Dr Polina Lukanova
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
People seek therapy for many reasons, and whatever brings you here will be unique to you. That’s why I take time to understand your experiences and what you're hoping to gain from therapy, so we can work together in a way that truly supports you. As someone who has had personal therapy, I understand how hard it can be to take that first step. If you’re reading this, you’re already halfway there.
As a Counselling Psychologist, I draw on a range of therapeutic approaches to support you in your healing and growth. I believe that every therapeutic relationship is unique, and I’ll tailor our work to suit your individual needs and preferences. My training includes person-centred, relational, psychodynamic, and cognitive behavioural (CBT) frameworks.
I also work from a trauma-informed perspective, holding awareness of the deep and often complex impact trauma can have—on your sense of self, your relationships, and how safe the world feels. My clinical experience, along with personal insight into trauma, helps me bring compassion, sensitivity, and steadiness into our work.
I’ve worked across a range of settings including non-profits, public services, and private practice. I have experience supporting people with issues such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, trauma, life transitions, bereavement, attachment and relational difficulties, ADHD, and chronic nightmares.
How I Can Help
I offer both short- and long-term counselling for a range of emotional and psychological difficulties. My aim is to provide a warm, confidential, and non-judgmental space where you can feel safe to explore your thoughts and experiences at your own pace.
I work from an empathic and culturally sensitive stance, always considering how your background, identity, and life context influence how you feel, think about yourself, and relate to others. I believe that self-awareness is at the heart of meaningful change, and our work together will reflect that.
To support this, I draw on:
Psychodynamic Therapy – to explore how early experiences and unconscious processes may be shaping your present patterns, thoughts, and behaviours.
Schema Therapy – where appropriate, to identify long-standing beliefs and coping styles. Techniques such as imagery and chair work can gently help shift these patterns and foster emotional resilience.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – to help you connect with your values and build psychological flexibility.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – to challenge unhelpful thoughts and support more adaptive ways of thinking and responding.
Our sessions will be collaborative and responsive to your unique needs. Together, we’ll work towards greater self-understanding, emotional clarity, and a stronger sense of wellbeing and personal growth.
I offer therapy in person as well as online. If you're curious about working together, please get in touch. I offer a free 15-minute consultation to see if we're a good fit. If you’re happy to continue, we’ll agree on a suitable day and time, and arrange to meet weekly or fortnightly—depending on the level of support you’re looking for.
Testimonials
"Polina made me feel comfortable and at ease during out conversations and together we worked through a vast array of issues, emption, fears, stresses, thought processes and coping mechanisms in order to build back my resilience. Polina’s professionalism, kindness and wise counsel has been so incredibly helpful to me and my family, she helped lift a weight that until we met was being placed on my wife’s shoulders and our marriage. Polina has done an amazing job at guiding me through a very challenging time and provided me with the building blocks to move forward and fully recover."
- Kyle, aged 38
"Thank you for your kind words, encouragement, knowledge and for being truly authentic within the therapeutic relationship. I really enjoyed working with you; you opened my eyes to so many aspects of relationships that I was completely blind to. I appreciate your kindness, compassion and providing me with a non-judgmental space to be myself"
- O, aged 48
Training, qualifications & experience
- Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology - University of Roehampton 2018-2022
- Graduate Certificate in Counselling Psychology (City University 2017-2018)
- MSc Psychology (University of Westminster 2015-2017)
- BSc. (Hons)
Additional training:
- Primary Certificate in Cognitive-behavioural Therapy (BPS London)
- Primary Certificate in Stress Management (BPS London)
- Awareness in Bereavement Care Level 2 (Ascentis accredited)
- Mindfulness Diploma Course (Centre for Excellence)
- Individual Schema Therapy (International Society of Schema Therapy)
Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
- Trauma & Attachment Summit (2020)
- A Day on the Mind and Body Connection (2020)
- Third Wave Psychotherapy (2020)
- Trauma & Attachment – Interpersonal Neurobiology and the Traumatic Transference (2021)
- The psychological and physiological repercussions of complex trauma: essential information (2021)
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
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The HCPC are an independent, UK-wide health regulator. They set standards of professional training, performance and conduct for 16 professions.
They keep a register of health professionals who meet their standards, and they take action if registered health professionals fall below those standards. They were created by a piece of legislation called the Health Professions Order 2001.
Registration means that a health professional meets national standards for their professional training, performance and conduct.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£150.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
15 min phone consultation: Free
When I work
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