About me
Available Online & In-Person (Brighton & Hove)
I’m Isabel — a fully qualified counsellor, psychotherapist (MSc) and clinical supervisor, with over 15 years experience. I’m a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and offer sessions in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
I work with adults and young people from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures and life experiences. Whether you’re looking for face-to-face sessions in Brighton & Hove, or prefer the flexibility of online therapy (Zoom, WhatsApp, or email), I provide a safe, confidential, and supportive space to explore whatever you need.
If you’d like to explore working together, feel free to reach out. I’d be happy to answer your questions or arrange an initial free of charge consultation (30 minutes).
My Approach
My work is grounded in the humanistic approach — a model that values your potential for growth, creativity and fulfilment. I focus on your whole experience, giving equal importance to thoughts, feelings, behaviours, and body awareness. This holistic perspective supports a deeper understanding of yourself and your circumstances.
Whether you’re dealing with a specific challenge or seeking personal development, I can help you:
• Make sense of your experiences
• Understand patterns in thoughts, feelings, and behaviours
• Identify meaningful choices and steps for change
• Navigate the journey with support and care
Areas I Work With
I have extensive experience in supporting people with a wide range of concerns, including:
• Life transitions & cultural adaptation (e.g. expatriates, cross-cultural relationships)
• Anxiety, stress & panic
• Depression & low mood
• Bereavement & loss (Cruse-accredited)
• Trauma & complex trauma (PTSD)
• Addictions & compulsive behaviours
• Relationship and family issues
• Identity, self-esteem & sexuality
• Spirituality & existential questions
• Work-related stress and self-employment challenges
• Sexual abuse and sex-related issues
• Eating difficulties
• Online dating anxiety
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Online Therapy
I offer sessions through Zoom, WhatsApp, and email — ideal for people with mobility limitations, frequent travellers, or those simply more comfortable with remote support. (Please note: I am unable to offer sessions to clients residing in the USA or Canada due to local regulations.)
I’m fully trained and certified to work therapeutically online and I’ve been doing this for over 15 years - both in private practice and with charities, including therapeutic trauma work.
Background & Experience
Alongside my private practice, I have worked with several charitable organisations, including Mankind (supporting men who have experienced sexual abuse), Cruse Bereavement Care and YMCA (where I provided school-based counselling as well as support through local projects such as canine-assisted therapy and email counselling for young people). I have also worked with As You Are Centre and BHT Threshold (women’s project).
I’ve had the chance to work across education, customer services, healthcare, and the non-profit world, which has given me a really broad and meaningful professional background. I’ve lived, studied or worked in places like Portugal, Brazil, Spain, Denmark, Gibraltar and the UK—where I’ve been for over 30 years. All of this has given me a rich perspective on cross-cultural living and the ups and downs of transitioning between different environments.
Training, qualifications & experience
Over 15 years experience as a counsellor and psychotherapist and now also clinical supervisor.
Supervision Certified: Counselling Tutor
MSc in Psychotherapy: University of Brighton
BACP Accredited Postgraduate Diploma in Humanistic Therapeutic Counselling: University of Brighton
Online Counselling Certificate: Online Training for Counsellors Ltd
Bereavement and pre-bereavement: Cruse Bereavement Care (Cruse Accredited)
Working with Trauma: Rise Counselling Service and various other courses over the years
Creative Therapeutic Communication with Children and Young People: YMCA Brighton
ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training): Grassroots Brighton
Group Supervision Training with Robin Shohet
Future Basing - A Creative Approach to Thinking About the Future: YMCA Dialogue
Therapeutic considerations when working with a child and young person who self harms: YMCA Dialogue
Awareness of Child Abuse and Neglect - Safeguarding Children: YMCA Dialogue
Building Secure States of Mind (Attachment Theory): Dr Gwen Adshead, London
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
Photos & videos
Fees
£45.00 - £75.00
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
FREE introductory session
Individual sessions: £48-£68 per session (sliding scale of fees; based on what you feel you can pay)
Couple sessions: £65-78 (based on what you can pay)
Supervision: £55 for 45 minutes fortnightly; £60 for 50 minutes fortnightly; £110 for 90 minutes (1.5 hours) monthly
Some lower fees for students/concessions may be available
When I work
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