About me
Sam Otero: BSc(Hons), MRes, PhD Psychology. BACP and CPCAB Accredited Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling.
I know that searching for a counsellor can be daunting and possibly stressful. Many people come to counselling anxious and uncertain about what they need. I am here to reassure you that is normal and that finding a path to what you seek is possible.
I have the skills and experience to listen carefully and notice what matters most. I trust that you have the resources within you and can help draw out hidden treasure. There is no pain too deep or problem too big that we cannot look at together. I provide a caring, nurturing space for you to be fully yourself, even if you don't know what that looks like, yet.
My background is in psychological research with a focus on memory and neuropsychology. I bring this into my counselling work with considerations of how the past influences the present, and how our brains are uniquely and individually wired. I use person-centred counselling with skills in re-connecting body and mind to discover the wisdom of your whole being.
Training, qualifications & experience
I hold a BSc (Hons) First Class in Psychology, an MRes in Psychology, and a PhD in Cognitive Neuropsychology; Sussex. I also hold a Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, with specialist training in somatic work. I hold BACP accreditation (MBACP Accred.)
My approach is person-centred with experiential process, often known as emotion-focused therapy (EFT) as well as being trauma, IFS (Internal Family Systems), and inner-child informed in my practice. I have specialist training in working with Child Sexual Abuse (CSA), Gottman relationship skills, and somatic approaches.
I am currently completing training in clinical supervision.
Before becoming a therapist, I built 20 years of experience in business, community, and organisational leadership. This included several years of travelling and working internationally with individuals, teams, and organisations helping them navigate pressure, change, conflict, and performance. This, combined with my academic training in psychology and cognitive neuropsychology, gives me a targeted understanding of how life experience affects body and mind.
My experience allows me to bring both intellectual depth and real-world relevance to the therapy room.
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.
The Association of Christians in Counselling and Linked Professions (ACC) is a Christian professional membership organisation for those involved in counselling/psychotherapy and linked professions, i.e. pastoral care, coaching and spiritual direction, in the UK. The organisation is made up of various different membership categories, including Counsellor and Accredited, and requires all members working as counsellors to undertake Continuous Professional Development on a regular basis.
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
- Spiritual abuse
- Cult survivors and their family members
- Codependency
- Workplace bullying
Fees
£70.00 per session
Additional information
I offer a limited number of couple's counselling sessions a week at £120 per hour.
I offer a small number of individual concession spaces for those who may not be able to afford counselling at the full rate, please get in touch to enquire about availability.
Further information
I work on Zoom with clients all over the world, and in-person in my office in Old Portslade near Brighton.
I also offer couples counselling for anyone wanting to move past stuck patterns, improve communication, rebuild intimacy, or make clear decisions about the relationship. Using Gottman methods, IFS, and trauma-informed work, we gently tackle real issues at depth while keeping things practical and forward-moving. Ideal for couples who are committed to change.
