Nicola Dooley

Welcome . I am a UKCP registered psychotherapist and a registered and senior accredited member of the BACP.

I have worked as a counsellor and psychotherapist since 1999, most recently as a Staff Counsellor for the London Fire Brigade. In addition I have worked in a range of contexts including a GP surgery, Sutton Hospital Psychotherapy Dept, PACE, an Alcohol and Drugs agency and private practice. I was also Chair of the Trauma Network (London) for 2 years.

I have considerable experience of working with and supporting a diverse range of individuals. I have particular experience of working with:

• relationship and family difficulties
• bereavement and loss
• depression and anxiety
• stress both work-related and life stressors
• trauma including post-traumatic stress disorder
• issues around sexuality and gender identity

Previously I worked as a research assistant at the Institute of Psychiatry on adoption and fostering and then in a social work team, working with vulnerable adults. I bring this knowledge and experience to my current work.

MY APPROACH

I work with individuals, face to face and offer both short and longer term, in-depth work. For people experiencing Post traumatic stress I can also offer a therapy called EMDR and Sensorimotor therapy.

I aim to create a safe and supportive therapeutic relationship - this is central to my work. I offer this by providing a:

• A confidential, safe space to explore things
• A respectful and non-judgemental relationship that values difference and diversity
• Clarity about what I can offer and how we might work together
• Being open and honest with you
• A commitment to listen and understand things from your perspective
• Exploring how past experiences may impact on the present
• Working at your pace and a depth that feels comfortable for you
• Building on and developing your strengths and resources
• Reviewing the work to ensure it is meeting your needs

I work in an exploratory, collaborative way. I like to work creatively to suit your style and personality and the issues you are bringing. Sometimes thoughts and feelings don't have words and it can be useful to use other ways to help express and make sense of them like imagery, drawing, body-focused therapy, as well as dialogue.

The theoretical approaches I integrate into my practice are from the psychodynamic and humanistic traditions, particularly intersubjective relational and body orientated approaches.

If you are interested in having counselling / psychotherapy with me then please e-mail or telephone. I like to have a brief telephone conversation with you before we book an initial session. This first session is an opportunity to look at what is concerning you and how we might work together and for each of us to see if I feel like the right person for you. If you decide you would like to continue then we can book some further sessions. I suggest that we review this after 6 sessions and think together how we go forward.

WHERE I WORK

My practice is based in Anerley Town Hall, a mixed business and community venue in Anerley. There are good transport links from Croydon, Crystal Palace, Beckenham and central London. Anerley station is opposite with both overground and national rail links from London Bridge, Forest Hill and West Croydon. Crystal Palace station is 10 mins walk away and again has Overground and national rail links to Victoria, London Bridge and Beckenham Junction. The nearest tram line stop is Birkbeck which is 15 mins away. The buses serving this location are 157, 249, 354 and 358.There is unrestricted street parking nearby

• The initial consultation is £75.00 and lasts 1 hour
• Ongoing sessions are £75.00 for a 50 mins session
• EMDR sessions maybe longer for which different charges will apply.
• Payment is by cheque, cash, or bank transfer