About me
***I will be on summer break from 20 July till 7 August, and aim to respond to enquiries by Monday 10 August***
Hi, I'm Maina.
I'm a trauma informed counsellor supporting clients with issues such as anxiety, relationship issues and trauma.
I worked in the NHS as a nurse for over a decade before starting my counselling training. It was my professional and personal experiences that led me into becoming a counsellor.
I am passionate about supporting adults with anxiety and trauma, especially when this has a negative impact on how they relate to themselves and their loved ones.
I have experienced how isolating and debilitating this can be.
People can say things like 'just be positive' or 'try a bit harder', but they don't understand that it's not that simple.
I get it. It's not something you can easily change.
How can I help you?
- Together, we can work towards gaining a sense of peace and contentment in your everyday life and help you to feel more self-confident.
- I can help you gain a better understanding of your current challenges and find a positive way forward.
- Together, we can identify the background and triggers for your thoughts and feelings. It will give you the opportunity to explore and process difficult emotions and help you to become unstuck from your current situation.
- I can support you in identifying and changing self-destructive behaviour patterns.
I welcome diversity
I welcome people from all walks of life. Over the years, I’ve worked with clients from many different backgrounds and experiences, including those who are neurodivergent, part of the LGBTQIA+ community or have faced racism.
No matter your background or life experience, you will be met with respect, understanding, and acceptance here.
How to get started:
I understand it can be hard to reach out when you are struggling and it is important to find the right counsellor for you.
That is why I provide a free 20 minute phone call, so you can ask me any questions you might have and I can find out more about what is going on for you at the moment.
If you think I could be a good fit for you , please get in touch by email and we can arrange an initial free phone call.
I offer face-to-face and online sessions from my private practice in Hitchin, Hertfordshire.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Certificate in Trauma Therapy (Grove Practice London)
- Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling awarded by the Counselling Foundation.
- Foundation Certificate in Psychodynamic Counselling awarded by the Counselling Foundation.
- Accredited EFT (Tapping) Practitioner with EFT International.
- Certificate in Clinical Assessment Skills awarded by WPF Therapy.
- Registered member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) and follow their code of ethics and guidelines.
- Breathwork Coaching Level 2 by CPCAB
- Completed training in the Rewind technique
- Registered member of EFT International.
- Fully insured and have an up-to-date DBS.
Recent CPD courses:
- Calming the Anxious Brain (Dr.Pittman)
- Cruse Bereavement Course
- Finding Meaning in Loss (David Kessler)
- Inner Child Approach short course (Samantha Lee)
- Working with Race in the Counselling Room
Due to my professional knowledge and experiences, I believe in an holistic approach to wellbeing. So, if it is right for you, I can incorporate other approaches, such as; mindfulness, breath work and tapping therapy.
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
- Relational trauma
- Life transitions
- Cultural identity and diversity
- Mixed-race marriage and family
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£45.00 - £60.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
£45.00-£60.00 per 60 minutes counselling session.
£90.00 per 90 minutes counselling session.
£45.00-£60.00 per 60 minutes tapping session.
I would like counselling and tapping therapy to be accessible to more people, so I have a sliding scale of £45-£60/hour depending on your financial capacity.
Weekly and biweekly sessions are available.
When I work
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Further information
Testimonials:
"At my first session with Maina , I felt comfortable and reassured I would be able to discuss some very difficult feelings with the hope that things were going to get better. I went initially to get help with the grieving process. We ended up also unwrapping complex issues that I thought I had already reconciled with. Her work is amazing and she has the right mix of skills to support you during the sessions and after. I left with a sense of hope as my anxiety and depression now had light. I am stronger than ever before and have been given the tools by Maina to cope with the knocks life throws at us. I highly recommend Maina's services and support." V.P
"Maina has a calm, reassuring energy and a great ability to listen carefully and help process a wide range of emotions through EFT. I always left each session feeling uplifted and hopeful, even when I arrived with the most overwhelming feelings. Together, we tapped on everything from performance anxiety and grief to relationship dynamics and chronic health symptoms. She is thorough and thoughtful, making sure she really tunes into what is going on for you as an individual." Louise, P.
"The EFT sessions I have had with Maina has enabled me to let go and accept my past traumatic events. I also had panic attacks and with Maina's help I can honestly say that they have gone away. EFT sessions have been transformational for me, it's a powerful technique that has calmed me massively. Maina has helped me learn to feel safe in my body and I feel so much stronger for it. I would highly recommend Maina's EFT sessions. Thank you so much again, Maina." Kay, B. Hitchin
