Anna Bulgakova

Individual psychotherapy and counselling

Relationship counselling

Clinical supervision for counsellors and psychotherapists, including trainees.

A little more .....

All life is about being 'in relationship', whether with other people or our environment. This is true for psychotherapy too - my style is informal and relational, sometimes there may be tears,  but sometimes joy. I use all my trainings to work with you in the most appropriate way, so how we work is totally unique to you and what is important for you to resolve. We will work through issues from the past or what is happening currently - but with a firm focus on helping you grow and develop in the future.  

I hold an MSc in Integrative Psychotherapy and am a professionally registered Psychotherapist (UKCP). I hold current registrations as a nurse (mental health and general) and I also have a BSc in Social Work.

I have been a practising psychotherapist for over ten years, both within the NHS and in private practice. I work with individuals, couples and family groups. Whilst this has primarily been face-to-face, I have also worked with clients online for over six years, with clients based throughout Europe and the UK. Clients always chose the format they feel works for them.

I run an 'ethical practice' and try to make my service accessible to everyone, operating a sliding scale fee rate, based on income.

Code of Ethics

I abide by the code of ethics of my registering organisations

I am registered with the UKCP (Humanistic and Integrative College)

I am also registered with the NMC as a Mental Health and General Nurse

What is an Integrative Psychotherapist?

Humanistic and integrative psychotherapists believe in their client’s ability to take responsibility for themselves and their choices, and their capacity to fulfil their talents. The psychotherapist works with the client to realise these potentials.

Humanistic and integrative psychotherapists take into consideration how the external world affects the client, and will explore the significance of social, cultural and political experience.

Humanistic and integrative psychotherapy is available in a range of settings in the public, private and voluntary sectors and benefits individuals, couples, children, families, groups and organisations.

Experience

• In private practice for over 10 years
• 20+ years as a clinician within the NHS and other statutory settings
• Trained to MSc level in Psychotherapy
• Extensive Continuing Professional Development
• Decades of working with individuals, families and relationships.
• Many years of working online with clients.

Extensive Supervision of Clinicians (psychotherapists, psychologists, doctors, social workers, various medical therapists) within private and statutory settings.

Specialist expertise for Individuals:

• Anxiety
• Generalised Anxiety Disorder
• Stress Reduction
• Trauma
• PTSD/CPTSD
• Attachment Issues, current and historic
• Depression
• Self Harm (any kind)
• Autistic Spectrum Disorders 
• Abandonment
• ADHD
• Dependencies/Addiction 

Couples Work

• Working with couples, helping them stay together
• Recovery from betrayal - rebuilding trust
• Working with couples to help them co-parent if separating
• Working towards an expanded relationship (non-monogamy).

What I can offer you

The basis of all good therapy is in the relationship and building trust.

Whenever someone is seeking either psychotherapy or counselling, there is often a background of pain, disharmony and a feeling of being lost or alone with your difficulties.

I can offer you, not only a 'safe' home for your emotional and relational challenges but also someone who has significant experience of working with people facing the most incredible distress, 'aloneness' and confusion in their life. All problems are unique and each path to your own safe place is different. I will honour your unique history and your support your personal and relational growth.

So, to sum up, I can offer you a safe environment, someone who will work with you in a gentle but sometimes challenging way, who will listen and who will question. I am not a 'blank wall' therapist, who will leave long silences (although some silence is useful). I will learn as much from you as you will from me. That is the nature of therapy and healing.

Where I work

I work in person and online (dependent on days/times/availability)

All locations have easy parking and are near transport links.

Intensive sessions are available to couples (normally over the weekend), particularly where a regular commitment to therapy is difficult because of work. This is a London/South West service.

Individual Psychotherapy and Counselling

I offer individual sessions that usually run for 50 minutes. I also offer extended sessions of 100 minutes, which can be particularly useful, if you are in crisis. Sessions are weekly or twice weekly. I offer psychotherapy, counselling, somatic and behavioural/narrative interventions.

Psychotherapy is a longer-term commitment to understanding oneself, our relationship(s) with others, which can support in-depth understanding and huge potential for lasting change... Psychotherapy is particularly useful for more complex issues, such as complex trauma, early attachment issues, dissociation and dealing with long term concerns including issues of sexuality.  I have several clients who I have been with me for several years. However, I also work with clients on specific issues - such as anger and anxiety.

Counselling is a shorter-term commitment and is better suited to a single problem with a clear objective. I am trained to offer brief and time-limited interventions. Counselling is normally lasts for a minimum of 12 weeks.

