Cara Lester

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she/her
MBACP

About me

Are you experiencing anxiety, depression or stress, perhaps feeling isolated by shame, trauma, or societal pressures resulting in low self-esteem? I offer an affirming, compassionate space to reflect on your experiences and explore what feels meaningful or true for you. Our conversations may open space to reconnect with silenced parts of yourself, ease distress, or wonder about ways you could live more authentically despite cultural expectations.

Sessions are relational, supportive, and gently challenging, always shaped around your unique journey. I am MA-level trained in existential therapy, working with a wide range of life challenges, while also specialising in love & identity, GSRD (LGBTQIA+), body diversity, and non-monogamous relationships (ENM, open, or polyamorous). Together we’ll explore your embodied experience, deconstruct old meanings, and co-create authentic ways of living that align with what matters to you.

If you’ve ever felt unseen or misunderstood because of who you are or how you live, you are not alone. Therapy can be a space to explore these feelings and anxieties without judgment and to experience compassion and honesty. As a queer woman living with PCOS and endometriosis, I understand something of what it means to live in a body that doesn’t align with societal expectations—especially Western, cisnormative, and fatphobic ones. I carry that lived experience into the therapy room with humility and care.

Before training as a psychotherapist, I worked in the wine industry in London and Buenos Aires. I believe that all of our past experiences shape us, and mine have helped me become more attuned to life’s challenges and to connect with clients from diverse backgrounds.

I don’t believe in fixing people. I believe in witnessing them and supporting them to reconnect with the parts of themselves that have been silenced, shamed, or forgotten.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to begin.

Training, qualifications & experience

Qualifications: 

  • Certificate in Psychotherapy and Counselling - Regents University, London 2022
  • PGDip In Psychotherapy and Counselling - Regents University, London 2025
  • MA in Psychotherapy and Counselling (Existential Pathway) - Regents University, London 
  • Registered Member of British Association of Counselling and Therapy (BACP)

Specialised Training...beyond the norms:

  • Opening Up: Working with open and polyamorous relationships 
  • Pink Therapy 
  • Working with Shame in LGBTQ+ Clients 
  • Therapeutic Focusing 

Member organisations

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

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

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
Accredited Register Scheme

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.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Areas of counselling I deal with

Therapies offered

Photos & videos

Fees

Additional information

In-person: I offer an initial full in-person session for £20 to cover costs. This gives us a chance to see how it feels to work together and for you to experience the space. Ongoing fees are discussed and agreed in that first session, with payment made by card.

Online: If you would prefer online sessions, please contact me by email for more information.

I work only with self-funding clients and will always aim to agree a fee that feels manageable and sustainable for you.

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Early morning
Morning
Early afternoon
Late afternoon
Evening

Further information

I work both online and in person in London. 

17 Gosfield Street, London, Greater London, W1W 6HE

Borough House Rooms, 78-80 Borough High Street, London, Greater London, SE1 1LL

Type of session

In person
Online

Types of client

Adults (25-64)
Couples

Key details

DBS check

In England and Wales, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS, formerly known as CRB) carry out criminal records checks for individuals working with vulnerable groups, such as children. To find out more, visit gov.uk , or contact this professional directly

Additional languages

Spanish

Online platforms

Zoom
Google Meet
Microsoft Teams

Social