Ajmer Wahiwala
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hello there, I'm AJ – a UKCP accredited Integrative Clinical Psychotherapist, and I bring more than just qualifications to the therapeutic space. Picture our sessions as a warm embrace, a sanctuary where your thoughts and feelings are not just heard but cherished.
Embarking on this journey, whether for short-term solutions or a more extended exploration, means stepping into a space where you are seen, understood, and valued. Holding an MSc with distinction, I offer a safe, judgment-free zone for both individuals and couples. Anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, and trauma find a compassionate ally in my practice, where we may also explore healing through EMDR.
My therapeutic approach is more than just a method; it's a commitment to understanding how early experiences shape our sense of self and influence our expectations. Within the safe haven of our sessions, we'll delve into the distress experienced in both mind and body, creatively managing and navigating your emotional landscape toward resilience and understanding.
I extend a heartfelt invitation to connect with me, providing support in English and Punjabi through in-person, phone, or online sessions. A free consultation awaits, addressing any concerns you may have. Currently pursuing a PhD at Edinburgh University, my dedication to research is a testament to tailored support, particularly for those from BAME and diverse cultural backgrounds.
In my 12-year tenure as an Optometrist, I've cultivated a unique perspective from personal engagements within the medical field. This distinctive foundation seamlessly integrates techniques from both the medical and therapeutic realms, enriching the support I offer clients on their unique journeys.
Having worked within the NHS and the private sector, my therapeutic journey encompasses a rich tapestry of experiences, including bereavement and loss, collaborating with esteemed organizations like Cruise and the RNIB counselling services. These varied experiences form the fabric of my integrative approach – an environment that nurtures insight, fosters growth, facilitates healing, and instigates meaningful change. For me, this isn't just a profession; it's a journey of connection, understanding, and empowerment. I invite you to embark on this journey with me, where we navigate the complexities of life together.
Training, qualifications & experience
Experience
In my 12 years as an Optometrist, I've had the privilege of engaging with patients on a personal level within the medical field. This experience has provided me with a distinctive base for delving into therapeutic work. My solid grasp of both the medical and therapeutic realms enables me to seamlessly integrate techniques from both domains, offering valuable support to my clients as they navigate their unique journeys.
Training
In my therapeutic journey, I've had the privilege of working both within the NHS and the private sector. This rich tapestry of experiences has exposed me to a diverse array of psychological presentations, allowing me to develop a profound understanding of the human experience. Specifically, I've delved into the intricate realms of bereavement and loss, collaborating with esteemed organisations like Cruise and the RNIB counselling services.
These varied experiences have woven together to form the fabric of my integrative approach. I strive to create a holistic environment that nurtures deep insight, fosters growth, facilitates healing, and instigates meaningful change. It's not just a profession for me; it's a journey of connection, understanding, and empowerment. I welcome you to embark on this journey with me, where we can navigate the complexities of life together.
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.
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
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
In navigating the challenges posed by COVID-19 and the imperative of #BlackLivesMatter, I recognise the unique pressures we all face. In my practice, I am committed to embracing these complex social realities. As a British Asian man, I bring a culturally attuned perspective to psychotherapeutic dialogues, fostering a supportive and relational space for clients from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Together, we navigate the intricacies of your experiences, promoting healing and understanding in our shared journey.
Therapies offered
Fees
£60.00 per session
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
- £60 per session - Individual
- £75 per session - Couples
- £90 per session - EMDR
I am able to offer both short-term and long-term counselling and psychotherapy, and I can also offer discounted rates for students or block-bookings
When I work
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I am available in-person, online, or over the phone, dependant on the therapy needed.
Further information
I am an Integrative Psychotherapist, qualified (with Distinction, valedictorian) at Masters level, and can offer academic support to all students studying a Degree and/or Masters.
My own research dissertation was focused on the physical and psychological needs required to maintain contact with clients that have a sensory loss, namely sight. I integrated the latest Psychological and Neuroscientific understandings to enable therapists to understand the means in which to deepen their relational attunement with clients, a primary tool for healing and change.
What I can help with
This robust training and experience support the holistic therapeutic environment I provide and enable me to work comprehensively with a range of psychological problems, from anxiety and depression to more complex trauma and PTSD.
I am able to offer both short and long-term counselling and psychotherapy in English and Punjabi, while my life experience ensures a deep understanding of cultural, religious, and social differences. I practice in both Peterborough and Nottingham and am situated close to their respective city centres.
Locations
Nottingham - Foxhall Business Centre, Foxhall Road, NG7 6LH (wheelchair access)
Peterborough - Suite C, 32 Thorpe Wood, Peterborough, PE3 6SR