Behavioural Interventions are particularly useful for low to moderate anxiety and phobias. I have been trained in different modalities to work in this area and have practised behavioural techniques over many years. Some interventions may require work within your home setting or other locations, particularly when working with phobias.

The more widely recognised of these is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is a NICE recommended intervention for mild anxiety and depression. This treatment focuses on understanding what may be 'triggering' your problems and working on strategies to overcome these. This approach requires a commitment to 'homework' and practising the interventions. I have a certificate in CBT from UWE.

Couples Therapy

If you are hoping to improve your relationship Couples Counselling can help you both move past traumas and patterns of behaviour which are getting in the way of relational growth. I always work with couples individually alongside joint work. This works well, as it allows space for each person in the relationship to explore issues privately before sharing and communicating these in a way that is safe, improving communication and sharing.

Couples work is based on the research of the Gottman Institute. Whilst there are many symptoms of a relationship falling apart, the root causes are often based in what Gottman describes as the '4 Horsemen of the Apocolypse'. Criticism, Contempt, Stonewalling and Defence. Even in the best relationships, there are arguments, but like in therapy, when there is a rupture (or falling out), it is how the repair happens which is crucially important.

We often bring baggage from our childhood or other relationships and that is why I also include a broader theoretical framework, when working with the individuals in the relationship. For this work from a theoretical base of intersubjective or contextual phenomenology, understanding the relationship in the wider context. I  incorporate an understanding of how childhood attachment and development can impact who we are in relationships. This is a formidable combination as it opens up areas of our being together which are often overlooked in the busyness of life. However, there is also a focus on re-attaching or re-coupling, as this is often lost in relationships where there are pressures or trust issues. It is a chance to reinvigorate and bring joy back into your lives.

I offer weekend intensive sessions over Saturday and Sundays for five hours each day. These can be arranged in various, mutually convenient locations. If you are interested in this style of working, please let me know.

Contract

Contracts can be time-limited or arranged as open-ended with review periods, usually every 6 months (although in reality, this often explored in sessions).

We will arrange a mutually convenient day and time which is yours until arranged otherwise, although I do try to offer some flexibility where possible to meet work and personal requirements.

I have a specific interest in transgenerational trauma, born out of having a parent who was a refugee from Eastern Europe, following the genocides carried out by various invading nations. 

I also have a specific interest in relationship issues and areas of family life where violence or abuse may have been experienced.

Family history and relationships as adults are often intertwined with attachment disorders and ability to relate later in life. This can lead to difficulties within long term committed relationships. I work with couples both as individuals and as a couple, working on resolving difficulties and increasing intimacy on all levels.

In addition to these issues, I also work extensively with people who are neurodiverse or who have neurological/cognitive challenges. 

All fees are based on individual circumstances. I have a set fee structure which will be provided after the initial telephone consultation.

When couples want intensive weekend work or retreats that include couple work, this is negotiated separately, depending on your choice of venue.

I offer a free telephone consultation - a minimum of 15 minutes, often longer, where we find out about each other.

Individual and Couple sessions are the same cost and same length

If you are facing financial difficulties or feel you are unable to afford the fees please do talk to me. To reassure those who fear financial difficulties, I always try to accommodate changing financial circumstances.

I have two very low-cost sessions per week for carers and those on benefits.

I offer online emergency sessions as required. 

I have extensive career experience working with mental health challenges, physical health problems within both health and social care environments. I have had a private practice for many years, working with clients both long term and short term. My way of working, is holistic, bringing in all my professional training. My practice is inclusive and I work with clients from all cultures, socio-economic backgrounds and gender.

I have a strong interest in transgenerational trauma, lived trauma and attachment issues. In particular, how these impact our relationship with other people. I am also interested in and work with bodily held responses that trigger our thoughts and behaviours. My work with you will be mindful of this inter-play and I will support you to manage these bodily held anxieties and responses. 

For people who have specific phobias, which restrict your lifestyle choices, I will work with you in the most relevant setting, including your home.

My work with couples is heavily informed by the Gottman Institute which is the only couples therapy which is based in ongoing research. I hope to support couples to remain together (in whatever way that looks like) but also support people in separating without acrimony. I believe that where children are involved, they have to be the priority and I'll help to separate couples devise ways of co-parenting effectively.

If you have any queries or just want to make further enquiries, please do call me on 0117 325 2694 or via my website.