Dr Maria Amparo Padilla - Chartered Counselling Psychologist (HCPC Reg.)
About me
About me
I am an experienced Chartered Counselling Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and a registered Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). As a Counselling Psychologist, I am trained to a doctoral level to deliver evidence-based psychological interventions, whilst drawing from different therapeutic approaches.
Over the past 10 years I have gained extensive clinical experience whilst working with culturally diverse clients, including children, adults, couples, families and groups, both in the UK and Colombia (South America). Some of my experience was gained at NHS settings such as GP surgeries and Specialist Clinical Health Services (Personality Disorders, Addictions); in the charity sector The Latin American Women’s Rights Service (LAWRS), a human rights, feminist organisation run for Latin American women experiencing domestic violence and abuse, trauma, cultural conflicts; in private schools. I have also maintained my own private practice counselling culturally diverse clients with a wide range of difficulties, whilst specialising in trauma and PTSD, relationships, personality disorders, depression, anxiety and cross-cultural issues.
Psychological Therapy
The decision of seeking psychological support is often one of the most courageous steps towards addressing the challenges you experience, but yet, once you embark in this journey, it helps you to address your unique experience and to create a share understanding of what may be distressing you. Throughout this process you will learn the tools and/or coping skills that will enable you to shift the perception of your experience and discover new ways of relating to your internal and social world more meaningfully, thereby implementing long lasting changes. This process will take place within a safe, non-judgmental and emotionally containing environment.
The theoretical framework that informs my practice is integrative, including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic, Person-Centered, Third wave approaches including: Mindfulness, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT).
I value your unique and subjective experience, therefore psychological interventions will be tailored to best suit your individual needs.
Currently I am working in private practice, providing psychological support to adults and couples via Skype, Zoom and telephone sessions.
Training, qualifications & experience
Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology- City, University of London, UK
MSc. Counselling Psychology - City, University of London, UK
BSc. (Hons) Psychology (2.1) - University of Westminster, London, UK
Publications
Recently investigated the counselling/therapy experiences of Hispanic/Latino clients with English therapists (Doctoral Thesis): Padilla Leon, Maria Amparo (2017). Interpretative phenomenological study of the counselling/therapy experiences of Hispanic/Latino clients with English-speaking therapists. City, University of London.
Undergraduate Dissertation: Swami, V., Airs, N., Chouhan, B., Padilla Leon, M. A., and Towell, T. (2009). Are There Ethnic Differences in Positive Body Image Among Female British Undergraduates? European Psychologist.
Member organisations
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.
Health and Care Professions Council
The HCPC are an independent, UK-wide health regulator. They set standards of professional training, performance and conduct for 16 professions.
They keep a register of health professionals who meet their standards, and they take action if registered health professionals fall below those standards. They were created by a piece of legislation called the Health Professions Order 2001.
Registration means that a health professional meets national standards for their professional training, performance and conduct.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
- Terminal illness
- Gender and identity
- Cross-cultural issues
- Stress (work-related, financial, illness)
- Body image
- Perfectionism
- Sleep difficulties
- Loneliness & disconnection
- Chronic pain
Therapies offered
Fees
At your initial contact, either email or phone, I will offer you a 15 minutes initial consultation free of charge.
Should we decide that counselling psychology support is the way forward, my fees are £120 per session for individual therapy and £150 per session for couple therapy.
I also offer concessions according to individual circumstances.
You can either pay me by cash or by bank transfer prior to the session.
Private Healthcare insurance:
I am covered with AXA/PPP, Cigna, Aviva, WPA, Healix Health Services and Vitality Health. Please contact your insurance provider prior to our meeting to ensure your treatment is covered by your policy. Please be aware that you will be liable for any shortfall in payment from the insurers.
Sessions:
A therapeutic session lasts for 50minutes. The frequency and number of sessions will be decided according to your individual needs and therapeutic goals (either time-limited or longer-term).
Although face to face sessions are preferable, due to the present circumstances, I am only offering Skype, Zoom and phone sessions.
Cancellation policy:
24 hours notice is required if appointments are cancelled or changed.
