About me
Healing trauma takes time, and a genuinely trauma-informed approach. Many of us carry invisible wounds from childhood: the hypervigilance from growing up walking on eggshells, the self-criticism derived from caregivers who couldn't regulate their own emotions, or the deep sense of not being enough despite our achievements.
Complex developmental trauma doesn't always look like what people expect, but it lives in our bodies and shapes how we see ourselves and the world.
I'm Shabnum, a trauma specialist who understands these struggles both professionally and personally.
I work with adults healing from complex trauma, childhood emotional neglect, and the lasting effects of growing up in environments where safety - physical or emotional - wasn't guaranteed.
I also work with children and young people aged 9 to 18, particularly those who are neurodivergent, who have SEND, or who have been through frightening or unstable early experiences. Before training as a psychotherapist, I spent over twenty years in education as a qualified teacher and former SENDCo, so I know this age group well and understand school from the inside.
BACP registered. Enhanced DBS. Free 20 minute call for parents.
Currently completing advanced Complex Trauma Certification (CCTP/CCTP-II) with Dr. Janina Fisher, I follow the evidence-based tri-phasic model in my approach to trauma recovery:
- Phase 1: Emotional Safety and Symptom Stabilisation (I have enough safety and stability in my life to address my trauma)
- Phase 2: Processing Traumatic Memories (with support, I can feel my emotions and grieve)
- Phase 3: Integration and Reconnection (I am more than my trauma).
I specialise in complex trauma, sometimes intergenerational, from chaotic / emotionally shut-down families. Are you struggling with perfectionism, people-pleasing, shame, anxiety, emotional overwhelm, or intimacy issues? These survival strategies once protected you, but may now be holding you back.
As a second-generation Asian immigrant, I bring a nuanced understanding of cultural and religious issues, including identity struggles and family expectations. I support clients whose cultural or neurodivergent identities intersect with trauma. Whatever your background, you'll find a non-judgmental, supportive space where you can bring your whole self: your fears, hopes, and everything in between.
Working with me means having someone walk alongside you - not leading, not following, but journeying with you. I aim to create a space where you feel safe, heard and able to heal.
Where would you like to start?
Client Testimonials:
“Working with Shabnum has been a profoundly healing experience. Her empathy, understanding, and guidance have supported me through a past and present I never thought I could overcome. I have never felt so seen and held in a therapeutic space. Having had bad experiences with therapists in the past, Shabnum restored my faith in therapy and the possibility of healing from trauma. She brings a rare combination of professionalism, compassion, and deep presence and I will always be grateful for the impact she has had on my life.”
- Rashmi, 46 years old
“You didn’t state the obvious, as other therapists in the past have done. You asked me questions which led me to have deeper insights. I have really enjoyed our sessions and have learned a lot.”
- Nikki, 21 years old
Training, qualifications & experience
Diploma in Counselling Children and Young People - SPC Training Academy
DBT training - Mind Reframed and DBT UK
Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP accredited) - University of East London
Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) - Hertfordshire University
BSc Government including 1 year Psychology module - LSE
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
Therapies offered
Fees
£65.00 - £95.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
My standard adult fee is £75 per 50 minute session online, with a concessionary rate of £65 for people who are unemployed or on benefits. Face to face sessions in Uxbridge are available by arrangement at £90, which includes room hire.
For children and young people aged 9 to 18, my fee is £80 per 50 minute session online, or £95 in person in Uxbridge, including room hire.
These fees allow me to keep my caseload small and to invest in ongoing training and supervision, so that you or your child get my full attention and the best possible support.
When I work
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Further information
I am an integrative therapist, specialising in childhood, complex, relational, and generational trauma. I draw on a variety of approaches. This can range from exploring the impact of your past on the present day (psychodynamic therapy) to imparting practical strategies (for example from DBT) or exploring different parts of yourself that may have developed in response to trauma (Internal Family Systems Therapy or IFS).
At the heart of all of it is the relationship between us: a space built on empathy, attunement, and genuine human connection. This relational way of working is often the turning point for people who’ve felt unseen, unheard, or unsafe in relationships before. If you’re craving a warm, collaborative space to feel truly known, that’s what you’ll find here.
The path to healing often isn’t straightforward, but if you’re willing to embrace the unknown, we’ll build a relationship, so you won’t have to do it alone. Where would you like to start?
