About me
May 2026 Availability Update:
I have limited slots available for face-to-face sessions at GreenShed Spaces in Rainham, Kent with teenagers and adults.
I have current availability for Mondays at 3:45 and 4:45 pm for weekly sessions, and Fridays at 6:15 and 7:15 pm for fortnightly sessions.
Counselling & Psychotherapy with a Special Interest in Supporting Teenagers (12 - 17 years old):
A calm, grounded, human space where young people can be heard, understood, and supported at their own pace.
Hi, I’m Sophia a PhD student with a special interest in working with teenagers. Supporting young people through emotional challenges, identity exploration, and big life transitions has become the most meaningful and energising part of my work.
I offer a warm, non-judgemental space where teens can feel genuinely respected and at ease, not talked down to or pressured. My approach is highly flexible and collaborative whether that’s talking, creative expression, metaphor, or more structured therapeutic activities. Together, we find a way of working that feels natural for them.
Most of my therapeutic work is with teenagers, especially those navigating:
- Anxiety, worry, nervousness or panic
- Depression or low mood
- Anger or frustration
- Perfectionism
- Emotional school-based avoidance or school problems
- Neurodiversity - Autism, ADHD
- Identity exploration - Who am I?
- Gender
- Romantic relationships
- Sex or sexuality
- Gender
- Relational difficulties and family conflict including parental separation
- Complex feelings and behaviours related to trauma or early experiences
- Loneliness or isolation
- Body image
- Risk-taking behaviours or youth offending patterns
- Substance use (when not the primary concern)
- Self-harm, suicidal risk
I also have additional training and experience supporting neurodiverse teenagers and those under social care orders.
Teenagers often carry a lot: unspoken feelings, internal conflicts, or the pressure of trying to appear “fine.” My approach is integrative and deeply relational, creating a safe, attuned, and non-judgemental space where they can let some of that weight down. I draw from a range of therapeutic models, tailoring our work to each teen’s unique needs, preferences, and pace. Counselling/psychotherapy can feel unfamiliar, even uncomfortable or scary at first, and that’s okay. I move at their pace, always respecting boundaries and giving space for silence when needed. Because I’m closer in age to many of the teens I work with, the relationship often feels more relaxed and relatable, which naturally helps build trust. Through talking, creative activities, and structured interventions, teens can explore their feelings, make sense of their experiences, and experiment with new ways of relating to themselves and others, all within a compassionate and supportive environment.
Counselling and Psychotherapy for Adults (Secondary Service):
Although the heart of my practice is working with teenagers, I also offer counselling and psychotherapy for adults (18+). My approach remains the same: gentle, relational, and grounded in the belief that meaningful change happens through feeling truly heard, seen, and understood. I work integratively, drawing on different therapeutic models to tailor our work to your needs and pace. A particular focus of my practice, and of my PhD research, is inner child work, which involves reconnecting with the younger parts of yourself that may carry unmet needs, emotional wounds, or protective patterns developed in childhood. By exploring these early experiences in a safe, compassionate way, we can better understand how they continue to influence your relationships, self-perception, and emotional world, and develop a kinder, more supportive relationship with yourself. This work can help create lasting insight, healing, and emotional freedom, all within a relational and collaborative therapeutic space.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills
- Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies
- Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- BSc Psychology with Counselling
- Current PhD student, and counselling psychologist in training.
I hold a BSc in Psychology with Counselling, along with professional qualifications in counselling. I’m currently completing a PhD in Psychotherapy and Counselling Psychology, with a research focus on inner child work, and I am in advanced clinical training to become a counselling psychologist.
I have significant experiencing offering emotional support to Key Stage Two students across three local primary schools. I have also worked closely with looked-after teens in local authority care, as well as supporting adults as a wellbeing coach for the mental health charity Mind.
Currently, I serve as a Specialist Advisor for YoungMinds, offering insight and guidance for parents/carers on navigating emotional based school avoidance, EHCPS, school problems, personality development (gender and sexuality explorations), and neurodiversity. These experiences continue to shape my relational, trauma-informed approach to therapy with clients of all ages.
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
£55.00 - £65.00
Additional information
£65 for teenagers
£55.00 for adults
Payment is kindly requested at the time of booking.
When I work
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I offer flexible appointment times throughout the week, including after-school and evening availability. Wherever possible, I aim to accommodate your schedule and individual needs.
Further information
Please note, I do not provide crisis support. If you are experiencing an urgent mental health need, please contact the Samaritans at 116 123 or NHS 111 for immediate assistance.
