About me
Hello, I am Sonia.
I am a qualified Integrative Psychotherapeutic Therapist experienced in supporting clients with a broad spectrum of life's problems. Alongside working with emotional wellbeing, I also support clients struggling to unpick patterns of disordered eating.
There are many reasons why we can find ourselves emotionally lost in life. Maybe you notice that feeling of emptiness, anxiety or low mood which we often understand as depression. Feeling this way is very normal however, it isn't a great place to be. Problematic thought patterns or behaviour may bother you, low self esteem or confidence issues leave you feeling unsure of yourself. Looking to talk about these feelings is useful.
As an integrative therapist I have worked alongside clients navigating a broad spectrum of emotional distress. I have provided support through divorce, affairs, relationship difficulty, domestic abuse, childhood trauma, bereavement, adoption, cancer or life changing diagnoses, treatment and recovery, autism, addictions, sexuality and confusion, work and financial worries . Anything that life will challenge us with is there for us to talk about and work through.
Additionally, I offer therapeutic support to women struggling with endometriosis, peri-menopause and menopause and the emotional complexities that they may face associated with these conditions and life changes.
My approach is centred around each person and their individual needs. I use a blend of modalities from the Person Centred and Psychodynamic schools of thought to Existential perspectives. Elements of tapping or Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and CBT are also incorporated where beneficial.
During our lifetime we will undoubtedly face emotional challenges, unique and personal to each of us. Often we rely on historical, learned coping strategies that are usually developed during our childhood, or adolescence. These patterns, as we get older or wiser, may no longer be useful to us and can leave us feeling frustrated, misunderstood and stuck.
When facing challenging times, we can often feel overwhelmed. While it is true that life can be tough, having a calmer mind can help us navigate through difficult situations by allowing us to be more aware of our emotions and thought processes. This awareness can help us identify negative patterns of thinking and behaviour and take steps to change them. As we all have an inherent ability to internalise difficult experiences, and try to cope alone, we can often find that we struggle to make sense of why we think or behave in the way we do and this can lead us to feel lost. We may find we are unable to ask for help or trust ourselves on how to move forward.
Taking the initial steps in acknowledging how you are feeling and coping can seem overwhelming, as can seeking support. However, given time, you will hopefully discover how immensely empowering and rewarding the experience of therapy can be.
The relationship between counsellor and client(s) provides the foundation to explore, understand, challenge and change patterns of behaviour which may be at the root of difficulties and distress.
Counselling can offer you the opportunity to talk about past and present issues; you may recognise concerns within particular relationships, how you manage your emotions or notice particular patterns of unhelpful behaviours or coping mechanisms. Therapy can facilitate change in allowing time and space to gain an understanding of what you need.
I follow the BACP code of ethics and adhere to the belief that the counselling relationship is based on a mutual respect, with emphasis on a positive regard for the client's needs, trust, growth and change, in a safe and confidential space.
What I aim to offer you through counselling is a non-directive approach in looking at your life and applying changes that will help you move forward to experience the life you deserve to live.
Training, qualifications & experience
Experience, Qualifications and Background:
My experience as an Integrative Therapist began in 2007 when I was based in therapeutic services specifically within local government agencies, care teams and school settings. My role was to deliver safe and confidential therapy to primary and secondary students and to support staff and students in educational organisations alongside specialist educational settings, in particular adolescents struggling to navigate formal education.
As part of a small team, and independently, I developed and delivered group therapy and training programmes, group and individual supervision and group and one to one therapy.
I have worked with a national charity counselling people living with trauma; specifically connected to sexual abuse, grooming and rape of young girls and women and the associated mental and physical health disorders attributed to the abuse.
I undertook a two year role in supporting young people in the care system, developing, managing and delivering courses specifically around homelessness prevention and successful independent living.
My experience as a psychotherapeutic counsellor also includes working as a therapist and supervisor within two local authorities counselling services, assessing and supporting clients with mild to moderate mental health concerns. In 2008 I completed a BSc in Psychotherapeutic Counselling, in 2015 a PGDip with a focus on research into neuroscience in therapy.
In 2019 I undertook specialist training in Emotional Freedom Technique and in addition to EFT I have also undertaken training in a number of clinical programmes including CBT and Working with Disordered Eating (Dip).
In 2023 I completed a second BSC (Hons) on Counselling and research (the use, and value of, humour in therapy).
Sessions are centred around individual needs incorporating a blend of traditional and newer modalities including Person Centred and Psychodynamic/Existential perspectives to Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
My approach to counselling is holistic; I listen to your unique life story, adapting and tailoring particular tools to accompany the work best suited for you. My primary concern is to help each person feel seen and heard and to help support a positive move towards taking better control of your life.
Since 2020 I focus solely on my private practice with adult clients.
Further training also includes:
- emotional and behavioural problems
- autistic spectrum disorder; diagnosed and undiagnosed
- adoption (this is specialised work closely supported by an expert Adoption Supervisor)
- disordered eating
- bereavement and loss
- psychosomatic illness
- cancer support
- depression
- anxiety
- attachment
- low self-esteem
- abuse (physical, emotional and sexual) and mild to moderate addictions.
Qualifications:
- BSc (Hons) Top-Up Counselling
- PGDip in Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counselling
- PGDip in Adolescent Therapy
- Dip in Clinical Supervision
- BSc Psychotherapeutic Counselling
- Cert in CBT
- Cert Counselling and Psychotherapy
- EFT Level 1&2
I have regular clinical supervision to support all client work with a qualified supervisor.
CPD Training in:
- Depression and Anxiety
- Bereavement, Grief and Loss
- Autism Spectrum Disorder - ASD
- Dementia and Family/Carers
- Disordered Eating
- Sexual Abuse and Trauma in Adults
- Trauma and Somatic Illness
- Safeguarding and Child Protection
- Addictions
- Mindfulness
- Trauma & Attachment
- EMDR and PTSD
- Adoption
- Amygdala and Trauma Response
- Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
- Gestalt
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
£60.00 per session
Additional information
Weekly Online Appointments
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
*Face to face appointments, by prior appointment, held one week per month in the Woking office.
Cost
Initial consultation: £60.00 for an hour long appointment.
Therapy sessions: £60.00 per fifty minute session
When I work
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Further information
You may feel there is something more personal and specific to you that is not addressed or noted. I am happy to discuss any areas of concern and, if I am not the right counsellor, there may be a fellow professional I can refer you to for support and guidance.
