Bhavna Raithatha

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Deciding to seek counselling or coaching can be a difficult, sometimes anxiety provoking experience. You may have heard about other people's experiences and may be affected by this. Accessing support is a very personal choice, it is about dealing with what may going on in your life right now, depression, a sudden crisis, relationship issues, bereavement, low self esteem or issues at work, for example or what may have happened in the past, issues which may be making life difficult to manage in the here and now.  The global COVID pandemic has exacerbated all of these issues and more. Therefore, it is important to find a compassionate therapist or coach that you feel comfortable and safe with and who has the expert skills, knowledge, extensive experience and empathic presence to support you immediately and dynamically.

A Little About Me:

My name is Bhavna, thank you for visiting this page. I am an experienced, qualified, BACP accredited counsellor with 28 years+ years clinical experience in providing short, medium and long-term therapy via telephone and Zoom.

I provide inclusive and affirming therapy for marginalised communities including LGBTQIAA+ individuals. I also provide personalised coaching and support packages to clients at all levels in the corporate, private and voluntary sectors.

Immediate telephone and face to face (video) appointments are available, please feel free to get in touch.

What Happens In Counselling and Coaching Sessions?

When you choose to have counselling or coaching with me, we will begin by exploring what your needs and expectations are from counselling or coaching at our first meeting - this enables us both to be sure that we can work powerfully and fruitfully together.

Counselling is NOT about giving advice, instead, I see it as YOUR time and space to explore what YOU want or need to, in order to live a full and joy-filled life. To this end, I will be led by you, but will respectfully and gently challenge you to be your greatest possible Self by offering proven tools and strategies to explore your mindset.

Coaching follows the same route of contact, exploration and agreement to follow a tailor-made package to enhance your connection, capacity and success in your life and work. This deals with more immediate and practical issues in your professional and personal life with quicker results, but is not a substitute for therapy. Please be aware of inexperienced and unqualified coaches making wild promises. Growth is a process, it isn't available in instant cans.

Getting Started:

When you decide you might like to work with me, please get in touch by email or telephone to book an initial appointment. We will then meet online or speak on the phone as agreed for a 50 minute session - this appointment / consultation will allow us to get to know a little bit about each other. 

Coaching sessions last 60 minutes and again, the first session is about what your specific needs are to support your growth and development in your life and industry. You can tell me what brought you to seek counselling or coaching at this point in your life, what you would like to get out of working with me (it is quite alright to not know this immediately!) and ask any questions you have. 

After the initial session, we simply book another counselling appointment (or enrol you in a coaching package) and continue from there. There are no set number of sessions with counselling, you decide how deeply you want to explore your journey and feelings, when you feel ready to stop and we will work towards that! Most people invest in 12-20 sessions on average. 

A Little Background:

I have been counselling and coaching for over 28 years and have been privileged to work with clients globally, of all ages between 11 to 92, presenting with a host of issues from day to day emotional and mental health issues, anxiety, depression, relationships, affairs, sexuality, PTSD (general and post war), panic, trauma and bereavement. I have worked with leaders in business to enhance their mindset, remove blockages, increase confidence, connections, communication and relationships in and out of work. I am particularly keen to work with female leaders around the world, especially from the BAME community.

I am comfortable working with short, medium and long term sessions and my approach will be tailored to your presenting needs. This means I will be open and flexible in my response to what you bring to our sessions. Some people choose to work on a single issue over a period of time, whilst others will want to explore more.

Your availability, budget and willingness to invest and engage in the counselling relationship will dictate what you get out of it. My role is to provide you with a safe, respectful and non-judgemental environment in which you can be your complete self. I value and am open to ongoing feedback during our work so that we can both 'course correct' our work and ensure it is always meeting your expectations within reason.

Ongoing research and investigation of new approaches to therapy and best practice in the coaching world form a significant part of my private practice, reflections and inform my work. I strongly believe in empowering my clients with effective and practical 'tools' to explore and use in their journey so that they will know how to respond if an issue recurs in the future. To this end, there will be times when you will be offered techniques to explore and books to read, to aid in your own healing process with ongoing support and joint evaluation throughout our work together.

