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I mostly work online, and have availability before 9.00 am on Wednesdays, Monday-Thursday 6.00 - 800 pm, and Friday afternoons.  I also have some in-person availability in Tooting, London SW17, currently only on Friday from 2.00 to 5.00 pm. 

I am an Integrative Counsellor and Gestalt Therapist. I currently work with adult individuals one-to-one, both privately and for charities. I am based in Tooting, London SW17, but mostly work online, as I find this to be as effective as in-person, and more accessible.

My style is down to earth and approachable; I offer a warm, positive and active working relationship within which to explore whatever has brought you here. I have a healthy sense of humour, as I believe that there is a place for this in therapy.

We can look at discrete issues, such as grief at a recent or not-so-recent bereavement, long-term problems with relationships, or coming to terms with family history.

I have specialist areas of interest, including bereavement, grief and loss, and issues specific to people who are LGBTQ+ (I am affirmative). However, I work with clients on a wider variety of issues, such as relationships, sexuality and gender, anxiety, depression, understanding major life events, childhood abuse, intergenerational trauma, and self-esteem issues. I am however open to working with whatever you are experiencing, we can look at this during our initial session.

As an integrative therapist, I draw on three main modalities:

Person-centred - the therapeutic relationship becomes a respectful, honest and positive environment within which to explore your issues, and work towards resolving them.  

Gestalt - together we raise your awareness of how you relate to others, informed by focussing on the here-and-now of our working alliance, and the thoughts and emotions that it brings up. Safe experimentation, for example drawing, can offer an alternative viewpoint to your situation.

CBT - we look at the connection between thoughts and feelings and emotions, helping you to understand how they work, and how you can change them practically.

I also have less formal interests in other modalities such as Jungian Analysis and Existential therapy.

My qualifications are: an ADPD and Postgraduate Diploma in Gestalt Therapy Theory, a Diploma in Integrative Counselling, and Certificate in Humanistic Counselling.

As a Íø±¬ÃÅ member, I adhere to their ethical framework.  A part of that is the requirement that I continue to develop professionally; I have undertaken formal training additional to the above, on issues connected to my specialisms. Less formally, I think it's important to keep up to date with evolving social and political issues, especially those that directly affect my clients.

I mostly work online at a regular time each week, although I will consider irregular slots. I work on an open-ended basis with regular reviews, which means that you can work with me for as long as you find the sessions helpful.

Our initial meeting is likely to be online, by video call. I offer a 30 minute meeting/informal mutual assessment free of charge.  I do this because it can give us a better sense of how well we will work together, than a phone call.  Having said this, if for whatever reason you would prefer a phone call I am happy to do this.  

Initially, we'll have a look at your reasons for coming to therapy, what you wish to explore, or would like to resolve or make peace with.  If you don't know what this is yet, that's fine.  Lots of people approach therapy for exactly this reason - they feel stuck and don't know what the cause is.

Please rest assured that feeling trepidatious as you approach therapy is completely normal! It's not easy to look at things you've been otherwise avoiding, or to express something painful in front of another person for the first time. I work with you to create a space within which you'll feel safe to explore whatever brings you here.