Charmaine Zahra

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she/her
BSc (Hons), PgDip Counselling and Psychotherapy, IFS Therapy

About me

Relational pain can be one of the hardest things to carry. Whether it’s the heartbreak of loss, the loneliness of emotional disconnection, the confusion that comes with attachment wounds, or the silent grief of family estrangement—these experiences can leave you feeling lost, overwhelmed, or unsure of who you are.

Maybe you’ve noticed yourself stuck in patterns that don’t make sense, drawn to people who aren’t good for you, or struggling to trust, connect, or feel at ease in your own skin. Perhaps you’ve already done a lot of thinking, even therapy, but something still doesn’t shift.

You’re not alone in that. And you’re not broken.

I’m a trauma-informed therapist, trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS), and I specialise in working with people who are living with the impact of relational injury. I also have lived experience of many of these struggles, so I understand them not just as a therapist, but as a human being.

Clients often tell me they feel safe, understood, and gently encouraged to go deeper in our work—at a pace that feels right for them. I bring compassion, curiosity, and a deep respect for your inner world, however tangled or unclear it might feel right now.

My Approach

I believe healing is about more than just managing symptoms or thinking your way out of pain. It’s about coming into a different kind of relationship with yourself.

The way I work goes beyond surface-level strategies. I help you explore the why beneath what you're feeling—and make space for the parts of you that might still be trying to protect you, even if they show up as anxiety, anger, procrastination, or shutting down.

Internal Family Systems (IFS) allows us to meet these parts with compassion rather than resistance. Instead of trying to fix or fight against them, we get curious. And when your inner system starts to feel understood—not judged—it begins to soften. You may find that you feel lighter, more spacious inside, less reactive, and more able to meet yourself with kindness.

Clients often describe feeling more peaceful, emotionally steady, and free to show up in their lives with clarity and confidence.

If you're feeling stuck—perhaps 'talking therapy' was not enough for you—I can support you in going deeper. And if you’re overwhelmed, exhausted, or just quietly holding a lot, we can start right there. This work is not about rushing toward a goal, but creating a space where real, lasting change can unfold.

My practice is trauma-informed and LGBT-affirming.  I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

If you're interested to hear about how this approach might work for you, we can set up an introductory call to discuss this.

Training, qualifications & experience

  • Internal Family Systems level 1 and 2 (Level 2 was focused around Addictive Processes and Disordered Eating)
  • Post-Graduate Diploma Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy 
  • BSc (Hons) Psychology 

Before becoming a therapist, I worked in business management, which helps me understand the real-life pressures that come with work stress, responsibility, and trying to juggle multiple roles. But my interest in relationships and what makes people tick eventually led me down a different path.

I retrained with a degree in psychology, which sparked a deeper curiosity about the human mind and emotions. I then worked in schools supporting children with learning differences and emotional challenges, and I taught Emotional Literacy, Social Skills, and Anger Management—experiences that shaped how I view emotional development and the ways we learn to protect ourselves.

My counselling journey began with placements at Wandsworth Bereavement Service and The Awareness Centre, where I worked with a wide range of emotional difficulties. At Wandsworth, I developed a deeper understanding of grief and loss—not just the grief that comes with death, but also the quieter, often more complicated grief that can come from family estrangement, relationship breakdowns, or a longing for connection that was never quite met.

Over time, I trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS), which profoundly changed how I see healing. IFS allows me to support clients in understanding not just what they feel, but why—and to build meaningful relationships with the parts of themselves that may be overwhelmed, shut down, or stuck in survival mode.

Today, I specialise in helping people who are navigating relational injury, loss, or intense emotional experiences—especially those who already understand their past but still feel stuck. Most of my clients come with relationship issues but have some sort of addictive process going on: comfort eating, drinking, scrolling, gambling, gaming etc.  That's why I have been taking more trainings in this area.  My approach is gentle, collaborative, and grounded in deep respect for each person’s internal world.

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

Fees

£75.00 - £85.00

Health Insurance/EAP

  • check_circle Vitality

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
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I work In Wimbledon on Tuesday morning and in Tooting on Friday morning.  The rest of the time I work online.

The Awareness Centre, 74-80 Upper Tooting Road, Tooting, London, SW17 7PB

40-44 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London, SW19 1RQ

Type of session

In person
Online

Types of client

Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)

Key details

DBS check info

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

Online platforms

Zoom