About me
Hi, I am Sharmi.
I am a Psychologist and Senior Consultant Psychotherapist with over 20 years' experience across NHS, community and private practice settings. I am the Founder and Clinical Director of Stepping Stones Psychology – Integrated Mental Health & Specialist Trauma Therapy Services ®.
I offer trauma-focused practice and work primarily with adults, children and young people, couples and families affected by trauma, attachment wounds and relational difficulties.
Issues I work with and Specialism
I am trained and experienced in working with a wide range of mental health and emotional difficulties, however my specialism is in trauma and attachment work.
My specialist area is Complex Trauma (C-PTSD), particularly where early experiences of :
- neglect
- abuse
- attachment disruption
- chronic stress
continue to affect self-worth, relationships, emotional regulation and daily life.
Many of the people I work with describe struggling with:
- anxiety
- shame
- people-pleasing
- perfectionism
- relationship difficulties
- emotional overwhelm
- dissociation
- low self-esteem
- feeling stuck
despite years of trying to understand themselves. I am particularly passionate about supporting parents with a history of trauma, changing the cycle of generational trauma.
Fertility, Baby Loss & Pregnancy After Loss (PAL)
Alongside my work with trauma and attachment, I have a specialist interest in fertility, reproductive trauma, pregnancy and baby loss. I support individuals and couples navigating:
- fertility challenges
- infertility
- miscarriage
- stillbirth
- pregnancy after loss (including rainbow pregnancies)
- menopause-related fertility loss and complex grief
I also work with experiences that can carry significant emotional and psychological impact, including recurrent loss, termination, medical trauma and the uncertainty and anxiety that can accompany fertility treatment and pregnancy after loss.
My interest in this area has been shaped by both professional and personal experiences. During my work with adoptive and foster families at Chrysalis Associates, I supported many parents whose journeys to parenthood had included infertility, pregnancy loss, reproductive trauma and complex grief. This deepened my understanding of the emotional impact these experiences can have on identity, relationships, attachment and wellbeing. Alongside my specialist training, I have also witnessed the impact of fertility challenges and pregnancy loss among those close to me, further strengthening my appreciation of the complex and often unseen aspects of these experiences.
I am an Advanced Rainbow Baby Specialist, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Practitioner, and Infertility Specialist, having completed advanced specialist training through The Foundation for Infant Loss Training.
My approach provides a compassionate, trauma-informed space to process grief, uncertainty, fear, hope and the many emotions that can accompany fertility difficulties, pregnancy and baby loss, and the journey towards parenthood.
Sleep Difficulties, Insomnia & Trauma-Related Sleep Problems
I also provide specialist support for sleep difficulties, including insomnia, trauma-related sleep disturbance, nightmares, hypervigilance, difficulties falling asleep, frequent waking and sleep anxiety. Sleep difficulties are often closely connected to stress, anxiety, trauma and nervous system dysregulation, and can have a significant impact on emotional wellbeing, physical health and daily functioning.
My approach draws on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), the evidence-based treatment recommended by NICE and the NHS as the first-line psychological intervention for insomnia. Where sleep difficulties are linked to trauma, I may also integrate EMDR, nervous system-informed approaches, and Embodied Reprocessing™ (SEER Advancing Trauma Therapy™) to address the underlying factors contributing to persistent sleep disruption. Therapy would be tailored to your individual needs, helping you develop healthier sleep patterns while addressing the emotional and physiological factors that may be maintaining the problem.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
I also work with individuals experiencing Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), including both behavioural compulsions and intrusive thought-based challenges. This may include contamination fears, checking behaviours, reassurance seeking, symmetry and ordering compulsions, health-related obsessions, relationship OCD, harm OCD, sexual intrusive thoughts, religious scrupulosity (religious/moral OCD) and other unwanted intrusive thoughts that can cause significant distress.
I am trained and experienced in delivering Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the gold-standard psychological treatment for OCD, alongside EMDR using OCD-specific protocols where appropriate. My approach combines evidence-based treatment with a compassionate understanding of the fear, shame and self-doubt that often accompany OCD, helping clients reduce compulsions, develop greater confidence in managing uncertainty, and regain freedom in their daily lives.
