About me
Welcome, I’m Samia. I love what I do. 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. As an integrative therapist offering counselling and psychotherapy, I'm here to help you with the areas that matter to you. Supporting people in gaining a deeper understanding of themselves is a privilege I deeply value and I do this by creating a safe and protected space. I see myself as a therapist of colour and therefore ensure all my work employs cultural sensitivity, so that you are seen with respect and care.
- I have provided counselling and psychotherapy care since 2019. My extensive clinical counselling background includes schools, non-profit organisations (in partnership with NHS) and collaborative working with CAMHS and mental health specialists.
- I lecture and teach counselling 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 role as School Clinician within state secondary education.
Who Can I Help?
In my private practice, I am experienced and interested in addressing a wide range of issues affecting both young people and adults, such as navigating neurodiversity, self-esteem, family break-ups, grief, transitions, depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, perfectionism stemming from parental pressures and/ or cultural and societal expectations, academic pressures, not feeling good-enough, generational trauma, emotional abuse, and parent-child relationships, and those involving adult children. This includes situations where parents are loving but have faced challenges in the relationship, such as neglect or parental depression.
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.
My Approach
Counselling and psychotherapy are not one-size-fits-all approaches. I offer a flexible therapy service by appropriately combining various "modalities" or types of care to tailor counselling to your needs, individually. For children and adolescents, having their emotional states validated and experiencing an empathetic, attentive listener can be deeply healing. I offer weekly 50-minute sessions, available in-person or online.
- I use psychodynamic and attachment theories to explore how past experiences influence the present, and consider the systems surrounding you that may reflect on your way of being.
- I am trauma-informed having acquired substantial experience working with survivors of domestic violence.
- I prioritise a trusting therapist-client relationship, utilising a person-centered approach that embodies empathy and non-judgement, allowing you to feel seen and heard.
- With children and young people, I apply creative play and neuroscience theory to tailor therapy to development. I employ CBT to support exploration around thinking.
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+: In our first session, we’ll explore your reasons for seeking therapy, any questions you may have, and ensure that we both feel comfortable working together. This session will focus on understanding your emotional, physical, and mental well-being, giving us a clear picture of your current challenges. You can ask any questions you may have as well as to ensure that both you and I feel comfortable to work together. If I am not the best fit for you, I will recommend someone else.
For children and teenagers (under 18): In this session, I will begin by meeting with both the parent and child together before seeing each separately. This approach ensures that both have a voice in the process, allowing me to understand their perspectives and concerns. Following this, I will conduct an assessment with parents or carers to gather background history and explore presenting difficulties. 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.
Parent Support Sessions: With over 15 years of experience as a primary school teacher, and five years experience working in secondary school settings, I offer compassionate parent and carer support and coaching, helping them navigate the emotional needs of their children. I guide parents in developing a deeper understanding of their child's perspective, listening with empathy, and responding in ways that foster emotional growth. My natural ability to connect with parents allows me to support families in addressing a wide range of needs, from neurodiversity to behavioural challenges. Through tailored strategies, I empower parents to build stronger, more positive relationships with their children and create environments that nurture their emotional well-being.
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
I am based in North London, within a 10-15 minute walk from two local Underground stations. Counselling takes place in a comfortable and informal setting. Parking is free after 6.30pm on weekdays. The room is equipped for creative and play therapy.
Training, qualifications & experience
Prior to re-training as a therapist, I had a significant career in primary education both nationally and internationally, and as an SEN specialist in social, emotional, and behavioral difficulties (SEBD). I transitioned into the world of psychotherapy and undertook a BACP accredited Postgraduate Diploma training from the University of East London and Place2Be, and have practiced as a fully qualified clinician since 2019. As an MBACP Registered Member, I adhere to their ethical framework. I am fully insured and hold an Enhanced DBS check.
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), 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 Level 7 - Counselling Children and Adolescents in Schools - UEL/Place2Be
- Postgraduate Certificate - Social, Emotional and Mental Health - University of Birmingham
Training
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), Papyrus
- Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA), NHS NELFT Addressing Trauma-Based Shame in Children who Hate Themselves
- Certificate of completion: Online Therapy Telehealth CPD Training: Moving Your Practice Online
- Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional CCATP
- CPD & Certificate of Completion: Neurodiversity in Girls
- Trauma and the Body: Somatisation and Dissociation
- CPD: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Anger Management
- CPD: Enactments & Psychotherapy
- CPD: Short Term Psychodynamic Therapy and Mentalising
- CPD: Building the Bonds of Attachment: Awakening Love in Deeply Traumatised Children, Dr Dan Hughes,
- CPD: Emotionally Regulating Our Students, Dr Karen Treisman
- Certificate of Completion: Islamic Approaches To Psychology and Psychotherapy Level One, Professor 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
£50.00 - £70.00
Free initial in-person, telephone or online session
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.
