About me
Alessandra Spagnoli
MBACP Accredited Counsellor & Psychotherapist | Occupational Therapist | CBT Practitioner (University of Oxford) | UKCP Trainee | HCPC Registered
You don’t need to be in crisis to start therapy. Many people I work with appear to be coping on the outside while feeling anxious, overwhelmed, disconnected, or uncertain about the direction their lives are taking.
I offer a calm, compassionate therapeutic space where you can explore what is happening beneath the surface at your own pace. My work is grounded in Psychosynthesis psychotherapy, taking a holistic and integrative approach that considers the whole person, mind, emotions, body, and deeper sense of purpose. Alongside this depth-oriented work, I also integrate evidence-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) when helpful.
I work with adults experiencing a wide range of difficulties, including anxiety, burnout, low mood, trauma, relationship challenges, life transitions, identity questions, and neurodivergence.
My professional background spans private practice, the NHS, education, and mental health charities, giving me experience supporting people from diverse backgrounds and life circumstances.
Credentials
MBACP Accredited Counsellor & Psychotherapist
HCPC Registered Occupational Therapist
UKCP Trainee Psychotherapist
PGCert CBT – University of Oxford
PGDip Psychosynthesis Psychotherapy
MSc | MA | BSc (Hons)
Getting in touch
You’re welcome to contact me with questions or to arrange a brief initial conversation to see if working together feels right.
📞 Call / WhatsApp: +44 7306 346934
🌐 Website: https://alessandraspagnoli.com
📩 Instagram: @alesspagnoli
Training, qualifications & experience
Integrative Psychotherapy | Occupational Therapy | Multidisciplinary Practice
I am an MBACP Accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist and a HCPC Registered Occupational Therapist, with a multidisciplinary background spanning mental health services, healthcare, education, and community organisations. My work integrates psychological therapy with a holistic understanding of wellbeing, supporting individuals in navigating emotional difficulties, life transitions, and personal development.
My core therapeutic training is in Psychosynthesis Counselling and Psychotherapy, an integrative depth psychology approach that supports emotional healing while also exploring meaning, identity, and personal growth. Alongside this foundation, I integrate evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) where appropriate.
I hold postgraduate qualifications in Psychosynthesis Psychology (PGDip and MA), an MSc in Occupational Therapy, and a BSc (Hons) in Psychology. My research has explored themes including compassion, mindfulness in clinical care, and psychological well-being. I have also undertaken specialist training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy at the University of Oxford, further strengthening my clinical practice with evidence-based therapeutic approaches.
Clinical Experience
I work across several professional settings, providing psychotherapy and counselling to adults experiencing a wide range of psychological and emotional challenges, including anxiety, depression, trauma, burnout, grief, relationship difficulties, identity exploration, neurodivergence, and life transitions.
Private Practice
In my private practice, I provide integrative psychotherapy and counselling for adults, offering both short-term and long-term therapy. Sessions are available online or in person in Enfield, North London, and I also offer therapy in Portuguese for Portuguese-speaking clients.
My therapeutic approach integrates psychosynthesis psychotherapy with evidence-based interventions, supporting clients to explore emotional patterns, inner conflicts, and deeper questions of identity and purpose.
Mental Health Platforms & Insurance Providers
I work as an affiliate therapist with several organisations delivering short-term therapy and psychological support through Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) and private healthcare providers, including:
Modern Health – providing short-term counselling for workplace mental health support.
Lyra Health – delivering EAP therapy for clients across the UK and Ireland, including clinical assessments and outcome measures.
AXA Health and Bupa – providing therapy for clients accessing psychological support through private health insurance.
Charitable and Community Mental Health Services
I also provide counselling services in the charity sector, including:
East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) – providing therapeutic support for individuals connected to the hospice community, including those experiencing serious illness, caregiving challenges, anticipatory grief, and bereavement.
Psyma Mental Health Technologies – providing psychotherapy sessions primarily in Portuguese, supporting clients who prefer to access therapy in their native language.
Mind in Islington – volunteering as a counsellor within a community mental health service, supporting adults experiencing a range of psychological difficulties.
Healthcare and Occupational Therapy Experience
My background as an Occupational Therapist informs my holistic understanding of mental health and daily functioning. Through NHS and community placements I have worked with multidisciplinary teams supporting individuals with mental health conditions, physical rehabilitation needs, and learning disabilities.
These placements included work within:
West London NHS Trust – community and inpatient mental health services
Barnet Hospital (Orthopaedics) – rehabilitation and discharge planning
Whittington Hospital (Hand Therapy) – upper limb rehabilitation and functional recovery
Camden Learning Disability Services – supporting adults with learning disabilities to increase independence, sensory regulation, and participation in meaningful activities
This integrated clinical background allows me to work with clients in ways that consider psychological well-being, identity, daily functioning, and meaningful engagement in life roles.
Earlier Professional Experience
Before training as a therapist, I worked within the education sector, supporting young people with diverse learning and emotional needs in secondary schools. These roles strengthened my understanding of neurodiversity, developmental challenges, and emotional well-being in educational environments.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
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.
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
Fees
£70.00 per session
