Catherine Sonaram-Taylor

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Limited availability

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Oxted, RH8
Limited availability
Limited availability

This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.

About me

I work as a Complex Trauma/Abuse & Relationship Therapist in Oxted, supporting individuals and adolescents (15/16 yrs), including those have a learning disability or autism who are emotionally "stuck" or in the aftermath of their relationship collapsing or are in the process of a separation/divorce and experience high anxiety and distress for different reasons.

Therapy with me is about managing the difficulties around episodes of high anxiety or stress,  but if not dealt with sooner, it can trigger hidden deeper issues related to past events related to  unspeakable trauma. In some cases historical sexual abuse or dissociation (a sense of detachment from your former self), or even suicidal thoughts, identity issues "Who am I?" These difficulties can carry a tremendous amount of shame; guilt; anger; sadness and hurt. Making an individual unnecessarily feel more isolated and lonely even when among other people friends or family, which some therapists misunderstand through lack of experience of working within this field.

In most cases, despite your best efforts of trying to resolve these issues privately with medication or receive counselling elsewhere; this to some degree has been unsuccessful.

There is nothing we cannot work through together, to make your life easier, by addressing the simpler issues now and not make it more complicated than is necessary.

Before specialising in this area, I realised a number of my clients were experiencing a variety of symptoms around stress, anxiety and depression in adulthood, which were familiar to them as a child. I understood the complexity of what would happen if this continued to develop into trauma if untreated, over a period of time.

Anybody can be affected by emotional and psychological issues as a child or an adult. If there is a history of abuse, it can affect their personal, work and family relationships. Hidden feelings of extreme shame, guilt or anger; neglect, rejection, abandonment, panic attacks, low self esteem, trust/acceptance. Other forms of abuse emotional/physical/psychological, which involves manipulation, separation, divorce, depression, anxiety and stress, which has left a person with low self confidence in trying to trust people again.

You can contact me direct for an initial appointment on 01883 779204 or alternatively Clearingthoughts@gmail.com

Sessions are available on a fortnightly or monthly basis.  

CLIENT CONFIDENTIALITY

This is very important working within this field of counselling & psychotherapy. I provide support, compassion, patience, awareness and understanding about the constant ongoing difficulties you face and how bringing these complex issues could be difficult for you.


EXPERIENCES AND SYMPTOMS FELT BY CLIENTS 

Experiences can sometimes leave a person with a mixture of feelings and thoughts covering some issues of trauma involving self-harm, dissociative state (as though the trauma was happening to somebody else leaving a sense of numbness as though in shock or blank thoughts); nightmares; flashbacks; loneliness; insecure; fearful; isolated; suicidal; withdrawn; distressed and many more. Including experience of working with people who find coping with daily life an issue or are in a relationship/family find they struggle to manage the conflict of a past trauma in relation to a current problem.


RELATIONSHIP THERAPY

Managing a relationship in the aftermath of a personal trauma is isolating when you wish not to concern those around you. Especially when current problems are being avoided or ignored by one partner in the relationship and it is hard to carry on alone with all the responsibilities of everyday life to cope with.

It is challenging to try and want this relationship to continue in the hope somehow it will all work out eventually, if only you could turn the clock back and start again. The reality is you cannot, but instead live in hope it would change as we lead busy lifestyles filled with responsibilities and stresses that caused the partnership to drift apart.

Issues addressed in relationship therapy can be associated with loneliness, low self esteem, hurt and pain, sadness, guilt, shame, lack of experience by being in a relationship.

Training, qualifications & experience

QUALIFICATIONS

Assessor & Therapist in Advance Complex Trauma (CPTSD) and Dissociative Disorders/DID (Diagnosis endorsed by NHS Choices)

Associated with vulnerability, exposed, despondent, listless, stressed, lost, depressed struggle to cope with daily life, sense of hopelessness about the future, identity issues "Who am I?"

