Dr Shirin Shams
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Approaching the idea of being a client in therapy for the first time, or again, can be an uncertain place to be in. I therefore offer all prospective clients a free 15-minute telephone consultation where we can discuss any questions or concerns that you may have about engaging in counselling. You can contact me via email to provide your contact details and request a call-back from me.
I’m a chartered Counselling Psychologist registered with the Health Professions Council and the British Psychological Society. I have in-depth knowledge and experience in mental health that have gleaned over 15 years from working in public, voluntary and private sectors .
Therapy is most successful when it’s collaborated between client and clinician. I understand that you invest your time, money and energy by being in therapy, and from this investment in Yourself I want you to get the upmost value. Therefore, I find it very important to hear what you would like to gain from the counselling experience. By doing so, we can ascertain what kind of psychological therapy would be best suited for you. I offer short-term as well as open-ended therapeutic approaches.
I have successfully engaged in both short- and long-term therapy with clients from varied social and cultural backgrounds who present with a range of difficulties. To meet unique client needs, I use evidence-based strategies proven to be effective in up-to-date psychological research. To this end, I draw on (cognitive-behavioural, psychodynamic and person-centred) approaches that can support you in better understanding past and present experiences that may have shaped you, but also in addressing and modifying current behaviours or thinking patterns that do not help you.
If you have any questions or concerns that you would like to address, please do not hesitate getting in touch to arrange a free telephone consultation as I would be more than happy to talk it through with you.
Training, qualifications & experience
As a Doctor in Counselling Psychology, I have the ability to critically evaluate a broad range of psychological theory while remaining aware of the diversity of individual perspectives. Over the course of 15 years, I have acquired detailed knowledge of, and wide experience of working in, the area of mental health. I have worked in public, voluntary and private sectors and with individuals presenting with a wide range of mental health and emotional issues from diverse backgrounds .
Building on the experience that I have accumulated, and with qualifications from the University of Roehampton, City University London, and the University of Westminster, my practice combines the highest professional standards with a firmly client-centred approach adhering to highly respected ethics codes as set out by the British Psychological Society (BPS), the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
As a Counselling Psychologist, I do not privilege a particular therapeutic approach over others. I have been trained in a variety of clinically proven therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive-Behavioural, Humanistic and Psychodynamic Therapies. These theories and practices can be used separately, or combined in an integrated approach suited to Your specific and unique needs.
Member organisations
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 HCPC are an independent, UK-wide health regulator. They set standards of professional training, performance and conduct for 16 professions.
They keep a register of health professionals who meet their standards, and they take action if registered health professionals fall below those standards. They were created by a piece of legislation called the Health Professions Order 2001.
Registration means that a health professional meets national standards for their professional training, performance and conduct.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Fees
£170.00 per session
Free initial telephone or online session
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Individuals counselling: £170 per session
Couples counselling: £190 per session
Health/Medical insurers: Aviva Health, AXA PPP Healthcare, BUPA, CIGNA, Exeter Family Friendly, Groupama Healthcare, PruHealth, Simplyhealth, Vitality, WPA
Further information
In all cases, my practice is centred on the importance of dialogue, on your individual, subjective and personal experiences, and on the nature of your relationships; together with the application of clinically approved techniques and methods suited to the specific problem with which you present.
I have excellent language skills in English and Swedish. I am also conversational in Norwegian and Farsi; I aim to provide counselling in all of these languages. In addition to offering psychological treatment, I am also experienced in the application of psychometric testing and offering expert witness that includes psychological assessments and medico-legal reports produced for the Courts.