My therapy approach
I offer an integrative, trauma-informed approach that recognises the connection between mind, body, nervous system and relationships. Integrative means a combination of different approaches tailored around each client's individual needs, goals and circumstances. It may draw on:
- EMDR
- Attachment-focused approaches
- Somatic therapies (body-based)
- Parts work
- Trauma-focused CBT
My aim is to provide a safe, compassionate and collaborative space where you can explore your experiences at your own pace, develop greater self-understanding, and move towards healing, resilience and meaningful change.
Additional info
Alongside individual therapy, I also provide clinical supervision, consultation, reflective practice groups and specialist trauma-informed training.
Training, qualifications & experience
Professional Experience
I have over two decades of clinical experience working across NHS, charitable and independent sectors with adults, children, young people, couples and families.
Professional Training
My professional training includes:
- Professional Doctorate training in Counselling Psychology (BPS-accredited programme)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychology and Counselling
- BSc (Hons) Psychology
- Professional Diploma in Counselling
- Professional Advanced Diploma in Counselling
- NCPS Accredited Registrant
- Eligibility to register with UKCP as a Psychotherapist
I have undertaken extensive post-qualification specialist training in trauma, attachment and nervous system-informed approaches, including:
- EMDR (Levels 1-3)
- EMDR with Children and Adolescents (Level 1-2)
- Attachment-Focused EMDR (Foundation level)
- Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (Level 1)
- Somatic Experiencing-informed training, including SIBAM
- Somatic Trauma Therapy (Babette Rothschild)
- TIST (Trauma-Informed Stabilisation Treatment, Janina Fisher)
- Compassionate Inquiry (Dr Gabor Maté)
- Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP)
- Theraplay
- Complex Trauma and Adult Survivors of Childhood Trauma training
- Monthly IFS Consultations with Frank Anderson
Clinical/Therapeutic Experience
My clinical experience includes, but not limited to working within:
- CAMHS
- Adult mental health services
- Specialist developmental trauma services (attachment and trauma)
- Domestic abuse services and independent practice
I have particular expertise in working with:
- Complex PTSD
- Developmental trauma, incl. emotional neglect
- Attachment difficulties
- Dissociation
- Chronic shame
- Relational trauma
- Abuse
- Neglect
- Adverse childhood experiences
- Complex grief
- Identity difficulties
- Recovery from abusive relationships
I am committed to ongoing professional development and regularly attend specialist trauma training, conferences, supervision and reflective practice groups to ensure my work remains current, ethical and evidence-informed.
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.
The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations. In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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
£35.00 - £130.00
Additional information
I offer a range of therapeutic services tailored to support your unique needs and goals.
Fee options
My fees vary depending on the type of therapy you choose and the level of specialisation involved.
My fees are based on:
- The type of therapy (e.g., general counselling vs. specialist trauma-focused approaches)
- The format of therapy (e.g., Individual or Family Therapy)
For example, basic counselling is typically my most affordable option. More specialised therapies, such as EMDR, somatic trauma therapy, DDP or Theraplay will be priced higher due to the advanced training and expertise they require.
Types of Therapy
Talking Therapy
Talking therapy (e.g., general counselling) offers a safe space to explore your thoughts, emotions, relationships, and life experiences. It focuses on developing insight, building coping strategies, and providing emotional support.
Starting from £85 per session.
Trauma Therapy
Trauma therapy is more specialised. It works directly with how traumatic experiences are stored in the brain and body. These approaches aim not just to talk about what happened but to reprocess trauma so that it no longer triggers overwhelming emotional or physical responses.
Therapeutic methods may include EMDR, somatic approaches, DDP and Theraplay.
Starting from £125 per session.
Affordability & Accessibility
I believe that trauma therapy should be accessible. If financial circumstances are the only barrier to accessing support, I offer on a case-by-case basis:
- Payment plans
- Sliding scale options
- Discounted rates
Further information
I understand that reaching out for therapy can feel daunting, particularly if previous experiences have left you feeling misunderstood, judged or unsupported.
My practice is grounded in compassion, collaboration and respect for each person's unique lived experiences.
I recognise that many difficulties make sense when viewed through a trauma and attachment lens, and I work to help clients understand not only what happened to them, but how those experiences may continue to influence their nervous system, relationships and sense of self today.
I also have extensive experience supporting therapists and helping professionals through clinical supervision and reflective practice.
I welcome clients from all backgrounds and am committed to providing a culturally sensitive, inclusive and neuro-affirming service.
If you are unsure whether therapy is right for you, I offer an initial consultation where we can discuss your needs and explore whether I am the right therapist to support you.