I am particularly interested in offering safe and affirmative counselling and coaching support to the BAME LGBTQ community as there is very little support for this community in the UK. There is little I have not heard of or worked with, so please be assured that I will not be shocked by anything you say nor judge you in any way. If for any reason we cannot work together, I will be happy to help you find other suitable support.

I am an experience professional, published writer in Mental Health (for Happiful Magazine no less!) and am regularly invited to speaking events in Motivation, Mindset, Courage and talk about my Coming Out journey as an Indian Lesbian woman to ERGs and Organisations to help DEI and inform employee wellness.

Here are some comments from previous clients (with their permission and in their words)

No words can express how grateful I am to have had such a wonderful councillor. Bhavna has helped me find my inner warrior, her advice and listening ear is what we all need in times of need.  I have found my voice and I am now able to articulate and assert myself.  I would recommend Bhavna to anyone who needs a gentle voice to help guide them towards a realistic and peaceful resolution.  Thank you Bhavna for all of your help, I will always remember you! SG

I find it hard to ask for or receive help, you are my one exception. I was bullied into therapy by my partner and the therapists I worked with weren't pleasant. One woman wanted me to get better immediately and got angry with me when I didn't get any better after a couple of weeks. I left and then tried again a few times over coming years with different people. Each time I left therapy, things got worse in my life and I realised I had to do something.

I spent a LOT of time researching you and reading your profile you ticked all the boxes and a few more. You were above and beyond all the others I read about and I felt that you also had a lot of life experiences so you would understand me and more importantly, you would be able to help me. You also wrote that you work compassionately with people and I really needed that and that is what I have experienced with you. I'm so glad you were local but even if you had been in Exeter, I would have travelled there to see you. B

I'm glad that I met you and started this therapeutic relationship journey because you are my only point of contact to talk everything through with. This is not something I would talk to my family or friends about. It's a good fit and I really appreciate the things you say. I don't always agree but I know that is OK! J 

Talking to a perfect stranger about myself was not easy initially but I realised very quickly that this agency really does believe that to Just Be Yourself is the way forward. My therapist's warm and gentle presence gave me the confidence to be myself; I felt comfortable and relaxed and did not feel I was being judged, rather, I was being encouraged to express my innermost thoughts and feelings in a place of safety. I would highly recommend this agency to anyone who needs help to move forward. RM

Bhavna is a warm, sincere and empathetic counsellor and person and I would highly recommend her. She made me feel like I didn't have to struggle alone and that I am at all times allowed to be myself and tend to my needs at my own pace. She made me feel like I am not crazy and actually a valuable person, who had very rational reasons for the difficulties I was going through and helped me with my mindset to get through them. while remaining sensitive to my personal style and interests. O. London

Professional and productive counselling that allows you to work through and explore issues at your own pace. Bhavna is fabulous and positive. This is the first counselling experience I've had that helps you make real progress and move life forward. I recommend Bhavna highly.  Jay. South West

My first meeting with Bhavna was when I was a student of Counselling & Psychology. I am in no doubt Bhavna’s subject knowledge, academic approach and insight contributed to my own BSc 1st Class Hons Degree. I was so impressed with Bhavna’s skills I subsequently requested her supervision. Just Be Yourself Counselling Practice offered me a confidential, non-judgemental, emphatic and respectful environment which allowed me to both accurately consider my own experiences whilst also facilitating personal and professional development. Should your concerns be historic or current, be as a result of life events or associated with poor mental health Just Be Yourself Counselling will facilitate a programme tailor made for you to talk and reflect freely in a warm and secure environment. Chris Shepherd - Coordinator – The Sanctuary - Self Help Services. www.selfhelpservices.org.uk

