Christine Hopfgarten
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This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
If you are living with the effects of trauma, you may feel constantly on edge, overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuck in patterns that don’t make sense. You might know that something from the past is still affecting you, even if you can’t fully explain how.
I am an experienced psychotherapist specialising in trauma, EMDR, PTSD and complex PTSD. I work with adults who are struggling with the impact of recent trauma or difficult childhood experiences, including emotional neglect, abuse, relational trauma, loss, or other overwhelming events.
Trauma can affect how you feel about yourself, how safe you feel in the world, and how you relate to others. Many of my clients come to therapy because they experience:
- Anxiety or panic linked to past events
- Intrusive memories or flashbacks
- Emotional overwhelm or numbness
- Low self-worth or shame
- Difficulties with trust, intimacy or conflict
- Relationship difficulties
- Stuck unhelpful patterns and behaviours
My Approach
I offer EMDR, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and furthermore integrate psychodynamic psychotherapy to help you address and transform your difficulties.
My specialism is helping people understand how past experiences affect their emotions, thoughts and relationships, and support them with trauma-focused therapies, so memories no longer trigger distress.
My approach is collaborative, thoughtful and tailored to you. Some clients work with me short-term for focused trauma processing; others choose longer-term therapy to explore deeper relational patterns.
EMDR Therapy
I am trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing), an evidence-based therapy. EMDR helps the brain process traumatic memories and emotions that feel “stuck” and to organically create profound insights, so the memories no longer carry the same emotional intensity and cause the above difficulties.
I offer EMDR therapy both in person and online, working with clients locally and across the UK.
Trauma and Relationships
Trauma often shows up most clearly in our relationships. You may find it hard to trust, fear abandonment, struggle with closeness, or feel overly responsible for others.
You may find yourself struggling in your relationship with yourself, being highly self-critical, doubting your worth, or falling into coping patterns that once helped you survive but now create further difficulties.
Often, these strategies developed for a reason. Together, we can begin to understand where they came from, what they have been protecting you from, and how to process the root causes, that will enable you to find healthier, more sustainable ways of coping.
If you are looking for a trauma-informed therapist specialising in trauma and complex trauma, I offer a safe, professional and compassionate space where healing and lasting change can take place.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have over 20 years’ experience working as a therapist, with the past decade focused particularly on trauma and trauma-focused interventions. My work is thoughtful, reflective and grounded in a deep understanding of how trauma shapes not only symptoms, but identity, relationships and self-worth.
For the past 10 years, I have worked in private practice, supporting adults with a wide range of difficulties, from those who feel stuck and want to understand themselves more deeply or simply grow as a person, to those living with longstanding PTSD, complex trauma or severe emotional distress.
Before moving fully into private practice, I worked across NHS mental health services, including community teams, crisis intervention services and general adult psychological services. I also have extensive experience supporting emergency personnel affected by trauma, including working for the London Fire Brigade and other agencies supporting emergency personnel.
Professional Accreditation
I am a fully trained and accredited EMDR Practitioner with EMDR UK & Europe.
I am also:
- An Accredited Senior Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP Snr Accred)
- An Accredited Member of the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP)
- A Qualified in Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT) accredited by the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC)
Qualifications
- EMDR Practitioner Training (Parts 1–3)
- Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy – London South Bank University
- Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) in Psychodynamic Therapeutic Counselling – University of Brighton
- BSc (Hons) Psychology – University of East London
- Practitioner Training in Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT)
- Certificate in Counselling Skills – WPF Therapy, London
Ongoing Professional Development
I am committed to ongoing professional development and have completed further specialist training in areas including EMDR for Complex Trauma, Personality Disorder, Eating Disorders and Addictions, as well as training focused on attachment and relational trauma, compassion-focused therapy and OCD.
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 BABCP is the lead organisation for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in the UK. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in the practice, theory or development of CBT. BABCP also provides accreditation for CBT therapists. BABCP accredited members adhere to the Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics in the Practice of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies, and are willing to be scrutinised in this adherence as required.
EMDR UK
EMDR Europe
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
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£80.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
If you have private health insurance that I am not currently registered with, please feel free to get in touch, as I am often able to apply to join additional providers.
For you to get the most out of the work, I usually suggest that we meet weekly at an agreed upon time, but I am happy to meet less frequently if we agree that that is suitable for what you are looking for.
We will agree to work together for a fixed number of sessions, or keep it open-ended.
When I work
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Further information
I work with clients throughout the UK online, as well as in person for local clients.
For your peace of mind, you can confirm my professional accreditation and registration through the following recognised organisations:
BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy)
Search the BACP Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists
EMDR UK Association
Find EMDR-accredited therapists
BABCP (British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies)
Search the CBT Register UK
