a lot of my time learning & reading on the latest developments in treatment.

Some of the most recent training I have attended are:

• Looking through the eye by Sandra Paulsen
• When there are no words – preverbal EMDR by Sandra Paulsen
• Jim Knipe – EMDR toolbox training
• EMDR Level 3
• EMDR Level 2
• EMDR Level 1
• Emotionally focused couples therapy certificate with Dr Sue Johnson
• Therapy Master Mind Circle – continuous training on somatic experiencing in healing attachment wounds, developing sense of self and understanding psychological trauma from bottom up approach
• Ending the loneliness – Introduction to AEDP
• Attachment and Trauma:  The Resilience of Mind and Body – Conference
• Couples therapy training with Couples Institute
• Working with Relational Trauma: Dealing with Disorganised Attachment

The therapy I offer focuses on our relationship and incorporates neuroscience, physiology, object relations (relationships), compassion focused therapy and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). What that means is that we become curious about your experiences both in past and present time. We examine what it feels like both emotionally and physically for you to be in the presence of another person. The reason why this is so important is that a lot of our internal distress is demonstrated when we are in the presence of another person or separated from another, and when we examine and make connections of our experience in a non-judgmental & confidential environment with another non-shaming person, old wounds can start to heal. We can also use EMDR as a way to reprocess old material and update your nervous system.

The purpose of all of this is to support you to get in a place where you have abolished excessive worry, you are able to consider your own needs and not feel so guilty about having them, the cloud of low mood has lifted, you are able to experience deep joy when engaging in activities and experience deep, fulfilling connections with others.

Professional recognition:

My work is heavily regulated and guided by ethical guidelines, but this does not make it robotic, in fact, the regulations provide safety and I’m able to connect with you on a human to human level. My official title is a chartered counselling psychologist and I’m registered with the British Psychological Society, Health and Care Professionals Council and the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists. I earned my Doctorate in Counselling Psychology from City University, London. Prior to that, I completed an MSc in Occupational Psychology at London Guildhall University and a BSc (Hons) in Psychology at City University, London.

I adhere to the BPS code of conduct and ethics and the HCPC code of conduct. I am also committed to continuous professional development. I love learning about brain science and understanding how our mind & body work, how we can heal our emotional wounds and supporting people in being able to live authentic lives and being true to themselves without excessive worry stopping their dreams coming true. 

Still have questions?

Take a look at my specialty pages: Individual therapy to address the sense of loneliness and disconnection within you or in your relationships, Anxiety, Childhood Trauma, Depression, Relationship issues or couples counselling get in touch.