Casilda Bartholomew

Integrative Psychotherapist & Counsellor

Online and face-to-face counselling for adults seeking positive change

In-person sessions in Balham (SW17) on Wednesdays and online at other times

About me

I’m a London-based psychotherapist and registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) who works with adults in both short term and open-ended therapy. My face-to-face practice is based in Balham (SW17) on a Wednesday. On other days of the week I offer online therapy via Zoom.

Alongside my private practice I work as a volunteer for Cruse, the bereavement charity. Previously I was an in-house therapist at a large counselling service in south London specialising in NHS referrals.

Former clients have sought my help for:

Problematic relationships

Low self-esteem

Persistent anxiety and self-doubt

Work pressures and stress

Problems relating to childhood

Difficulty negotiating life transitions

Bereavement and loss

Mortality fears

Other reasons clients have sought my help include:

Feeling sad and lonely

Feeling anxious and overwhelmed

Feeling depressed or low in mood

Feeling unlovable and inadequate

Worrying about the future

Painful and distressing memories

Feeling stuck in life

How can counselling help?

It isn’t always easy to talk to family or friends when you’re feeling lonely, unhappy or overwhelmed. You may be anxious about burdening others. You may be fearful of being rejected or worried that others will judge you. Counselling offers a uniquely safe and supportive space in which you can talk about your deepest feelings with someone unrelated to you in your everyday life. Together we can start to explore and make sense of your experiences and difficulties. Over time we can begin to discover the changes you might wish to make.

My Approach

My core training is as a person-centred counsellor, which is one of the most respected forms of therapy in the world today. I also work integratively, meaning I draw on other models, namely psychodynamic theory, with its focus on understanding how our past shapes us, and CBT, with its insights on the thinking styles that can hold us back in life. I recently started training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), an action-oriented approach that’s about connecting with our values in order to build a fuller and more meaningful life.

So how does therapy work? In our weekly sessions we will explore the difficulties you face, gain an understanding of how you experience life and identify what is most meaningful for you. At times the process can be challenging, requiring a willingness to work through painful feelings. But it can also be very rewarding as you start to understand yourself better and learn to approach life’s ups and downs with fresh eyes.

One of the benefits of therapy is that you can talk freely about whatever’s on your mind – your day-to-day life, your hopes and dreams, your disappointments and setbacks, your current or past relationships, your memories of childhood. Nothing is too big or too small to talk about. Unlike daily life, there is no agenda, no judgement and no pressure to be a certain way.

I believe that therapy can offer a gentle, supportive environment that can help you to understand your life history in all its contradictions and complexities. Over time the process of talking freely and without barriers can help you to identify and articulate what matters most to you, accept those things in your past that can’t be changed and make positive and informed choices about your future.

**My Personal Philosophy**

The way I practise is rooted in my understanding that being human means being in a relationship with others and connected to the world around us. No matter how self-sufficient we appear, we are relational creatures who need one another in order to thrive and grow. Close relationships in which we feel supported and valued are crucial to our happiness and longevity. But sometimes things go wrong between us and the world we live in. Our relationships are blown off course, a crisis hits us out of the blue and our feelings of anxiety and depression escalate. Therapy can help us to manage our distress and develop new insights, empowering us to live life more fully.

My Training and Qualifications

I am a fully-qualified integrative psychotherapist. I have completed a Masters at Roehampton University, one of the leading centres for psychotherapy training in Britain that’s accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

I also have a certificate in counselling skills from WPF Therapy and have completed the ABC training course at Cruse, the bereavement charity.

I receive ongoing clinical supervision, meaning that I use the services of a senior psychotherapist to regularly review my work and guide my professional development. I also regularly attend psychotherapy courses in order to enhance my training and broaden my experience.

Confidentiality

The sessions are entirely confidential. In keeping with good practice, I do discuss aspects of my client work with my supervisor but clients remain anonymous throughout.

In extreme circumstances where I was concerned for your safety or the safety of others, I would have an ethical duty to break this confidentiality. Even then I hope we would have the chance to discuss this first in the session.

Fees

The fee is £80 for online or face-to-face therapy. All sessions last for 50 minutes.
For new clients, I offer a 30-minute initial consultation online that’s free of charge.

Getting in Touch

Do make contact via email or phone if you would like to find out more or arrange an initial consultation. I would always recommend a free trial to see if you would be comfortable working with me. This would give you the chance to experience how a session feels. We would talk about how I work, what your expectations of counselling are and any worries that you may have. I might also ask a few questions about your general health. We could then decide if I’m the right person for you.

If we decided to go ahead we would agree on a time and day of the week for your sessions. Each session, whether online or in-person, would last for 50 minutes. We might typically plan six or 12 sessions, depending on your preference, with the option of continuing in an open-ended way if you felt there was more to explore.

Taking that first step to seek help can be hard, particularly if you’re feeling anxious, sad or overwhelmed. Please know that I will respond sensitively and in total confidence.