About me
Hello, I am Daniela.
I am a BACP Accredited Psychotherapist, offering a warm, thoughtful and collaborative approach to therapy.
Do you look as though you are coping, while inside your mind rarely switches off? You may replay conversations, worry about what other people think of you, question your decisions, or put enormous pressure on yourself to get things right. Perhaps you struggle to say no, feel responsible for other people's feelings, or find yourself repeating the same patterns in relationships despite knowing that something needs to change.
You might be successful, capable and independent, yet underneath feel anxious, emotionally overwhelmed, lonely or disconnected from yourself. You may be constantly striving for the next achievement while wondering why it never quite feels enough. Or perhaps you cannot explain exactly what is wrong. You simply know that you do not feel like yourself.
You may already understand some of your patterns and even know where they come from, but understanding them intellectually has not necessarily changed how you feel. The same self-doubt, overthinking, perfectionism, people-pleasing or difficult relationship patterns keep returning.
I see therapy as a place where you can stop performing and start being yourself.
My approach is supportive and compassionate, but I am also an active therapist. I will not simply sit back and expect you to do all the talking. I will ask questions, notice patterns, make connections and gently challenge you when I think it may be helpful.
Together, we will look beyond individual symptoms and explore what may be happening underneath them. This might include your relationships, emotions, childhood experiences, attachment patterns, beliefs about yourself and the ways you have learned to protect yourself or cope.
My work is grounded in attachment and relational psychotherapy while also recognising the realities of modern life, including the impact of technology, identity and neurodivergence. The aim is not simply to understand why you feel the way you do, but to use that understanding to create meaningful and lasting change.
Who I Work With
I work with individuals, couples and families from a wide range of backgrounds. People come to me for support with anxiety, stress, depression and low mood, low self-esteem, body image concerns, relationship difficulties, bereavement and loss, family difficulties, loneliness, trust issues, experiences of abuse, ADHD and neurodivergence, and addictive or compulsive behaviours.
You do not need to arrive with a diagnosis or even know exactly what you need help with. Sometimes therapy begins simply with the feeling that something in your life does not feel right, or that something needs to change.
Your First Session
Your first session lasts approximately 50–60 minutes and gives us an opportunity to understand what has brought you to therapy and what you would like help with.
We will begin by exploring what is happening in your life right now and what feels most difficult, confusing or overwhelming. You do not need to prepare anything or know where to begin. I will help guide the conversation and may ask specific questions to help us build a clearer picture of what you are experiencing.
Where relevant, we may explore your relationships, family, childhood and previous experiences, as well as your thoughts, emotions and the way you see yourself. Together, we can begin identifying patterns and understanding how your past and present may be connected.
You do not need to tell me everything in the first session. We will work at a pace that feels manageable for you.
We will also discuss what you would like to change or understand better and what you hope to gain from therapy. Toward the end, we will check in about how the session felt and whether my way of working feels right for you. Finding the right therapist matters, and therapy should feel like something we are doing together rather than something being done to you.
A Bit About Me
I am a London-based therapist with over 13 years of professional experience helping individuals, couples and families navigate emotional and relational difficulties and significant changes in their lives.
My journey into therapy began with studying Psychoanalytic Studies at the Anna Freud Centre, where I developed a deeper understanding of how our early experiences, relationships and unconscious processes can continue to shape our emotional lives as adults.
I later trained in Deep Hypnosis, developing an interest in the way language, thought and unconscious processes interact. I subsequently trained as an Integrative Psychotherapist, allowing me to bring together different therapeutic perspectives and adapt my approach to the individual rather than expecting every person to fit one particular model of therapy.
Outside of work, I live and work in Richmond, where I enjoy long walks and runs in Richmond Park and Kew Gardens, exploring local cafés and practising mindfulness. I am also a mum of three, which brings another rewarding, challenging and very human dimension to my life.
Having personally experienced the benefits of therapy, I understand the value of having a space where you do not need to perform, have all the answers or look after everybody else.
What You Can Gain From Counselling
Our work together can help you understand yourself at a deeper level while also making practical changes in your everyday life.
You may learn to manage anxiety, stress, overthinking and self-doubt more effectively; develop greater self-trust, self-compassion and confidence; recognise and change patterns that repeatedly cause difficulties; communicate your needs more clearly; establish healthier boundaries; and develop more fulfilling relationships with yourself and others.
We can also explore some of the bigger questions that can become lost in the pressures of everyday life: What actually makes you happy? What does success mean to you? Whose expectations are you living by? What do you want from your relationships and from the next stage of your life?
Ultimately, therapy is not about becoming a different person. It is about understanding yourself more fully, recognising what no longer serves you and creating greater freedom in how you choose to live, relate and move forward.
If something you have read here resonates with you, please feel welcome to contact me through the Counselling Directory contact form or by email to arrange an initial session.
Training, qualifications & experience
- COSRT Level 5 Certificate in Couples/Relationship Counselling- The Grove
- MA Integrative Counselling & Psychotherapy - University of Roehampton, London
- BS Psychology Degree - Richmond American University London
- MSc Psychoanalytic Developmental Psychology - Anna Freud Centre, UCL, London
- HPD Cognitive Hypnotherapy Practitioner Diploma - Quest Institute, Regents College
- DipCHyp Diploma in Cognitive Hypnotherapy - Quest Institute, Regents College
- NLP Pract NLP Practitioner Diploma - Quest Institute, Regents College
- Confident Childbirth Practitioner (Certificate)
I have experience volunteering for:
ASCA Richmond – supporting individuals with a wide range of emotional and mental health challenges, including those affected by addiction and trauma.
Hoarding UK – providing understanding and practical support to people experiencing difficulties with hoarding behaviours and the impact on their wellbeing.
Mind – offering assistance to individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns, helping to promote resilience and emotional wellbeing.
As part of my ongoing professional development I consistently attend seminars, courses and trainings. Some of the courses I have completed or still attending are:
- Attachment & Trauma
- Couples Counselling Training
- Hypnobirthing
- NLP in practice
- Cognitive Hypnotherapy
- Integrative Counselling & Psychotherapy
- Suicide prevention
- Trauma Informed Practices
- Young People's Mental Health Summit
I continually strive to enhance my skills and knowledge to ensure the highest level of service for my clients. I abide by the BACP Code of Ethics, ensuring a commitment to the highest professional standards in my practice. This framework guides my work, emphasising principles of confidentiality, respect, and integrity. By adhering to these ethical guidelines, I prioritise the well-being and confidentiality of my clients, maintaining a trustworthy and safe space for their personal growth and development.
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
Therapies offered
Fees
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
- Individuals (Face-to-Face or Online) - £75 per 50 minute session
- Couples: £110 per 60 minute session & : £165 per 90 minute session
- Parent-Child & Family Therapy: £180 per session
Concessions:
A limited number of concessionary rates are available for those who may need financial support. Please feel free to enquire if this applies to you.
When I work
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My working hours can vary- please enquire for more information.
