Amana van Staden

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MSc, Psychotherapist & Somatic Experiencing

About me

My personal experiences took me on an extensive journey of self-discovery, ultimately leading to a complete overhaul of my life. I was adamant to break the cycle of generational trauma and to find a better path for myself. Personal psychotherapy was central to understanding and working through my own development and emotional world; also, the experience of ‘being a client’ allowed me to understand the experience of psychotherapy from both perspectives. However, following several years of psychotherapy I couldn’t help feeling like something was still missing, and it related to my body, which, up to that point, felt excluded from the therapeutic process. Although talking therapy brought me much understanding and allowed me to tell my story and for it to be heard and contained by another, which I believe is very important, I still suffered from debilitating chronic pain, which I had struggled with since adolescence. I knew instinctively that it was caused by psychological factors and that was when I came across Somatic Experiencing, a body-centred therapy developed by Dr Peter Levine for the healing of trauma (read more on my website). This work was so transformative that I decided to embark on an additional 3-year training programme to become a qualified SE practitioner. This has illuminated and transformed how I treat and approach trauma work. 

In an earlier career, I led an EMEA business function for a global technology company. Working in a corporate environment gave me a first-hand experience of the pressures of corporate culture and the personal and group challenges that can arise within such a system. After retraining, I gained an MSc in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy from the University of London. This was a rigorous clinical, experiential, and academic training, during which I had the opportunity to work alongside the counselling team at Kings College, London. Since completing training, I set up a private practice in Bloomsbury, London, where I worked until relocating to East Sussex. I now work in-person from the Wellington Centre in Hastings, East Sussex, and online internationally.

In addition to this, I have over twenty years of experience as a meditation practitioner and teacher. There is the option to incorporate mindfulness meditation into therapy work, which some clients find helpful.

My approach is one of deeply listening to what you bring. I offer gentle and caring support coupled with a belief in your inherent ability to heal. I incorporate both psychotherapy and Somatic Experiencing to address mental health issues and symptoms.

How I work:

I usually meet clients once per week. I generally work on a long-term, open-ended way, but can also see clients on a short-term basis, in which case the work tends to be more focused and directive. 

If you are interested in working with me then I start by having a brief telephone conversation with you. This is for you to tell me a bit more about what is going on for you. It also gives me an opportunity to ask a few questions and to talk more about the way I work. If after the call you would like to move forward then we will agree on a time for an initial session, which will also allow us to determine if we would like to continue working together on a regular basis.
 

Training, qualifications & experience

Post Graduate Training:

  • 2010 to 2015 - MSc Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and Group Dynamics, Birkbeck, University of London
  • 2023 - 2025 - Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, European Association for Somatic Experiencing, London
  • 2016 - Certified Premium Mindfulness Teacher Training, Teach Mindfulness, London

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

Areas of counselling I deal with

Other areas of counselling I deal with

  • Somatic Experiencing
  • Clinical Supervision for trainee and qualified therapists
  • Trauma - including episodic, developmental, and transgenerational 
  • Preverbal/ birth trauma
  • Psychosomatic conditions/ chronic pain 
  • Mother/ father - birth story processing
  • New parent mental health 
  • Conscious parenting
  • Perimenopause and monopause informed
  • LGBTQIA2S+ informed
  • Psychosexual
  • Organisational dynamics
  • Mindfulness Meditation
  • Geriatrics, including reoccurring falls

Therapies offered

Photos & videos

When I work

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Further information

Professional Affiliations:

  • Registered and accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
  • Registered member of the Somatic Experiencing Association UK (SEAUK)
  • Insurance includes Personal Indemnity and Public Liability
  • Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Certificate
  • Registered with the Information Commissioner's Office
  • Mindfulness Meditation training accredited by the Society of Holistic Therapists and Coaches

I abide by the code and ethics of these organisations.

44 Wellington Square, Hastings, East Sussex, TN35 4PH

Type of session

In person
Online

Types of client

Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Couples
Groups
Organisations

Key details

DBS check info

In England and Wales, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS, formerly known as CRB) carry out criminal records checks for individuals working with vulnerable groups, such as children. To find out more, visit gov.uk , or contact this professional directly

Unfortunately the premises where I work in-person is not wheelchair accessible, however, I do also offer sessions online.

Online platforms

Microsoft Teams

Social

Amana van Staden
Amana van Staden