Complex Trauma Psychotherapist (Managing all aspects of trauma):-

Trauma (Sudden impact in the aftershock of a minor/major incident or life event and remains in a person's system long after the event in various ways.)

Developmental Trauma (Growing up with trauma during childhood, including being unable to develop a healthy loving nurturing relationship with one or both parents).

Critical Incident Stress Management Debriefer Reducing symptoms of anxiety, stress, depression and PSTD after a single episode or series of unexpected events preventing long term mental health issues.

Somatic Trauma Therapist (Cope, recover and manage trauma from within the body aimed at relieving and resolving the symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder).

Couples/Relationship Therapist

  • communication problems
  • intimacy issues
  • emotional/psychological abuse
  • divorce/separation
  • family/midlife crisis
  • suicidal issues
  • family/parenting issues
  • high anxiety with panic attacks

BACKGROUND

Previously worked in the South East (London; Kent; Surrey; West Sussex) for local government; Childhood Sexual Abuse/Rape Counselling service; Family Counselling service; Christian Counselling service; Mental Health Charity; Male Rape/Abuse Counselling service, West Sussex College with adolescents 16+/mature students.

I work in private practice for over 16 years including for a Mental Health Care Provider both as a Complex Trauma & Couples Therapist/CISM Debriefer. During this time qualified in NLP, Group therapy, working with learning difficulties, deafness, childhood sexual abuse and rape. This work led to further study for over a decade in complex trauma in body psychotherapy, studying how the body works in relation to stress, anxiety, anger, depression with shame and the nervous system impacts our mindset, which over time is unresolved unravels into traumatic experiences once triggered.

These are initially minor and I developed an interest in how this can be prevented as a life coach to maintain a balanced healthy outlook, especially for many who are sensitive in nature and who have found life challenging with learning difficulties and skin conditions. Ultimately, can feel overwhelming at times, which can lead to misinterpretation and a breakdown in communication in partnerships.

In addition, I qualified as a Reiki Master Practitioner 6 years ago to provide an alternative combination for those with holistic beliefs.

As a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), I work to their standards and code of ethics; plus I am listed with the BACP website & Accredited Voluntary Register regulated by the government.

Member organisations

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred).

Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).

Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision.

Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training.

All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.

Accredited register membership

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
Accredited Register Scheme

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.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Other areas of counselling I deal with

Critical Incident Stress Management Debriefer

Reducing symptoms of anxiety, stress, depression and PSTD after a single episode or series of unexpected events preventing long term mental health issues.

Managing all forms of Stress (e.g. Burnout, Fatigue), Anxiety (eg. Panic Attacks) and Trauma Issues.

Other special areas I work with as a therapist for anxiety; depression and stress :-

-Severe Food Allergy conditions

-Bladder/Bowels issues

-Skin conditions

Photos & videos

Fees

£140.00 per session
Free initial telephone session

Additional information

I offer a free 30min telephone call, email to book an appointment for both areas of the practice.

COUNSELLING SESSIONS:~Adolescents fortnightly sessions (15/16yrs) ~ Individual Therapy (17+) fortnightly/monthly ~ Relationship/Couples Therapy sessions monthly/6 weeks Each session lasts 60mins face to face/online.

THERAPY & REIKI SESSIONS:- 

Restores a sense of balance and calm with clarity in both the mind and body, without feeling overwhelmed. Clients move on to this phase, when they wish to maintain their sense of wellbeing. This has been used in my practise with clients for over 10 years with very good results. 

~ Therapy & Reiki/Angel Reiki (18+) 30mins for each session - Fortnightly/Monthly sessions.

Payments:- Cash, Card, Bank transfer.

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

Please leave a voicemail message, if you wish to make an appointment or email and I shall try to respond when I am available. I offer a free 15mins telephone call booked in advance.

