Anna Kyriacou

I am a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor and Clinical Supervisor. I have over 13 years of experience practicing in this field and I am accredited with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.  

If you are seeking therapy you might be looking for a space to explore current or past struggles or aspects of yourself that you feel are holding you back or impacting on your relationships; whether that be family issues, personal relationships or friendships.  You might be experiencing low self-worth and want to make sense of why this is occurring.  Or you may have a sense of how your difficulties began and you want to offer yourself the opportunity to understand them more fully and how they impact on your daily life. You may be struggling to pursue your hopes and desires and need some space to explore why that is.  Or you might recognise that you don’t find it easy to receive support and you have a sense that doing so, could be what is needed.

In my clinical experience, counselling can provide a space to gain a better understanding of the deeper reasons why we think and behave in particular ways.  Developing this type of awareness has the potential to provide us with a sense of autonomy and feeling at home with ourselves. It can play a big part in developing healthy relationships and a healthier relationship towards ourselves. 

My Experience and Approach.

My core training is Psychodynamic, however I take an Integrative approach.  This means that my work is informed by various trainings, which in addition to the Psychodynamic approach include, Person-Centred Counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (a year-long training) and Art Psychotherapy (a year-long foundation training) which enables me to draw on a wealth of knowledge and experience. I work predominantly as a talking therapist however, there may be times when using art/creativity as a therapeutic tool might be useful if that suits you. I offer both short-term and long-term therapy, face to face and remote sessions depending on what is required.  I have worked with young people (18+) and adults of all ages in the charity sector, in private practice and at the University of Sussex where I worked for 8 years. There, I provided counselling to students and clinical supervision to trainee and qualified counsellors.  Within all these roles, I have worked with people from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures, with a diverse range of experiences.

As well as the approaches I have mentioned above, my work is also informed by Body Psychotherapy/Sensorymotor Psychotherapy and Neuroscience. This could mean that during sessions I might ask what you are noticing in your body whilst you are talking about aspects of your experience. This can help work through emotional or traumatic experiences and help you acknowledge feelings and sensations in your body that you might not ordinarily take notice of; this can support the development of another layer of self-awareness. 

I have worked with a wide range of difficulties (and this is not an exhaustive list) including anxiety (various types), depression, relationship issues, bereavement, loss, trauma/relational trauma, CPTSD, panic attacks, low self-esteem, stress, intrusive thoughts, chronic conditions and work-related issues. 

Starting Therapy

I understand that beginning therapy can feel a bit daunting, so it might be helpful to know that I aim to provide a safe, non judgmental and empathic environment. If you are considering working with me I suggest an initial consultation to help you decide if you would like to continue having counselling with me. If you are interested in working in-person, my practice is based in Brighton.  

Supervision

As a Clinical Supervisor I have worked with both Psychodynamic and Integrative therapists. I have supervised trainees, qualified and experienced practitioners and have supported them throughout their training and accreditation. Having worked with a lot of trainees I believe that I have a good understanding of the struggles and frustrations that can emerge from a training program and I endeavour to help trainees to work through their difficulties and de-mystify some of the complex theories and concepts that a training often presents. I also understand that these concerns can often follow a therapist beyond their training and impact on their confidence as a qualified therapist. I aim to help practitioners overcome these difficulties and support them in developing their own style of working.