Sofia Araka
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
About me
I am a qualified Psychodynamic Counsellor, registered with the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) and the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP). I offer a safe, compassionate, and non-judgmental space where you can feel genuinely heard and supported. Alongside my counselling qualifications, I bring years of experience as a psychologist, being registered with the Association of Greek Psychologists, and have supported individuals facing emotional and mental health challenges.
How I can help
I offer weekly sessions to adults of all ages and backgrounds. In my private practice, my approach is caring and supportive, offering a confidential space for you to explore what you are going through—whether it’s stress, sadness, or a general sense of emptiness.
During our sessions, we’ll work together to gain a deeper understanding of your current challenges and how they might connect to earlier experiences. By exploring these connections at your own pace, meaningful change can emerge naturally as you develop greater self-awareness, including insights into your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. This understanding can open up new possibilities for how you approach life and relationships.
If you feel that this is the right time to begin counselling, you’re welcome to reach out via email to arrange a brief phone call and see how comfortable you feel working together.
Sessions are typically conducted in person or online.
Training, qualifications & experience
I trained with Wessex Counselling & Psychotherapy (WCP) and hold a Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling, accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC). I am also a member of the Post-Graduate Group at WCP and actively participate in a range of approved ongoing training programs as part of my continuing professional development.
In addition, I hold a BSc in Psychology and a MSc in Applied Clinical Psychology. I am a graduate member of the British Psychological Society (GMBPsS) and a licensed psychologist in Greece, registered with the Association of Greek Psychologists.
The first four years of my career as a psychologist, I collaborated with Somerset & Avon Rape & Sexual Abuse Support (SARSAS) in Bristol, where I provided emotional support to individuals who had experienced rape or sexual assault at any stage of their lives.
In my private practice, I offer psychological support to individuals experiencing various mental health challenges, including major depressive disorder, anxiety, panic disorder, personality disorder and more. In this role, I integrate my psychodynamic training, allowing me to create a therapeutic space where individuals can explore unconscious conflicts, recognise recurring patterns in their relationships, identify the roots of these patterns, and facilitate meaningful change.
Additionally, I conduct seminars for primary and secondary school educators to help enhance their mental resilience and better equip them to navigate the challenges they face in their professional roles.
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 British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) is a professional association, representing the profession of psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
The organisation is itself made up of fourteen member organisations and BPC accredits the trainings of its member organisations. An individual who qualifies from one of these trainings is then eligible for entry into the BPC's register.
BPC registrants are governed by a code of ethics, a policy of continuing professional development, a statement on confidentiality and a complaints procedure. The BPC is a Member Society of the European Federation for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy in the Public Sector (EFPP). Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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.
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 per session
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
If you want to arrange a meeting, please contact me directly by Email or phone. The initial introductory session is free and lasts 30 minutes, offering you the opportunity to ask questions and see how comfortable you feel working together.
Following the first session, we would meet weekly for 50-minute sessions, either on an ongoing basis or for a shorter, agreed-upon timeframe if you have a specific issue to focus on. My fee is £50 per session, and payment can be made either after each session or at the end of the month, depending on your preference.
The fee for a missed session will still apply; however, I will always endeavour to move a session if you provide advance notice.
When I work
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