Irina Florea
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Therapy for adults of all ages with a focus on strengthening self-confidence and self-esteem, developing healthy and positive habits and behaviours, while addressing issues such as anxiety, depression, burnout, surviving abuse, addictive behaviours, self-harm, relationship and family issues, loss and grief.
I am a qualified counsellor with a Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP - Registered Member).
Weekly and bi-weekly (fortnightly) online and in person slots available, please contact me to discuss availability (updated April 2025)
I offer online (via video calls) and in person sessions at my private practice based in Frome, Somerset.
Every Tuesday, I offer in-person weekly sessions in Bristol (Montpelier).
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Depending on circumstances, I also offer telephone sessions.
I offer a safe therapeutic space for LGBTQ+ people and aim to support inclusion and diversity around gender, biological sex diversity and sexuality.
If you found your way to my page, you may be going through a difficult time in your life.
You may be experiencing one or several of the following:
- Feeling overwhelmed, always tired but in a rush towards the next thing to do
- Emotional or mental exhaustion as a result of the restlessness
- Frantic, anxious and easily irritable
- You have frequent outbursts which you later regret
- A sense that it's never enough, that you aren't doing enough
- Snappy, short-fused that leads to difficulties in relationships with others (partner, children, parents, friends, work)
- Trouble sleeping or resting as your mind is constantly busy (aka "monkey mind")
- Aware of your self-sabotaging behaviour, but can't find a way to stop
- You worry a lot about what others think of you, find yourself ruminating over past events or conversations and, as a result of this, you've noticed you don't know how to say "no" and have become a "people-pleaser"
- You see yourself as a "high achiever" and constantly put considerable effort in everything you do which also leads to stress and burnout
- You struggle with the imposter syndrome and all its pitfalls: procrastination, fear of making mistakes, feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and self-doubt
- Find it hard to relax, have fun, let go of the never-ending to-do list or stop the worry-mill
If any of the above sound familiar and are interfering with your daily life, therapy can help. You can start today. Book a free online session with me and let's talk about how we can work together in therapy.
What to expect from working with me:
- 1:1 sessions in a safe, confidential space
- Short-term counselling or long-term psychotherapy depending on your needs and objectives
- A professional, but human and friendly approach to our therapy sessions
- Focus on understanding and uncovering who you truly are, where you come from and how that shaped you and your relationships (exploration of childhood experiences, inner child work and attachment style)
- Use of easy-to-understand psychological structures and theory to deepen your understanding of yourself (for example Parent - Adult - Child framework) - also known as psychoeducation
- Clear and accessible digital resources (through a secure platform in the form of My Mental Health Toolbox) that will support our work
- Tools and techniques so you can develop healthier and more effective coping mechanisms for dealing with stress, difficult emotions, and challenging situations
- Trauma informed approach to any experiences that may have deeply impacted you in the past or more recently with an emphasis on holding a safe space for you to process unresolved issues, feelings and memories
- A therapeutic process adapted specifically to your needs and expectations which includes regular reviews (every 6 sessions) of our goals and working therapeutic relationship
- We work open-ended so that you have all the space and time you need to move towards the change you’re aiming for. Nevertheless, most of my clients have achieved their desired outcomes and meaningful change in 6-8 months of weekly sessions
Therapy can help uncover the authentic, compassionate and confident you.
- Feel more like yourself and live free from the weight of self-doubt
- Develop a more positive self-image, recognizing your strengths and accepting your weaknesses
- Express yourself assertively and communicate your needs and boundaries clearly, effectively and respectfully
- Become more willing to take risks and step outside of your comfort zone
- Develop resilience and the ability to bounce back from setbacks and failures
- Navigate the ups and downs of life, the changes and uncertainty with grace and resilience
- Become more able to connect with others on a deep level, showing empathy and compassion for others' experiences and feelings
- Create a more positive outlook on life, focusing on opportunities and possibilities rather than dwelling on negativity or limitations
- Become more present in the moment and appreciate yourself and your life more
- Reduce feelings and thoughts around stress and increase feelings of contentment and peace
Testimonials
With clients' permission to share the below (anonymised through pseudonyms), I'm grateful I can share some of the feedback received (you can find more on my website):
"Irina was incredible, she made our sessions feel like such a safe space and truly helped me to unpick everything I had been feeling for so long. We worked on how I could give myself more empathy and how to feel better equipped in processing a past relationship. I have found myself able to respond to my emotions rather than be reactive. I have been able to have a more gentle approach to how I empathise with myself. I am truly grateful for the sessions I had with Irina." (Bo, 2024)
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"In the six months I was seeing Irina, she created a space I really felt accepted and safe to be in and be vulnerable.
We worked through some pretty heavy trauma, but I felt supported and like I was leaving the sessions with a self care plan. In this time I learnt a variety of concepts that help me on a daily basis and I've seen growth and development within myself that I wouldn't have otherwise achieved in six months.
