About me
Welcome to my page. I am a warm, approachable, caring and an experienced Psychotherapist, Counsellor & Supervisor, offering you a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space. I work with Adults, Couples, Trainees & Supervisees, Families & Young people (18+).
Please ring 07976 820788 for a free 20 minute telephone consultation.
I am of Indian origin and have grown up in the UK most of my life, so English is my main language. I have experienced various life challenges between the values of my own heritage, and those I have grown up with in the UK. I therefore take a very considered and empathetic approach in understanding you and your life experiences. I will fully embrace and respect you at all times, regardless of your background. With my role as psychotherapist, counsellor and supervisor, my approach with you at all times will be to empower you to make your own decisions, and support you in making choices that lead you to living a more joyful, positive and fulfilling life; one that focuses on your wellness, success, and you having closer relationship with others.
Supervision: Are you looking for a collaborative, culturally responsive supervisor to elevate your practice?
Excellent supervision empowers you to refine your clinical skills, prevent burnout, and gain profound client insights. My relational supervision practice is driven by a deep passion for diversity, difference, and intersectionality. I provide a secure, non-judgmental space where you can bring your whole self to supervision. Together, we will safely explore how overlapping identities, power dynamics, and lived experiences influence your therapeutic relationships.
Whether you are a trainee navigating accreditation or an experienced qualified therapist deepening your practice, I am here to support you, your clinical workload and champion your professional growth.
Let’s see if we are a good fit. Contact me today on 07976820788 to schedule your free, 20-minute introductory telephone consultation.
From time to time everyone faces challenges in life and we all need some support. Reaching out for therapy, is the first step to making changes.
Psychotherapy and Counselling are medically recognised as being highly effective processes for improving mental well-being and enhancing personal growth. You have the option of making those changes and to be the person you want to be.
I offer short and long term face-to-face counselling and psychotherapy appointments in my private practice, as well as online and on telephone.
Although my main practice is based in East Sussex near Crowborough, Uckfield, East Grinstead and Forest Row, I am also about 25/30 minutes drive from Brighton, Crawley, and Haywards Heath in West Sussex.
What my clients say:
"I had no idea what to expect, but from the first session, Bena put me at ease. Throughout my journey she was nothing but encouraging, warm, accepting and absolutely professional. One of the best things about each time I met with Bena is that I could turn up exactly as I was- having had a good week, a bad week, happy or sad, with laughter or with tears- and she would meet me where I was at, and help me navigate the maze of emotions to be able to move forward." Claire
“Bena is a fantastic support in any crisis. She is super experienced and has many different counselling models that she uses to great effect. But that's not the only reason she is so brilliant. She is super supportive, a calm and wise port in a storm and she *really cares. This warmth just shines through her and has been so healing for me. With her behind me I've been able to change some deep-rooted issues and I'm so much happier as a consequence. Thank you Bena!! I'll miss you.” S - Psychotherapist.
"Before I came to see you Bena, I didn't think I would ever feel happy again. I can honestly say that I now feel the best I have ever felt, and that has largely been down to working with you. I can't thank you enough for all the help and support you have given me these past few months." A.P.
"Since coming to Counselling with Bena, my life has been getting better and better and I truly feel happy again!!! I now have more ideas and opportunities to look forward to, and a much better quality of life. Thank you for everything." Dominic.
"Bena has provided me with an incredible online therapy support for the past few months. She has helped me look at things from a different perspective, and really improved my relationships and trust in others. I am now a lot happier and less anxious than when I first began working with Bena." E.J
"Initially I was anxious of having therapy but was encouraged to see Bena by a friend. Having now finished working with her, she has exceeded every expectation I ever had. Bena is one of the kindest women I have ever met. She has offered me a safe space in which to be vulnerable, angry and upset and I felt she truly cared for my feelings on a human level, not just as a therapist. My sessions with her have impacted on my life in a way I cannot begin to put into words." J.T
“Bena, thank you so much for your continual support which has allowed me to be happier and see the world in a different light, as well as for being so accepting of who I am, and supporting me during the hardest times of my life." A-Level Student
Training, qualifications & experience
I am an experienced and fully qualified Psychotherapist (CTA-P) at a Master’s level, with postgraduate Advanced Clinical Training in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy. I am also a qualified supervisor with Diploma in Clinical Supervision, have over 10 years of psychotherapy and counselling experience, worked in various settings, and I am an accredited member of the UKCP and BACP. All my work is underpinned by the ethical framework of these professional organisations.
As well as working in my private practice, supporting clients, trainees and qualified therapists, I also hold extensive psychotherapy and counselling experience of working with young people. Additionally, I have experience of providing psychotherapy service to clients with a range of brain and head injuries, as well as working with their families and carers.
I have undertaken additional training, including Supervision, Diversity & Difference, Safeguarding Children and Young People, Attachment Disorder, Self-Harm, Trauma and Recovery, Anxiety, Substance Misuse, Personality Adaptation, and understanding individuals with acquired brain injuries and its effect on their families and caregivers. I am also proud to have been a member of the UK Association for Transactional Analysis (UKATA) Diversity and Social Responsibility Committee for several years.
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.
UKATA (formally the Institute of Transactional Analysis) is the national UK Transactional Analysis organisation representing all fields of TA theory and practice. TA can be used as an effective tool in a wide range of contexts such as: personal development, management, coaching, counselling, psychotherapy, teaching, education, parenting and more.
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.
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
Abandonment, Various Anxiety Disorders, Panic Attacks, Bullying, Cultural Identity, Divorce, Jealousy, Infidelity and Mindfulness.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£70.00 - £90.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
1:1 Supervision; Please contact me for discounted fee.
£70; individual Psychotherapy/Counselling sessions lasting 50 minutes.
£90.00; couples, family or individual sessions lasting 70 minutes.
For a free telephone consultation, please contact 07976 820788 or email: bena@armitages.org
Unfortunately, low income space is currently unavailable
Further information
Other useful information
My work is regularly supervised by a qualified and UKCP registered Supervisor.
My psychotherapy modality is Integrative TA and I use a humanistic tradition in the work that I do with all my clients. Hence my approach is ‘I am okay, you are okay’ and that we are both equal, deserve each other’s respect and accept each other as human beings, regardless of our age, gender, race, sexuality, culture and ethnicity.
English is the language I use when working with my clients, however I can also speak Gujarati if there are individuals who would prefer to communicate in Gujarati.
