Silvia Baba
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
About me
I am a fully qualified psychotherapist informed by neuroscience, attachment theory and research. I seek to engage with my clients fully in a two-way dialogue about how the quality of our relatedness informs us and shapes our sense of self and our perceptions.
Over the years I have worked with people from all walks of life and backgrounds: students, journalists, designers, entrepreneurs, musicians, artists, builders, councillors, trainees etc.
My style of working is interactive and here-and-now focused (relational).
*I run a special clinic for men, conducting gender-sensitive psychotherapy
I have a particular interest in working with anxiety disorders (panic attacks, generalised anxiety, avoidant and compulsive behaviour, social and performance anxiety, obsessive thoughts, body dysmorphia).
I write academic research papers using qualitative methodology (single case studies and auto-ethnography). I have published in the Transactional Analysis Journal and the International Journal of Transactional Analysis Research and Practice. I am a primary tutor at Metanoia Institute in London.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a complex, fascinating body/mind state that is usually manifested in unpleasant bodily sensations:
- racing pulse, sweatiness, dizziness, nausea, restlessness, tension, headaches, indigestion, muscular pain, irritable bowel
- You may be feeling numb, ashamed, out of control, unable to stop worrying. You may believe you are "wrong" and no one can love you
- You may be thinking that you are better off dead.
The biological aspect of anxiety includes key brain centres such as the amygdala and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis which regulates the stress hormone cortisol. Fear is a crucial emotion that ensures our survival by sharpening our senses and directing all available resources towards escape. The bad news is that the emotional brain can also be activated by "dangers" which are not life-threatening but rather more symbolic in nature.
Another part of the puzzle is epigenetics - how our genes are switched on or off by our experience/environment. Trauma has a lasting impact on the brain and inhibits our capacity to down-regulate the stress response. We also know from research that those who experience themselves as being at the bottom of the social and economical hierarchy and have less control over their environment experience higher levels of anxiety and a higher level of illness associated with stress (this is controlling for lifestyle factors such as how much someone smokes, drinks, etc).
More broadly, culture is a subtle but penetrating influence. Cultural norms dictate what it means to be "a man", which attributes and skills are desirable and which ones need to be inhibited. Men feel pressured into presenting themselves as competent, strong and self-sufficient and feel shame about being seen as vulnerable or not functioning well. As result they develop a "false self" or a performing self to meet the demands of the world around them, whilst feeling cut off and empty inside.
Cultural norms also dictate the most acceptable ways of expressing psychological suffering. Many men feel there is an unspoken injunction against speaking about their own fears and vulnerability. They are more likely to be cared for if their vulnerability is manifested as physical symptoms.
You may have developed your own ways of coping, some of which really help and others which make you feel ashamed and empty and attract criticism from others including
- putting on a brave face, a "happy" mask
- secretly doing things that go against your values and if found out you would feel embarrassed and shamed
- lashing out when it feels "safe" to do so
- hating parts of your body
- intrusive thoughts
- compulsive behaviour
When it comes to psychotherapy as a treatment for anxiety, the facts are friendly. Research shows that in the context of a strong working alliance between client and therapist, symptoms of anxiety are alleviated.
I integrate neuroscience findings, attachment theory, transactional analysis, psychoanalytic concepts and cognitive-behavioural interventions.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications
PTSTA (P)
Master of Science with Distinction in TA Psychotherapy from Metanoia Institute/Middlesex University
EATA Certified Relational Transactional Analyst with Psychotherapy speciality
Diploma in TA counselling
Diploma in Supervision
L5 Diploma in Education and Training
Certificate in clinical assessments
Certificate in the use of psychological questionnaires
Experience
- Metanoia Institute - Primary Tutor TA department
- Herefordshire and Ludlow College in partnership with Worcester University - Lecturer in Counselling, Research and Mental Health
- Marches Counselling Service - Assessor and supervisor
- Sutton and Merton IAPT (NHS) - Honorary Group Psychotherapist/Researcher
- Metanoia Counselling and Psychotherapy Clinic - Assessor
- Ealing Abbey Counselling Centre - Psychotherapist
- Surrey Docks Health Centre (NHS) - Counsellor/Researcher
- Greenford Medical Centre (NHS) - Psychotherapist/Researcher
- Copleston Centre - Mental Health Project - Mentor
Member organisations
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
Free initial telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Please get in touch to discuss fees and available concessions
When I work
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Telephone counselling
Skype/Zoom counselling
In-person
Further information
Anxiety
Anxiety is a complex, fascinating body/mind state that is usually manifested in unpleasant bodily sensations:
racing pulse, sweatiness, dizziness, nausea, restlessness, tension, headaches, indigestion, muscular pain, irritable bowel
You may be feeling numb, ashamed, out of control, unable to stop worrying. You may believe you are "wrong" and no one can love you
You may be thinking that you are better off dead.
The biological aspect of anxiety includes key brain centres such as the amygdala and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis which regulates the stress hormone cortisol. Fear is a crucial emotion that ensures our survival by sharpening our senses and directing all available resources towards escape. The bad news is that the emotional brain can also be activated by "dangers" which are not life-threatening but rather more symbolic in nature.
Another part of the puzzle is epigenetics - how our genes are switched on or off by our experience/environment. Trauma has a lasting impact on the brain and inhibits our capacity to down-regulate the stress response. We also know from research that those who experience themselves as being at the bottom of the social and economical hierarchy and have less control over their environment experience higher levels of anxiety and a higher level of illness associated with stress (this is controlling for lifestyle factors such as how much someone smokes, drinks, etc).
More broadly, culture is a subtle but penetrating influence. Cultural norms dictate what it means to be "a man", which attributes and skills are desirable and which ones need to be inhibited. Men feel pressured into presenting themselves as competent, strong and self-sufficient and feel shame about being seen as vulnerable or not functioning well. As result they develop a "false self" or a performing self to meet the demands of the world around them, whilst feeling cut off and empty inside.
Cultural norms also dictate the most acceptable ways of expressing psychological suffering. Many men feel there is an unspoken injunction against speaking about their own fears and vulnerability. They are more likely to be cared for if their vulnerability is manifested as physical symptoms.
You may have developed your own ways of coping, some of which really help and others which make you feel ashamed and empty and attract criticism from others including
putting on a brave face, a "happy" mask
secretly doing things that go against your values and if found out you would feel embarrassed and shamed
lashing out when it feels "safe" to do so
hating parts of your body
intrusive thoughts
compulsive behaviour
When it comes to psychotherapy as a treatment for anxiety, the facts are friendly. Research shows that in the context of a strong working alliance between client and therapist, symptoms of anxiety are alleviated.
I integrate neuroscience findings, attachment theory, transactional analysis, psychoanalytic concepts and cognitive-behavioural interventions.
