About me
I’m a London-based psychotherapist and member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) who works with adults in both short and long-term therapy. I offer face-to-face sessions in Balham on a Wednesday. On other days of the week, I offer online therapy via Zoom.
In addition to 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 a wide variety of reasons such as:
Relationship problems
Self-confidence issues
Low self-worth
Work stress
Problems relating to childhood
Difficulty negotiating life transitions
Mortality fears
Bereavement and loss
Other reasons clients have sought my help include:
Feeling sad and lonely
Feeling anxious and overwhelmed
Feeling depressed or low in mood
Feeling unhappy in one’s relationship
Feeling unlovable and inadequate
Worrying about the future
Lockdown fears
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 ideas from psychodynamic theory and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Working this way means I can tailor my approach to your needs.
Psychotherapy is a collaborative process in which honesty and trust are paramount. 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, valued and understood are crucial to our happiness and longevity. But sometimes things go wrong between us and the world we live in. Our relationships go 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 further enhance my training and broaden my experience.