I enjoyed Irina's suggestions of different techniques during the course of therapy, and I always felt like I was ultimately in control of the conversation." (Ria, 2024)
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"I really feel like you helped me get through a every confusing and very intense period of grief and depression that'll stay with me forever and you've helped me come out the other side with my head held high.
I cannot stress enough how thankful I am for the tools you've armed me with to keep on keeping on in this life, with a smile on my face that I wasn't sure I'd ever get back. You're an absolute credit to your profession!" (John, 2024)
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"We addressed the main issues that I faces mainly the self image and self esteem issues. Stayed with them slowly and as they came up organically in sessions and issues relating to my life. Helped me view bad situations with more resilience and patience when things go wrong. Helping to bounce back and feel more secure in myself.
I really benefited from the whole experience, learning about myself and the relationships around me in a simple and non-judgemental space." (Ben, 2024)
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"I can’t express how much you have done for me over our time together. I had been in a worrying place for a long time but with your help I have felt more myself again.
I was always really impressed with how listened to me talk for quite a long and uninterrupted period, but then summarised the issue perfectly in a way that was a lightbulb for me.
From the bottom of my heart thank you. " (Adam, 2023)
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"I am so glad I took the leap and looked for counselling, and very grateful that it was with Irina. I was unsure about how well online counselling would work, but I felt at ease, and that we had a good rapport and working relationship.
The sessions have given me back self confidence, something that has been buried for a long time. I feel more myself than I have in a long time. The sessions helped me understand some stressful relationships in my life a lot better and I learnt how to have clearer emotional boundaries.
I am truly grateful for the experience and how much it has helped me, and I would highly recommend Irina's services." (Anna, 2023)
Training, qualifications & experience
I am trained in an integrative way, applying theory and practice from the Client-Centred Model (as developed by Carl Rogers) and integrating other humanistic therapies (Existential, Gestalt, Psychosynthesis) and Psychodynamic therapy. Furthermore, I have comprehensive knowledge and experience with Bereavement, Loss and Grief through the work I have been doing with the UK largest bereavement charity - Cruse Bereavement Support.
Working with a variety of struggles that follow loss and grief, I turned my attention to other therapeutic models and specialisms - Polyvagal Theory, Attachment Theory, Trauma-Informed Care, Transactional Analysis, Internal Family Systems. To support long-lasting results in therapy for my clients, I added elements of Mindfulness and Meditation, with particular attention to integrating breathing and body-based techniques in the therapeutic process.
I offer counselling in three languages: English, Romanian and Spanish.
EDUCATION:
CPCAB Certificate in Counselling Studies
CPCAB Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling (ACTO and NCS)
Cruse Bereavement Support Foundation Course (NCS)
Currently studying:
Advanced Diploma in Relationship Psychotherapy
Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology (due summer 2025)
Complex Trauma Certification
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
£55.00 - £60.00
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Before deciding to commence therapy, I offer an initial assessment session.
Our initial session lasts 50 minutes during which we can explore what your current struggles are, how we could work together in therapy, answer any questions you may have about therapy or working with me. It is also an opportunity to see if we're a good fit as it's important for you to feel safe and comfortable in our work, and for me to make sure I can offer the right support you need.
Initial assessment session - £45 per 50-minute session (online or in-person in Bristol or Frome).
If we decide to work together, rates for subsequent therapy sessions are:
Frome - £60 per 50-minute session
Bristol - £60 per 50-minute session
Online - £55 per 50-minute session
I'm also an affiliate therapist with WPA Health Insurance. If your sessions are covered through workplace benefits, please get in touch with me for more details.
When I work
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Please contact me for further details on my availability as this may change and the schedule on this page may not always be immediately updated.
Further information
Does Online Therapy Work?
I'm highly experienced in working with clients via video-sessions and have facilitated and seen results in my clients' processes which has led me to recommend online therapy as equally effective as in-person sessions.
Online therapy can be just as effective as in-person therapy for various mental health conditions, but also to support you in changing any unhelpful habits or behaviours. Same as in-person therapy, it encourages open and honest dialogue about issues that cause you distress.
- It's convenient - you can access therapy sessions from anywhere with an internet connection, eliminating the need for travel and allowing for more flexibility.
- It's accessible - it's a better option for you if you live in rural or remote areas, have limited mobility, or face other barriers to accessing traditional in-person therapy.
- It's more comfortable - you may feel more comfortable discussing sensitive or personal issues from the comfort of your space, where you feel safe and secure.
- It's private and confidential - we have sessions via a secure and easy to use video conferencing platform. Also, there is no stress about others seeing you at the appointment (in a waiting room).
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Gives you back time spent travelling to and from - You gain time by not worrying about and having to deal with transportation issues, including not spending money on travelling. No commute or traffic concerns with a video session.
- You have access to other online resources - I will provide with with other digital resources (your private, personal, tailored to your needs Mental Health Toolbox). You have access to these anytime between sessions.
