Anders Carvalho

Life may feel difficult and pointless, or perhaps, you are experiencing profound loss of a loved one or of a relationship. Maybe you are struggling with depression and anxiety, loss of motivation and sense of meaninglessness. Life, by its very essence, is intertwined with pain, but suffering is a choice we make in how we respond to the pain. Our interpretation and response to these experiences fall under our control, and we possess the power to decide how to navigate through adversity - choosing whether we allow it to define us.

My role as a qualified therapist is to guide, support, and empower you on your journey to self-discovery and healing. I firmly believe that every individual is equipped with the inner strength and resources necessary to tackle life's hurdles. My goal is to assist you in uncovering these tools within you. Together, we'll step back and explore different stages of your life - your past, present, and ideas about the future - and how these experiences have shaped you. As existential philosopher Søren Kierkegaard rightly said, "Life must be understood backward, but... it must be lived forward." (Kierkegaard, 2000, p. 12).

We live in constant balance between our current reality and our interpretation of past experiences. This dualism reflects the inherent ambiguity of human existence. Searching for meaning through self-reflection requires us to revisit our past to identify patterns, gain insights, and comprehend why specific events unfolded as they did. This allows us to connect the dots that weren't evidently or consciously perceivable when the incidents occurred. While the wisdom gained from the past is invaluable, we must not forget to engage fully in our present and future. We cannot live in reverse or incessantly ruminate on what has been or what might be. We must embrace each moment, make decisions, sit with the uncertainty, and continually advance into the uncharted territory of the future.

I am an integrative counsellor with a BSc degree in Integrative Counselling and a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I work with anxiety, depression, trauma, and a broad range of issues including attachment and relationship problems, physical and sexual abuse, stress and phobias, grief and loss, self-esteem issues, workplace bullying, cultural and spiritual dilemmas, and significant life changes such as divorce or redundancy, or adjustment difficulties related to health or identity crises.

In addition to my private practice, my experience includes working at Lambeth Talking Therapies (NHS IAPT) focusing on anxiety and depression, Clinical Team leader at NHS (Lewisham & Lambeth Talking Therapies) and The Awareness Centre providing open-ended and short-term counselling.

Before beginning my career in counselling, I worked in the IT sector and have background in psychology. I am fascinated by existential givens and curious about how people define themselves through the stories they tell.

I'm here for you, ready to walk with you on your journey towards healing and self-discovery.

I offer a free 15min initial Zoom/Teams or phone call.