Elena Vontzalidou

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she/hers

About me

Sometimes life feels heavy, tangled, or just… too much. You don’t have to carry that alone.

I’m a warm, down-to-earth therapist who offers a grounded, compassionate space where you can be fully yourself—no masks, no judgment. Whether you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or navigating change, I work relationally and intuitively to help you reconnect with your inner clarity and strength.

Clients often tell me they feel safe, seen, and even surprised by the lightness that can emerge in our sessions; laughter is a powerful healer and my authenticity is something my clients value. Therapy with me isn’t about quick fixes or clichés; it is about creating real, steady change at a pace that honours you. This journey may take us through many different areas of your experience, and on the way we will deconstruct harmful myths and narratives that may have disempowered you.

With professional training, personal experience, and empathy, I provide a safe, non-judgmental space for you to explore your emotions and feel understood. Clients frequently comment on my warm and nurturing presence and my ability to really understand what they are going through. I believe a lot of problems can make you feel isolated and having someone who truly listens can be the key to helping you feel a little lighter at heart.

How I Can Help:

I am experienced in working with clients who have found themselves dealing with a range of issues including depression, anxiety, relationship problems, grief, addiction, sex abuse, emotional abuse and trauma. My experience also includes working with neuro-diverse clients and people with intersecting social identities which have led them to experience oppression and/or discrimination. Alongside my post-graduate training as a therapist, I am also trained as a specialist in supporting couples and individuals with fertility challenges, miscarriage and birth trauma. 

Many of my clients share how difficult it is to talk about the range of  experiences above with family or friends, fearing discomfort or misunderstanding. That’s where I come in—I listen without judgment to help you navigate the complex emotions that accompany your journey. By offering you a confidential, safe space I hope you will feel able to work through whatever is troubling you.  

Practice description

I work in a person centred way. In essence, to me this means that I offer a therapeutic style that feels simpler, warmer and more optimistic than that offered by behavioural or psychodynamic approaches such as CBT. My aim is to create a space for individuals to feel encouraged to focus on their current subjective understanding of whatever is troubling them rather than on anyone else’s interpretation of the situation. At the heart of my practice lies the conviction that the only expert on your circumstances is you.

Together we will build a space comfortable enough for you to discover and mould new aspects of self, face those that have remained well hidden and begin to love those that are difficult or hard to carry.  

My first session

Taking the first step in reaching out can feel daunting, but I’m here to make it easier. I offer a free introductory call to help you decide if we’re a good fit. This is your space, because finding a counsellor you feel comfortable with is really important.

Sessions: Online (via Google Meet) or by phone, offering flexibility and accessibility. In person in a central Norwich location

Training, qualifications & experience

I am a person centred counsellor working within an approach which firmly places you at the centre of the therapeutic relationship. I am committed to hearing and understanding your perspective and experience of yourself, your relationships and your world.

I have over ten years experience of working with families and parents in education settings and four years experience working 1 to 1 with adults.

I have a PG Dip in Person Centred Counselling and a Masters in Education. I also have an up to date DBS which can be shown on request.

My specialised training includes:

British Infertility Counselling Association (BICA) foundation course

Make Birth Better foundation course in birth trauma

Relate Couple's Therapy foundation course

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

£55.00 per session

Concessions offered for

  • Low income
  • Refugees

Additional information

To remove as many barriers from accessing counselling as possible, I offer concession rates, weekend and evening appointments and meetings at a location with wheelchair access on request. Please get in touch to find out more. 

When I work

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

Further information

If you feel that being heard in this way could be beneficial for you, please contact me for an initial discussion. 

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

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

Wheelchair user access
Wheelchair user access

Wheelchair-accessible premises should have step-free access for wheelchair users and individuals who are unable to climb stairs. If a Counsellor's premises aren't step-free, they may offer alternative services such as telephone/web-based appointments, home visits, or meeting clients in different location, so you can choose the option that suits you best.

You can contact the Counsellor to discuss the options available.

Under the Equality Act 2010 service providers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that individuals with disabilities can access their service. You can read more about reasonable adjustments to help you to access services on the CAB website.

I offer meetings at a location with wheelchair access on request. Please get in touch to find out more.

Additional languages

Greek

Online platforms

Google Meet
Elena Vontzalidou
Elena Vontzalidou