Maria Pournara

Verified Professional task_alt Verified Professional
Verified Professional

Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.

Chartered Psychologist, HCPC registered, MBPS, CPsychol
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

location_on London E14 & W1W
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

https://psych-ology.com


You might be feeling anxious, stressed or unhappy. You might be struggling with low mood or low self-esteem. You might be troubled by life challenges. You might be facing relationship difficulties. Or you might be a couple that is dealing with numerous stresses such as intimacy, betrayal, family tensions, parenting issues. This is when a therapist like me might be able to help.

As an experienced Psychologist, I offer expert therapy services tailored to your specific needs helping you gain insight into current challenges, build healthy coping strategies and find ways to manage whatever life throws at you.

I am a Chartered Psychologist HCPC and BPS registered with more 10 years of experience in the NHS, third sector and private practice. I am a highly trained and experienced psychologist providing evidence based psychological services to individuals and couples. I apply my clinical expertise in a wide range of psychological and emotional difficulties offering a psychological service tailored to your unique needs. I aim to help you understand the root of your difficulties, acquire healthy coping strategies in order to lead a meaningful life and build meaningful relationships.

I offer online session to individual and couples. If you would like to know how I can help you get in touch on 07834389401 or email me at info@psych-ology.com For more information you can visit my website https://psych-ology.com.


In my private practice, I see people every day who may be faced with a variety of issues. Some examples of how therapy can be helpful for you may be:

  • Gaining a deeper insight of what may be causing your difficulties.
  • Connecting with different aspects of yourself.
  • Understanding your feelings and emotions.
  • Exploring difficulties in relationships with others around you, including intimate, family, social or professional relationships.
  • Managing problems, such as anger, sadness, stress, that impede on your day to day life.
  • Changing behaviours or patterns that cause tension in your life.
  • Finding ways to move forward.

More specifically, I have worked with anxiety, depression, relationships problems, affairs, family issues, addictions, bullying, anger issues and personality difficulties. My clinical experience further includes but is not limited to: panic attacks, stress, low confidence, low self-esteem, life-crisis, life transitions, work-related issues, loss, grief, trauma (including sexual trauma), abuse (including emotional, physical or sexual) and identity issues.

I offer short-term (8 to 12 weeks), medium-term (up to 24 weeks) and long-term (a year or more) therapy. I am committed to an ethical, non-discriminatory practice and I welcome individuals from all cultures, backgrounds and sexualities. I abide strongly by the ethical framework of the BPS, and HCPC.


How can Counselling/Therapy help?

Counselling, or personal therapy, allows you to explore any challenges you may encounter in a safe, confidential space. Counselling can help you deal with difficult feelings and thoughts as well as issues that may affect your personal, professional or social life.

The therapist is there to support you in a non-judgemental way. Although therapists will not give you advice they will help you to find your own insights, identify your own needs and think about how you would like to move forward.

Counselling often involves talking about emotionally painful issues, therefore initially you may find you are feeling worse. However, this is often the case for most clients and with the therapist's support you should gradually feel better. Normally, it takes a number of sessions before counselling makes a difference and regular commitment with your therapist is highly recommended so that you make best use of therapy.

Training, qualifications & experience

List of Qualifications

Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology (PsychD), University of Roehampton, UK

Advanced Diploma in Couples Counselling, NAOS Education, UK

Post-Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy (PGDip), University of Edinburgh

Master of Science in Counselling Studies (MSc), University of Edinburgh, UK

Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology (BSc), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

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

Other areas of counselling I deal with

Please call or email me to discuss any further queries you may have.

Therapies offered

Fees

£180.00 - £190.00

Health Insurance/EAP

  • check_circle Aviva
  • check_circle Axa Health
  • check_circle BUPA
  • check_circle Vitality
  • check_circle WPA
  • check_circle Cigna

Additional information

£120 for individual counselling (55 minutes)

£150 for couples counselling (60 minutes)

The fee is payable at the end of each session by cash or online transfer.

Accepting insurance: Aviva, AXA PPP Healthcare, AETNA, BUPA, Cigna, Vitality Health, WPA

When I work

Online appointments only. Flexible times.

Further information

Memberships:

HCPC Registered - Membership Number: PYL34506

BPS: MBPsS – Membership Number: 235504

Type of session

Online

Types of client

Adults (25-64)
Couples

Key details

DBS check info

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 info
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.

Additional languages

Greek

Online platforms

Zoom