Further information

TESTIMONIALS:-

"Acutely emotionally distressed. Extremely depressed and anxious. Angry about life and the violation." (Before) (After) "A worthwhile life investment on oneself. A place of validation and listening without judgement. Specific help for my issues - very much needed." - Female, 33+ Surrey

"I'm leaving with strength to find me!!! I was a mess when I started, having felt like I've been rolled over with a steam roller!! I'm coming out the other side." - Female 56+ Surrey

"Absolutely distraught and at the end of my tether.". (Before) (After) "Much better! Relationship counselling has been the making of my marriage and has helped clarify some personal issues that I still need to work on." "Catherine was very good in helping through a crisis and started me thinking about how to help myself with 'old' trauma." - Female 49+ Surrey

"Therapy was enjoyable, approachable and challenging all at the same time. Before, I was concerned about my state of mind and the state of our marriage. Now, I am in a much better position to understand my feelings. The consequences and impact they have on me and how to deal with them." - Male, 42+ Surrey

"Catherine is good listener and can read between the lines to get to the root of your issue. I have always felt comfortable discussing my issues, knowing I am not being judged - just listened and understood. The sessions have been very calming and I always left feeling better than when I arrived! Catherine is obviously a very experienced and knowledgeable therapist." - Female 48+, London

"Struggling to come to terms with my situation. Not seeing a way forward." (Before)(After) "Coming to terms with what has happened. I face the unknown with what I want in the future. Catherine was very help in giving me an insight to what has happened." - Male 41+ , West Sussex

"Very anxious; nervous; low mood due to circumstances elsewhere." (Before) (After) "Much, much better. My mood has increased and my anxiety has significantly lowered. Catherine is a very genuine and caring counsellor. Having someone to talk to who sympathised so much with my situation it was wonderful." - Male 35+, Surrey

"Troubled; stressed; anxious". (Before)(After) "I feel free, refreshed and ready to move on to what my next journey in life looks life or is going to be. She opened me up to different ways of thinking, and how to look at things, but also making me realise I am in the picture too." - Female 40+, London

"I was put at ease and made to feel like I wasn't being judged. The sessions were deep without being aggressively so and managed in a way that mean't I never felt rushed. Before I felt low, like my existence didn't matter. Now it's like I have a sense of freedom. Much more confident and happy - I can enjoy life. Counselling has been life changing in that I feel like a different version of me. Catherine has opened my eyes up to my problems and causes." - Male 43+, West Sussex.

"I was in a very low place. I had no motivation or confidence in myself. I thought I was all washed up and would like to have retired from life." (Before) (After) "I am so much better now I realise this was not my fault. I have more confidence in myself now. However, I realise have started a journey now and that I have a way to go. I think Catherine has a great strength in empathy for her patients and she seems to how what I was thinking and feeling before I did." - Male 64+, Surrey

"Anxious, unsure, concerned about how life was going." (Before) (After) "Eager to live life and explore, more certain in myself. I got all that I needed and much more!" - Male 32+, Surrey

"Anxious, terrified, scared. I was not going to go on." (Before)(After) "I know how to control the emotions better to help me keep fighting. Catherine was very good at helping me understand why I feel what I do and how to manage it." - Female 36+, London

"I felt like a broken, despondent and drifting person. I had contemplated suicide and felt dark and lost. I thought my life as over." (Before) (After) "I feel amazing. Like a different person. I have a clearer sense of direction, I feel more emotionally balanced and in tune, and have a much deeper understanding of me. I would definitely recommend her. I felt she was caring, thoughtful, engaging and insightful. Always on hand if I ever had a crisis." - Male 47+ Surrey

"I was worried for my marriage and very distressed. Now, I am more solid. The quality of counselling was outstanding. So honest and cut through a lot whilst maintaining barriers around what we could realistically do in two months." - Female 40+ Surrey

"Very unhappy. In a black hole and knowing how to get out everyday." (Before) (After) "Only fall in the black hole every so often, not all the time. Excellent service, Catherine was warm and welcoming, she listened and understood. I would recommend to anyone having issues. It has helped me." - Female 43+ West Sussex

