
Paula Lopes RMBACP

About me
Choosing a counsellor is not a tick box exercise. Your feelings are precious, choose wisely.
I am an experienced, qualified, Integrative counsellor and a registered member of the BACP, I also have extensive multicultural experiences, which enables me to support people from different backgrounds.
It is my belief that a Counselling relationship is meeting another human being at a depth that goes far beyond the surface level of relating. Through Counselling I aim to help you to understand and to acknowledge aspects of self, as well as areas of your life that you might not be happy with. If your emotions are confusing or overwhelming then talking about them can bring you clarity.
When emotions are not understood and acknowledged, they become invisible baggage that we can drag with us into all aspects of life and relationships. Your past informs your present and together we can understand meanings and recognise patterns of behaviour providing you with greater self-awareness about your past, your relationships with self and others and to explore options for the future. Knowing the origin of the problem is not enough to resolve it completely.
In therapy we look at the everyday triggers, i.e. how come you continue to feel and act the way you do. My aim is to enable you to understand yourself.
Counselling in essence is a path to your discovery of self. I am an integrative counsellor, which means that with a variety of theoretical approaches, which gives me the skills and the foundation to develop my own way of working with you.
I offer a non judgmental approach, with empathy and integrity as well as a safe space for you to be heard and empowered.
I believe Counselling should be accessible to everyone therefore I offer home visits and can within reason travel to your house. I also offer Saturday sessions.
I work in Twickenham/Richmond and in Walthamstow in East London.
Training, qualifications & experience
Level 5 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling;
I have experience in working with children and young people for a number of years at Place2be (http://www.place2be.org.uk), a charity counselling service that provides support in schools, to children between the ages of 4 years old and teenagers.
I had over a year of specialised training with male and female victims of domestic and sexual abuse as well as perpetrators.
I am also a counselling Tutor/Supervisor at Richmond and Hillcroft adult Community College, where I co-facilitate and teach groups of potential counsellors from level 2 to Diploma.
https://www.rhacc.ac.uk/schools/richmond-business-school/tutor-profiles/paula-lopes
I regularly attend training courses as a part of my Continual Professional Development training.
Areas of counselling I deal with
- Abortion
- Abuse
- Addiction(s)
- ADHD
- Affairs and betrayals
- Anger management
- Anorexia nervosa
- Antisocial personality disorder
- Anxiety
- Asperger's syndrome
- Attachment disorder
- Attachment disorder in children
- Autism
- Avoidant personality disorder
- Behaviour problems
- Bereavement
- Binge-eating disorder
- Body dysmorphic disorder
- Bulimia nervosa
- Bullying
- Cancer
- Career counselling
- Carer support
- Child related issues
- Childhood bereavement
- Childhood bullying
- Children’s learning difficulties
- Dependent personality disorder
- Depression
- Depression and anxiety in children
- Disabilities
- Discrimination
- Dissociation
- Domestic violence
- Eating disorders
- Emotional abuse
- Family issues
- Feeling sad
- Gambling
- Gender dysphoria
- Generalised anxiety disorder
- Infertility
- Learning difficulties
- Loneliness
- Low self-confidence
- Low self-esteem
- Miscarriage
- Narcissistic personality disorder
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
- Panic attacks
- Passive aggressive behaviour
- Personality disorders
- Physical abuse
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Postnatal depression
- Pregnancy and birth
- Redundancy
- Relationship problems
- Self-harm
- Separation and divorce
- Separation anxiety
- Sex addiction
- Sex problems
- Sexual abuse
- Sexuality
- Smoking
- Stress
- Suicidal thoughts
- Trauma
- Work-related stress
- Young carers
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
Assessment £50 ( 50 minutes session )*
Day time sessions 9 am to 5 pm £50 ( 50 minutes session )
Evening and Saturday sessions £55 ( 50 minutes session )
Sundays and Home visits £65 ( 50 minutes session )
* Assessment/first sessions will be charge £50 - this is an opportunity for us to check if we can work with each other in order to embark on a journey together.
Therapy is a serious commitment and money spent on therapy is an investment in personal change and growth.
Further information
I offer reduced fees for counselling students.
If you’re concerned about whether you can afford the sessions, please don’t hesitate to contact me as I offer concessions to those with lower incomes or experiencing financial difficulties.
Maps & Directions
Type of session
Online counselling: | No |
Telephone counselling: | Yes |
Face to face counselling: | Yes |
Home visits: | No |
Practical details
Sign language: | No |
Other languages: | Portuguese |
Availability
Walthamstow - Only a couple of slots available on Saturdays pm
Types of client
Children |
Young people |
Adults |
Older adults |
Couples |