About me
*** I am now also offering remote counselling with video sessions via FaceTime, Teams or WhatsApp ***
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 (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy), 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 I work with a variety of theoretical approaches, which gives me the skills and the foundation to develop my own way of working with you.
As part of my therapeutic work I use art, drawing, archetypes, interpretation of dreams, story-telling, poetry and creative writing in order to facilitate expression of self beyond words.
I offer a non judgmental approach, with empathy and integrity as well as a safe space for you to be heard and empowered.
I work in whitton Twickenham/Richmond
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/young adults.
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/assessor /Supervisor at both Richmond and Hillcroft adult Community college and at Guildford college, where I co-facilitate and teach groups of student counsellors from level 2 to Diploma level.
https://www.rhacc.ac.uk/schools/richmond-business-school/tutor-profiles/paula-lopes
- Certificate in Online & Phone Counselling
- Training in Safeguarding Children
- Enhanced DBS Certificate
- Certificate in working with the metaphor
- ‘Hidden Harm’ training ( substance abuse )
- Certificate in Children and Attachment
I have extensive experience in working with children as well as adults with Autism and ADHD.
I am quite invested in my development as an individual as well as a counsellor, therefore I regularly attend training courses and workshops as a part of my Continual Professional Development training.
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
£65.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
- Weekdays £65 per session (50 minutes sessions)
- Saturday sessions £70 (50 minutes session)
* Assessment/first session - this is an opportunity for us to ascertain 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.
When I work
Walthamstow - Remote counselling only
Twickenham - Remote and face to face counselling
I currently have limited availability but please do not hesitate to make contact.
Further information
I offer reduced fees for counselling students and trainee counsellors.
If you’re concerned about whether you can afford counselling, please don’t hesitate to contact me as I offer a few slots with concessions to those with lower incomes or experiencing financial difficulties.
