About me
Therapy for LGBTQIA+ adults living with shame, family rejection or religious trauma
Hi, I’m Polly.
I work with LGBTQIA+ adults carrying shame from family or religious experiences. You may have built an identity that feels good in many ways, while still living with old feelings of shame or rejection. Perhaps you feel proud of who you are yet still worry about belonging, whether in your family, your cultural community or your faith. Many of my clients learnt, often without quite realising it, to hide parts of themselves in order to stay safe and connected, or to avoid rejection.
I am especially interested in working with queer adults navigating the impact of early relationships, difficult family dynamics, or religious experiences that left them feeling ashamed, abandoned, or unsure who they really are. This can leave people feeling like they are never quite enough.
I believe many of the ways we struggle in adulthood grew from the instinct to survive and protect ourselves in early relationships. Therapy offers a chance to understand those patterns with patience and compassion, rather than an expectation of needing to 'fix' ourselves.
Together, and at a pace that feels safe, we can explore patterns that are painful, while supporting the parts of you that already feel assured, capable and alive.
Therapy can also be a place to explore questions of faith, spirituality, meaning, and identity. I welcome people of faith, those wrestling with faith, and those who have had religious experiences that were painful, or rejecting, including attempted 'conversion therapy'.
Starting therapy can feel like a big step. I offer a free 30-minute phone or online consultation so we can talk about what's bringing you to therapy, answer any questions you may have, and see whether working together feels right.
I offer sessions in Crystal Palace, London Bridge and online.
Training, qualifications & experience
I hold a Diploma in Integrative Counselling from the Minster Centre, Europe's leading integrative psychotherapy training institution. I am currently completing my Masters in Psychotherapy, also at the Minster Centre.
I have over two years of clinical experience, working with clients in short-term NHS Talking Therapies and longer term in community settings.
I am registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). This means that I abide by their Ethical Framework, ensuring I work safely and professionally, putting your interests first at all time.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
I offer LGBTQIA+ affirmative counselling.
Therapies offered
Fees
£70.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
All sessions run for 50 minutes
I offer a free no-commitment 30-minute online or phone consultation, to help you work out whether I am the right counsellor for you.
When I work
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