About me
I see you, your story, your survival strategies, your values, and the meaning behind the way you have learned to protect yourself. Before I see your symptoms.
Hello, I’m Chris Espinelli, a Qualified Integrative Counsellor, MBACP, and Level 5 CBT Therapist.
I believe therapy begins with seeing the person before seeing the symptoms, the diagnosis, or the struggle. You are not simply “an anxious person”, “a people-pleaser”, “too sensitive”, “too emotional”, or “difficult”. Very often, the ways we think, feel, respond, protect ourselves, avoid conflict, overgiven, shut down, or become overwhelmed are connected to what we have lived through.
My approach is trauma-informed, integrative, neuroaffirming and faith-affirming. This means I work with the whole person: your life story, your nervous system, your relationships, your thoughts, your emotions, your culture, your values, your identity, and, when important to you, your faith.
Many women come to me feeling exhausted, confused, emotionally overwhelmed or disconnected from themselves. Some have experienced relational trauma, abusive or controlling dynamics, domestic abuse, divorce, grief, low self-esteem, anxiety, PTSD, C-PTSD, religious OCD, OCD, people-pleasing, difficulty setting boundaries, anger, emotional dysregulation, or a deep fear of disapproval.
I do not see you as a problem to be fixed. I see you as a person who has adapted, survived, protected herself and done the best she could with the emotional tools, experiences and circumstances available to her at the time. Therapy can offer a safe space to understand those patterns, create a new narrative, and begin responding to life from a place of more self-awareness, self-compassion and choice.
My style is warm, grounded and non-judgemental. I can also be clear, structured and gently challenging when needed. If you are looking for a therapist who will listen deeply, but also help you recognise the beliefs, fears and habits keeping you stuck in the same emotional cycles, you may feel at home here.
As an integrative counsellor and CBT-informed therapist, I blend emotional depth with practical tools. Together, we can explore what is happening emotionally, cognitively, relationally and behaviourally, while also developing a clear plan to move forward step by step, at your pace, with structure and compassion.
I also bring lived experience to my work. As a neurodivergent therapist with lifelong ADHD, I understand both professionally and personally how attention, motivation, emotional regulation, rejection sensitivity and self-esteem can affect daily life. My practice is neuroaffirming, which means I do not see neurodivergence as something to “correct”, but as an important part of how a person experiences, processes and relates to the world.
Faith is also an important pillar in my own life, and I understand how deeply values, spirituality, culture and belief systems can shape the way we experience pain, identity, guilt, hope and healing. My practice is faith-affirming and welcoming to people of all faiths, spiritual backgrounds, and those with no faith. I must disclose I am Muslim but I welcome whole heart any practice.
I share carefully that I have also experienced depression, postnatal depression, significant grief after losing my father, and the personal work of learning self-acceptance through therapy. I do this because many clients find it reassuring to know that their therapist understands human pain not only through training and professional experience, but also through lived understanding.
Together, we can work towards helping you understand why you feel and respond the way you do, strengthen your emotional regulation, build healthier boundaries, reconnect with your identity, and begin creating a life that feels more aligned, safe and emotionally free.
Training, qualifications & experience
I trained as a Person Centred Counsellor. Level 4. and Level 5 in CBT and Islamic Counselling and Psychology.
My professional experience includes working with KRASAC (Kirklees & Calderdale Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre), IHSAAN Islamic Therapeutic Counselling, The Cellar Trust, Bradford Bereavement Service, and Together Women Project. Through these roles, I have supported clients presenting with anxiety, depression, trauma, abuse, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, identity issues, grief, suicidal ideation, and complex loss. I work ethically and reflectively, with clear boundaries, and I value collaboration and good supervision.
My work style is to offer a unique blend of emotional support, practical strategies, and personal empowerment.
My main focus is to provide a safe environment and non-judgemental. My approach is culturally and religiously sensitive and my ultimate goal is to help my clients to be emotionally independent, build confidence in themselves, set healthy boundaries, recover from people pleasing and finally to have a better life.
My approach is also compassionate, yet strategic, ensuring you have the tools and confidence to move forward.
Member organisations
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
I have a very sensitive approach for spirituality and religions, especially Islam.
How I will Help You
Counselling for Healing: My background in counselling provides the foundation for emotional healing. I create a safe, non-judgmental space for you to process past traumas, release emotional pain, and rebuild your sense of self.
Coaching for Growth: My coaching skills will help you set and achieve your goals, overcome obstacles, and create the future you envision. Together, we’ll work on actionable steps to transform your life, whether that’s setting boundaries, developing self-trust, or pursuing new opportunities.
Support for Every Step: I provide ongoing support and encouragement. I’m here to remind you of your worth, help you stay focused, and celebrate your successes.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£60.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Open End Sessions - Where you will tell me when the work is done!
Single Power Session 90 Minutes - Note here the Fee is different from a normal session.
4 Weeks Focus Sessions
8 Weeks Dive Deeper Work Sessions
Reach out so I can explain better.
When I work
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Further information
I have experience supporting women who have experienced divorce and abusive relationships, particularly domestic and emotional abuse. I am committed to helping you reclaim your life, rebuild self-love, confidence, and emotional independence.
My mission is to help you stop people-pleasing, find your voice and learn to say NO, set boundaries that will protect your peace and happiness, accept who you are, discover your potential of who you can become and help you be in a happy and healthy relationship with yourself.