Bhavna has been an excellent support through a difficult period for me. She came highly recommended to me by a friend who was suffering a bereavement and relationship break up. I contacted her after a divorce and her absolute warmth and wisdom, really helped me to turn a corner. She is very open-minded and gently but firmly offers her support. I very much recommend you give her a try. Name Witheld, London

I was reluctant about the sessions, it made me feel weak... frightened of sounding silly. I feel you've really understood me, you've made it very easy, you've been gentle and understanding. S. London

You have helped me immensely and helped me see that I do have choices and that I can value myself and hold others accountable. I am not going to put up with things any longer without saying something. I couldn't have done this without you, I can't thank you enough! L. Cornwall

Hi Bhavna, I recently underwent your help via my company EAP services. I really just wanted to express my sincerest gratitude for you personal help. I have had counselling previously supported by my work Organization, although I really would like to make it very clear. Your personal help was above & beyond. You really helped me in such a positive way & had previously given up hope with counselling. You answered so many off my questions & taught me new techniques in such a way that I feel confident moving on with my life, relaxed and happy to seek more help when needed & not suffering in silence. In fact ur personal service to me was so good I requested more counselling sessions & specifically requested you to carry on with them. Thank you again Bhavna & god bless. B. Cornwall

Bhavna helped me at a time when I was extremely low and unhappy with my job. She helped and also taught me skills in which I use when times get rough and have also suggested to other people. This woman is God send!!!!! C. Midlands

Bhavna was able to help me prioritise and see the value in focussing on my self. Making time for me and my personal development, giving me the headspace to just 'be' rather than always 'doing' and recognising that life is hard and can't be controlled - but that what I can control is my reaction to it. Making sure I provide the head room for myself to be able to manage my 'in the moment' reactions in a calmer, positive way. Bhavna helped me to realise that life is a continual journey of learning and adapting. There isn't a quick fix (I wish there was!) but there are definite things that can be done to continually improve my mindset and mental well being - and it started with me. Thank you for showing me the way and helping me to start my journey Bhavna.  D. London

I was going through an incredibly difficult time with the recent loss of my father & rapid decline of my mother. Bhavna was amazing at helping guide me through the plethora of emotions I was going through & having difficulty controlling. Bhavna was very professional, caring and compassionate in her approach in the months I was a client of hers and helped me get back on track with my emotions and help me be able to function again. Thank you so much again for all your help & all I was dealing with. M. 

I am so glad I was able to work with Bhavna and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her. She is warm, empathic and highly skilled. She gently challenged my thinking and just a few sessions with her made a huge impact! T. London

Bhavna is caring, diligent and highly professional. Bhavna is also very personable and easily approachable and always goes the extra mile to assist her clients with their needs. Highly skilled in many disciplines of therapy and coaching I cannot recommend her enough. A. London

I have extensive experience with:

• short term clinical contracts
• employment related issues
• colleague relations,
• confidence,
• work/life balance,
• self care,
• avoiding burnout,
• telephone and on-line counselling provision
• specific issues experienced by the LGBTQ community

I have worked with national and international EAP providers with brief contracts and have provided Critical Incident debriefing across London and the South-West.

My fees:

Counselling sessions (including the initial assessment) is 50 minutes long for individuals

Daytime Mon- Thurs: 11.00 - 17.00 - 

Individual Therapy Session (50 Mins) from: £175
Couples Therapy Session (60 Mins) drom:£225
Clinical Supervision (60 Mins) from:£150

Coaching Packages are individually tailored and priced (from £400). Please visit my website and get in touch to book an initial consultation.

I do offer some lower cost sessions to make counselling accessible for as many as possible - please email me for availability. Evidence will be required.

To book an appointment, you can email me. For further details of all my professional services please do visit my website: www.justbeyourself.co.uk

Local, National and International Clients

For local, national and international clients, I specialise in offering telephone counselling and also work on-line via Zoom. In addition to the UK, I currently have clients around the world, including Australia, Mali, Uganda, Gibraltar, France, New York, Canada and Italy! For the sake of clarity, we will book sessions in GMT and clients would call me at our agreed time. Please note missed sessions are charged for in full.