About me
Healing takes courage — and we all have courage, even if we have to dig deep to find it.
There are times in life when we feel overwhelmed, anxious, low in mood, or simply unable to cope. You may be struggling with grief, trauma, relationship difficulties, stress, or feeling stuck and unsure how to move forward. Reaching out for support can feel difficult, but it can also be the first step towards meaningful change.
I offer a safe, confidential, and non-judgemental space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings at your own pace. Therapy provides the opportunity to better understand yourself, recognise patterns that may be affecting your wellbeing, and begin to make sense of both past experiences and present challenges.
When emotions are not processed, they can show up in many ways — anxiety, depression, anger, panic attacks, physical symptoms, or unhelpful coping strategies such as addiction or destructive relationship patterns. Together, we can gently explore what may be happening for you and work towards greater clarity, resilience, and self-awareness.
As an integrative psychotherapist, I draw on a range of approaches to suit your individual needs. I work relationally and believe that a trusting therapeutic relationship is central to effective therapy. My approach is supportive, exploratory, and empowering, helping you to develop deeper understanding and the confidence to move forward.
I offer both short-term (4–6 sessions) and longer-term therapy, depending on your needs. We will regularly review our work together, with no fixed contract — only your commitment to the process.
Student Counsellors and Psychotherapists:
I also provide personal therapy for students in training. Having completed the training myself, I understand the professional and personal demands involved and offer a supportive space for your development.
Testimonials
Please find below a selection of testimonials from past clients. You can read more on my website: www.bahareh.co.uk
"A Kindred spirit is a term that I think we’ve all heard before, and one that I feel truly applies to Bahareh. I have refrained from saying that I feel that she is my kindred spirit, because specifying it to me, would do a disservice to both her skill as a therapist and depth as a person. Bahareh has been blessed with the unique gift of true and authentic empathy, in turn she has the ability to be/ is a kindred spirit for all those that she helps. Bahareh has helped me process the breakdown of my familial unit, my personal development and ultimately grief and loss, and at each step, her nuanced insights, candour and kindness have both alleviated my troubles and pushed my development. I cannot recommend her enough as a professional, and feel blessed to now count her as a friend.” - A.T.
"Dr Bahareh is both gentle and firm, kind and charismatic. When I needed to be held, she held me, when I needed to grieve and mourn, she held the space, when I got angry, she was able to handle it without a flinch and when I needed someone to push me forward with strength, she was right there, every step of the way. She believed in me and believed that I can change my life. It took a little while but I did it. I don't know if she is a psychotherapist, a coach, a witch, an Angel, a friend or simply someone with immense empathy and strength who clearly cares about you. All I can say is that she has helped me put my life back together, after years of addiction, toxic relationships, relentless people pleasing and hopelessness and helplessness. I can't tell you how different of a person I am today, with her help and her support. I can't recommend her enough to be honest." - B.J.
"I worked with Dr Bahareh Haghighat-Khah for two years, during a very vulnerable and transformative period of my life. From the beginning, I felt seen and understood in a way that allowed me to explore parts of myself I had never been able to approach before. Her presence was steady, compassionate and deeply grounded, and she created a space where I felt genuinely safe to be honest, emotional and imperfect. Our work together helped me understand long-standing patterns, heal emotional wounds, and gradually build a stronger sense of inner stability. She has a rare combination of warmth, insight and professionalism, and her ability to hold difficult emotions without judgement was invaluable to me. Looking back, I can say that my time in therapy with her was a cornerstone of my emotional growth. I am deeply grateful for the depth, patience and care she brought into every session."- O.R.
"I can honestly say that working with Dr. Bahareh has been a transformative experience. Over the years, I’ve worked with seven different therapists, but none have understood and connected with me the way she has. From the very first session, I felt heard, respected, and supported in a way that I hadn’t experienced before. What stands out most about Dr. Bahareh is her gentle, compassionate approach. She creates a safe space where I feel comfortable opening up about my past—especially the childhood traumas and abuse I’ve struggled to process for years. Her ability to help me confront and heal from these painful experiences has been nothing short of remarkable.
People around me have noticed a significant shift in me: I’m in a much healthier place, mentally and emotionally. It’s not just the big breakthroughs, but the little things too—like the way she listens with such care, offers insightful guidance, and helps me see my own strength. Her positive energy is contagious, and I always leave our sessions feeling more at peace. I’m truly grateful for the progress I’ve made with Dr. Bahareh’s support. She has helped me more than I ever expected, and I’m in a much better place because of her work. I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone seeking a therapist who truly understands and can help facilitate deep healing." - S.M.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualification
PsychD – Doctor of Psychology in Psychotherapy & Counselling
MSc in Psychotherapy & Counselling
Postgraduate Diploma & Certificate in Psychotherapy & Counselling
BSc (Hons) in Psychology
Specialist Training Includes
Addiction and substance misuse
Domestic violence and trauma
PTSD and psychophysiology of trauma
Working with families, carers, and sexual minorities
CBT and Pesso Boyden System Psychomotor Therapy
Group facilitation and mental health awareness
Experience
I have over 20 years’ experience in the field of psychology, specialising in relational dynamics, addiction, and family systems. My work also includes psychosomatic disorders, physical symptoms, and the connection between emotional and bodily experiences.
I have particular experience working with childhood trauma, relationship difficulties, depression, anxiety, substance misuse, eating disorders, domestic violence, and the impact of addiction on families.
I work with a wide range of presenting issues, including past and present abuse, trauma, and general mental health concerns. If you are unsure whether I can support you with your specific situation, please feel free to get in touch. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
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.
The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Identity and self-discovery
Loss and bereavement (including separation, divorce, and pet loss)
Relationships and relationship breakdowns
Social anxiety
Childhood abuse and trauma
War-related trauma
Cultural adjustment and related issues
Self-esteem and confidence challenges
Pain management
Therapies offered
Fees
£90.00 - £120.00
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Preliminary Telephone Consultation – Free (20 minutes)
Initial Assessment – £100 (60–70 minutes)
Follow-Up Consultation – £90–£120 (50 minutes)
Fees are flexible and can be negotiated based on income, self-pay, or insurance arrangements.
Session Frequency:
Sessions can be scheduled weekly, fortnightly, or on an ad hoc basis, depending on your needs and availability.
Initial Session:
The first session provides a safe space to explore what has brought you to therapy. We will discuss your current concerns, relevant past experiences, and consider how therapy can support you. This session is also an opportunity to ask questions and create a plan for moving forward. You are welcome to call me beforehand for a confidential discussion about how I can support you.
Payment:
Fees are payable by cash or bank transfer.
Professional Standards:
All psychotherapeutic practice is conducted in line with UKCP membership requirements. I receive regular professional supervision and adhere to the ethical principles of the UKCP.
For more information on psychotherapy and ethical practice, visit: UKCP Ethical Principles.
http://www.ukcp.org.uk/16/information/what-is-psychotherapy/ethical-principles-and-code-of-professional-conduct
Further information
Memberships
- Accredited member of United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
- Member of The Universities Psychotherapy and Counselling Association (UPCA) which is an Institutional member of United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
