About me
Welcome, I’m Samia. I love what I do. Seeking therapy can feel like a big step. Whether it's exploring emotional histories, working on yourself, navigating a life crisis or understanding your relationship with others, these may be some of the reasons you’re here. Supporting people is a privilege I deeply value and I'm here to help you with the areas that matter to you. Together, we explore what is happening in the present and also how your lived experiences, relationships and environment may have shaped the way you understand yourself today.
I've been working therapeutically since 2017 and as a fully qualified integrative therapist since 2019, offering counselling and psychotherapy to people of various ages, backgrounds and within a range of settings.
As a therapist of colour, I understand the importance of culture, identity and belonging and I am committed to ensuring these aspects of your experience are welcomed into the therapeutic space with sensitivity and respect.
I lecture and teach counselling psychology and psychotherapy as Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) Tutor for Place2be, one of the UK’s leading children’s mental health charity underpinned by the University of East London, alongside my lead role as School Clinician within state secondary education in Waltham Forest, London. As an MBACP Registered Member, I adhere to their ethical framework. I am fully insured and hold an Enhanced DBS check.
What is Counselling?
Counselling is two people, in the same room, focused on one person. A counsellor's full presence and therapeutic techniques enables the person sharing to experience being held and contained. This is a reparative experience, promoting emotional well-being and resilience.
How I Work
In my therapy room, people who have worked with me often describe benefiting from truth offered with compassion, warmth and acceptance. This may involve thoughtful reflection and gentle challenge, helping you to explore difficult experiences with greater confidence and self-awareness. I won't tell you what you want to hear, but I will aim to create a space where you feel safe enough to hear what you need to. My role is to work alongside you with curiosity, honesty and care as you develop a deeper understanding of yourself and move towards meaningful change.
Who Can I Help?
I work with people facing a range of emotional and relational challenges, including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, perfectionism, grief, life transitions, neurodiversity, self-harm, academic or workplace pressures and feeling not good enough. I also support those exploring the impact of cultural and societal expectations, generational trauma, domestic and emotional abuse/ violence and difficulties within family and parent-child relationships, including those between parents and adult children.
My Approach
Therapy is not a one-size-fits-all process, so I tailor my approach to your individual needs. Drawing from psychodynamic, attachment-based, systemic, person-centred, CBT and relational approaches. I prioritise building a trusting therapeutic relationship where you feel safe enough to explore what matters to you. My work is trauma-informed and with children and young people I use creative and developmentally appropriate approaches alongside talking therapy.
My Services
I offer a free phone consultation to briefly explore why you might be seeking counselling and an opportunity for you to ask questions.
For adults 18+: Our first session is an opportunity to explore what has brought you to therapy, understand your current circumstances and discuss what you hope to gain from the process. You'll have the opportunity to ask any questions and get a sense of how I work, while we consider whether we feel like a good fit to work together. If I don't believe I am the right therapist for your needs, I will be honest about that and help you explore alternative options. We will also discuss practical matters such as confidentiality, safety and any goals you may have for therapy.
For children and teenagers (under 18): For children and young people, the first session allows me to understand both the child's and parent's perspectives, ensuring everyone has a voice in the process. I will meet with parents and young people to explore concerns, gather relevant background information and consider what support may be most helpful. Together, we will identify goals for therapy and discuss how we can work collaboratively to support your child. Ongoing parent consultations provide an opportunity to review progress, address challenges and consider practical ways of supporting your child outside of sessions. For young people, confidentiality is respected and discussed openly, with information only shared where there are concerns about safety to support parents/ carers.
Parent Support Sessions: Parenting can be rewarding, but it can also feel overwhelming, particularly when your child is struggling emotionally, behaviourally, socially or academically. Drawing on over 15 years' experience in education and extensive therapeutic work with children, young people and families, I support parents and carers in developing a deeper understanding of their child's needs, strengthening communication and responding with confidence and empathy. Whether you are navigating neurodiversity, family transitions, behavioural challenges or relationship difficulties, our work together will focus on practical and meaningful strategies that support both your child and the wider family.