"I felt my marriage was ending. Catherine got in talking about difficult subjects, and now I have some tools to work with and I am much more hopeful!! Catherine was very good at keep us on course. She has been supportive to both of us. I have personally deal with some issue I was not aware of. This has worked for me personally." - Male 42+ West Sussex

"Quite stressed with a lot on my mind and feeling unable to think clearly." (Before) (After) "Very good. Problems unlocked and my thought process are much more free. Very relaxed." - Male 52+ West Sussex

"Very low.". (Before) (After) "Feel there is hope, and light at the end of the tunnel and belief in I can change and cope with things." - Female 41+ West Sussex

"Friendly, passionate about helping. Easy to talk to. Helped me in a moment of need when I was feeling suicidal, severely depressed, stressed, irritable. After eight sessions I feel better not severely depressed. Happy. Excited about the future. Huge weight has been lifted. - Thank you, you helped me so much in my moment of need." - Female 38+ Surrey

"Catherine has definitely helped our marriage and given us tools for the future. Was despondent and tired; feeling happy, hopeful and excited about the future." - Male 34+ London

"Catherine took me through a process of understanding my stress/anxiety & how to reduce the levels of stress. Very pleased, she challenged my perceptions." - Male 52+ Surrey

"Nervous, but also relief that there could be a solution to the problem. I now feel better, but there is a long way to go. It is a good service and was delivered in a calm, caring tones, but with serious undertones." - Female 34+ London

"It has been far more effective than I had anticipated. I now have a better sense of myself, therefore I am able to control myself better. I feel so much better. I know I've got some more work to do, but that doesn't scare me like it would of done before I started, so that is a fantastic feeling to be having!" - Male 20+ Kent

"Angry, Rage and Broken". (Before) (After) "Calm, focused and seeing things clearer" - Male 28+ South East London

"Very professional and very helpful. Catherine provides an excellent service. I was not very good before, but I am back to normal!" - Male, 63+ London

"Uncertain, scared, tense, negative, suicidal thoughts. - Now I am still uncertain at times, able to cope and reflective. The weekly session with Catherine & my wife was the only communication between the latter and myself. Catherine was able to diffuse heated situations and make conversations more constructive." - Male, 52+ Surrey

"I was very anxious, sleeping very poorly, unable to relax. Now, I feel better on all fronts." - Male, 49+ London

"Professional, committed to the success of the client. Very good to link issues or concepts to make it easier to understand. Really enjoyed her services. I was not good at all.". (Before) (After) "Much better, but several tools were shown to me to improve my situation further." - Male, 33+ London

"Overwhelmed and alone.". (Before) (After) "In control and more assertive. Catherine was very helpful and supportive with useful information." - Female, 62+ Surrey

"Very depressed and anxious about the future - trying to make sense of my mums diagnosis and impact or family was causing great distress.". (Before) (After) "Able to cope with the situation far better than before and manage the emotions which have such an obvious impact on me." - Male, 33+ West Sussex

"Stressed, depressed, sad, lonely, angry. - I am calmer, happier and have a much more clear mind. Has given me my confidence back to move forward with life and the decisions I am making." - Male, 35+ West Kent

"I was depressed, lost and scared - I found the process extremely empowering an educational.". (Before) (After) "On top of the world! I have clear vision of how I will carry myself in the future and I am embracing the challenge. Catherine was excellent, professional, tactful and insight-inducing." - Male, 45+ Surrey

"Worried about almost everything in my life. I felt hopeless. Now more positive about life and that my future will be ok. I can learn to deal with things better at home and work." - Male, 35+ Surrey

"Worried counselling would not work. It was far better than I had anticipated was given tools to help with issues that I have previously struggled with. Now I feel more relaxed - not much anxiety - more in control of situations both mentally and emotionally." - Male, 54+ Surrey

