Sophie Batra

My name is Sophie and I'm a counsellor/ therapist based in London and Farnham. I’m passionate about providing people with a warm, empathic space where they feel safe to explore the issues that have brought them to therapy.

I have experience working with clients facing a wide range of issues, including anxiety, stress, low self-esteem, perfectionism, loss, anger, depression and struggles with relationships.

I currently offer both short-term therapy of between six and 20 sessions, or longer-term, open-ended therapy. Short-term can work particularly well if you are coming to therapy with a specific problem or goal in mind. Long-term counselling can enable us to explore the issues you have brought to therapy in more depth. 

I currently see clients in-person at my consulting room in central Farnham, or online via Zoom. 

Perhaps something from your childhood is affecting how you relate with people in the present, or unhelpful patterns seem to repeat in your life. Whatever struggle you're facing, I'm able to provide a safe space in which we can work through these issues together and find a way for you to move forward in your life with more peace, contentment and fulfilment. 

Through building a relationship where clients feel heard and fully accepted, they can start to gain more self-understanding and feel empowered to make the changes in their life that they've always wanted. 

I know that finding the right therapist can feel like a daunting task, and I hope the information here will be of help. If you have any further questions please feel free to email me so we can arrange an initial 15 minute chat on the phone. 

My counselling approach 

I use an integrative counselling approach, in which the therapeutic relationship is at the heart of the work. Research has shown that the relationship between client and counsellor is paramount in how successful therapy is, which is why it is so important to find the right therapist for you. 

Explorations will be underpinned by a number of theories. These include psychodynamic theory, which stresses the importance of the subconscious and the past in shaping our present day behaviour. Our work will look at trying to bring some of these unconscious thoughts into consciousness in the hope that this will enable you to move forward with more control to live the life that you wish. 

As part of this process we might explore your attachment style. Attachment styles are ways of relating with others which are built during our early years. This style can then go on to unconsciously guide the way we relate to others for the rest of our life. Understanding your attachment style can enable increased self-awareness and significantly aid in your patterns of relating with other people. 

I also use Carl Roger’s person-centred approach, which is led by the belief that we all have the capacity for personal growth and change, it is just that we need the right conditions for this. These conditions include feeling fully accepted, and empathised with - conditions I always strive to provide my clients with during our sessions. 

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is also used to look at your thoughts and behaviours, and how these are affecting the way you feel. Via this, practical solutions can be found to help you feel better in the present. 

I believe people are the experts on their own lives, and via a supportive counselling relationship clients can find the answers they are looking for inside themselves.   

What to expect 

You can decide how to use the sessions and what you wish to discuss. As part of the process, we might explore how something from your past is impacting how you’re feeling today and holding you back from the life you'd like to lead. Or how the way you are perceiving things is affecting the way that you feel.  

I offer an initial, free, 15 minute telephone conversation during which you can decide whether I am the right therapist for you and whether I can offer the support you need. 

I know from personal experience that counselling can be a challenging journey, but an immensely rewarding one.

An important part of therapy is confidentiality. Everything you talk about in counselling will remain between us. 

I offer support with a number of issues, including but not limited to:

• Anxiety
• Stress
• Overwhelm
• Perfectionism
• Work-related issues
• Low self-esteem
• Relationship issues
• Depression

My background

I trained at two of the leading counselling institutions in London – the Minster Centre and CPPD. I’m also a registered member and bound by the ethics of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

I have experience working with clients facing a wide range of issues, and have held positions as a counsellor for organisations offering low cost counselling and as a mentor for a charity that supports refugees. 

I also have a BSc and a Masters degree.

• Limited number of concessions available. 
• I offer a free initial 10-15 minute phone call. 

I offer sessions online via Zoom, or in-person at The Eaves, which is located in central Farnham.