Trainee Counsellors/ Therapists: I work with counsellors-in-training, focusing on self-awareness as a foundational skill for effective practice. We explore thoughts, emotions, and biases, to develop a deeper understanding, which in turn enhances client connectivity. I tailor my approach to the specific training needs of each counsellor-in-training by integrating techniques that align with their training to enhance both their personal therapy and learning experience.
Location
Online or face to face.
I am based in North London, within a 15-20 minute bus ride from the Underground. Counselling takes place in a comfortable and informal setting. Parking is free. The room is equipped for creative and play therapy.
Training, qualifications & experience
My background began in education, where I spent over 15 years as a primary school teacher in the UK and specialised as SEN teacher in the Middle East. I then re-trained as a therapist through a BACP-accredited Postgraduate Diploma programme at the University of East London and Place2Be. Today, I lecture/teach on the course as a PGDip tutor alongside my role as lead school clinician in a state secondary school.
Experience
- Private Practice
In my private practice, I provide tailored high-quality counselling to a diverse client base of various ages (children, adolescents, sixth form students and adults) and backgrounds, experiencing a wide range of emotional problems, whilst observing confidentiality.
- School Clinician: Primary and Secondary School
I manage and oversee clinical counselling provision at a state secondary school in Waltham Forest supporting pupils with emotional challenges, on occasions in partnership with NHS professionals, Social Services and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Weekly sessions explore client-led issues ranging from anxiety, self-harm, exam pressures, peer issues and parent-child dynamics. In primary school, I work with children across Key Stage 1 and 2 employing creative and play therapeutic practices.
- Sixth Form Students
I work with young people transitioning from secondary school to sixth form, and with sixth form students transitioning to University. We work on various issues ranging from anxiety, stress and peer relationships.
- Counsellor at Nour Domestic Violence (NDV) Non-Profit Women's Support Service
I have substantial trauma-informed counselling experience having worked with South Asian women aged 20 and above supporting them with trauma, abuse and domestic violence-related issues.
Qualifications
- Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) Level 7 - Counselling Children and Adolescents in Schools - UEL/Place2Be
- Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) - Social, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties - University of Birmingham
- BA (Hons) Primary Education with QTS - Middlesex University
Training
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), Papyrus
-
Autism in the Consulting Room: Insights for Psychotherapy, CONFER
- Certificate of completion: Online Therapy Telehealth CPD Training: Moving Your Practice Online
- Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional CCATP
- Trauma and the Body: Somatisation and Dissociation
- A Multidisciplinary Approach to Anger Management
- Enactments & Psychotherapy
- Short Term Psychodynamic Therapy and Mentalising
- Building the Bonds of Attachment: Awakening Love in Deeply Traumatised Children, Dr Dan Hughes,
- Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA), NHS NELFT Addressing Trauma-Based Shame in Children who Hate Themselves
- Emotionally Regulating Our Students, Dr Karen Treisman
- Certificate of Completion: Neurodiversity in Girls
- Certificate of Completion: Islamic Approaches To Psychology and Psychotherapy Level 1, Professor Dr. Rasjid Skinner, Ihsaan
An Islamic Approach to the Treatment of OCD, IIDR
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
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
Fees
£55.00 - £70.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
50 minute one-to-one counselling sessions. Counselling may be long or short term, though I recommend a minimum of 6 sessions.
When I work
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Further information
Initial Consultation
A free, 15 - 20 minute telephone consultation gives you an opportunity to ask any questions and arrange an assessment.
Adolescents and Adults Assessment:
This is longer, and can take up to 50 minutes either in-person or online via zoom. An assessment consultation is made prior to any counselling work - this is an opportunity to gain a background history and form an understanding of presenting difficulties. In the assessment we explore your reasons for seeking therapy, any questions you may have as well as to ensure that if you decide to go ahead with therapy, you or your family member feel comfortable to work with me.
Working with Parents/ Carers:
I welcome working in partnership with parents/ carers. Once counselling commences, regular consultations ensure that the young client's needs and goals are kept in mind. Discussions can address progress, areas of difficulty and practical strategies to support parents/ carers.