"Very happy with the quality and results. I was low; depressed; angry with myself - Now more positive and happier in my journey. Very comforting and straightforward." - Male, 54+ Surrey

"Very distressed and struggling to cope. She has really helped me to focus and think about where I want to go to next." - Male, 29+ Surrey

"Before I was very low - no control over my emotions and very anxious. Counselling with Catherine has been incredibly helpful - even though I was doubtful and resistant, Excellent it is at the same time it took away my anxiety." - Female, 63+ Surrey

"On the surface, a mixture of happy and anxious. Not far beneath the surface, I doubted my own worth and I didn't like myself very much.". (Before) (After)"Complete. I feel all the parts of me that used to conflict and undermine each other, now sit together in one happy, self-accepting whole." - Male, 50+ Surrey

"Nervous, exhausted and lost.". (Before) (After) "Less anxious, calmer, more energy and I have clearer thoughts. Excellent service" - Female, 45+ Surrey

"Scared and very panicky about the whole process never had counselling before in my life. Now my confidence has improved and I like the new me who is developing." - Female, 35+ West Sussex

"Stuck in a rut, no way out.". (Before) (After) "Light at the end of the tunnel, more confident, have more respect and thoughts for myself. Thinking of number one for a change." - Male, 61+ West Kent

"I was unsure, overloaded and pressured. The quality of one to one, I felt Catherine listened to me and directed me. I feel encouragement to move forward positively with my goals instead of wasting them." - Male, 35+ Surrey

"Before I felt horrendous. Very experienced and professional therapist, boundaried with an excellent service." - Female, 51+ London

"Broken.". (Before) (After) "I have targets and hope. Catherine gives a sense of peace and allows me to take a step back." - Female, 30+ Surrey

"Anxious, emotional, tearful.". (Before) (After) "It felt important and therapeutic to make "breakthroughs." She is helpful and not afraid to tackle issues." - Male, 47+ Surrey

"Felt that I was understood and given ways to process/deal with my issues. I have very few sleep terrors now, which helps with my overall emotional feeling. Great service." -Female, 27+ West Kent

"I was struggling. Now I feel I have some so far, key thing being its not all about control. The quality was very high, Catherine opened my eyes up to a bigger picture than I realised." - Male, 56+ Surrey

"I was a mess. Now I have more control of what I need to do to improve." - Female, 39+ Surrey

"Poor, stressed, ill.". (Before) (After) "Liberated!" - Male, 63+ London

"She knows her stuff!!! I was nervous before, but I am calm and more relaxed." - Male, 47+ Surrey

"Before a mess and overwhelmed. I feel Catherine listened to what I needed and adapted her approach accordingly. Now I am calmer, more confident with a clearer understanding of the process at play." - Female, 39+ Surrey

"I was incredibly disorientated, anxious and in shock. Now much calmer and grounded in life. I feel the quality of counselling offered and support I received was outstanding. Thank you." - Female, West Sussex 37+

"Very anxious and could not stop worrying. Its been fantastic! Less anxious and I understand I need more time 'me' time." - Female, 36+ West Kent

"Very down and confused.". (Before) (After) "Have a better understanding of how to handle situations through work." - Male, 51+ London

"I was in a terrible bad place - now I am more positive. I looked forward to the sessions and they helped me look differently at things." - Male, 33+ Surrey

"Catherine has challenged my thinking which I have found helpful, especially her honesty - she doesn't give platitudes but instead realistic views." - Female, 45+ Kent

"I was very low, there was a lot going on in my life and felt it very hard just to keep afloat. - Today I am a lot more relaxed and in control of most situations and generally very happy." - Female, 55+ Surrey


(Updated Sept 2023)

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone
Home visits

Types of client

Young people
Adults
Older adults
Couples

Online platforms

Skype
Whatsapp
Zoom
Google Meet

Social