Dr Theodora Manolopoulou
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Finding the right psychotherapist and treatment can be both hopeful and overwhelming. It's important to recognise that seeking help in challenging moments is a sign of strength, resilience and self-awareness.
Therapeutic Approach and Philosophy:
Psychotherapy aims to feel safe, engaging and meaningful. I strive to create an environment free from judgment or discrimination, where young people and families feel encouraged to bring their authentic selves into our sessions.
About me:
I am an experienced Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist dedicated to supporting young individuals' therapeutic growth and development for over 15 years. I offer individual psychotherapy for children, adolescents and young adults (up to 25 years) in a nurturing and warm environment in North West London. Also, I support therapeutically parents in making sense of their children's internal worlds, behaviours, and habits and how they respond to them. Treatment can be provided online when clinically appropriate.
Aside from 10 years of experience in NHS clinics, I am passionate about sharing and furthering my knowledge with others. I teach weekly in Early Child Development and Clinical Applications MSc in UCL/Anna Freud Centre. My work has been included in publications and presented at conferences.
How Psychotherapy works:
Psychotherapy is a collaborative process—a space where children, young people, and parents can feel safe exploring thoughts, feelings, and experiences at their own pace. It's not about "fixing" or finding immediate solutions but about creating understanding, connection, and new ways of navigating the world and relationships.
The process begins with building trust. Psychotherapy might look different depending on the child's or young person's age and needs. Each session is tailored to the individual. For example:
- For younger children (0-12 years), psychotherapy often involves verbal and non-verbal methods such as play, drawing, or storytelling. These allow children to express emotions they may not have the words to describe.
- For young people (13-17 years), psychotherapy may involve talking, reflecting, or even using creative methods when words are hard to find.
- For young adults (18-25 years), psychotherapy is about helping young people understand their emotions—why they feel the way they do and what they can do with those feelings. Other times, it's about working together to explore deeper concerns such as relationship difficulties, past experiences, or struggles with identity.
- Parents can use this space to develop an understanding of their children's behaviours, how they relate to their inner world, and how best to support their children when their own difficult emotions come to the surface.
Parents involvement:
- For younger children (0-5 years): Children under 5 years are usually seen with their parents, at least at the beginning of the treatment. Parent-child psychotherapy is also an option if that feels clinically appropriate.
- For children in school (6-12 years): Throughout the therapeutic process, parents will be involved in ensuring that the child feels ready and safe to engage in psychotherapy. I work closely with parents to help them make sense of their children's behaviours and feelings and find ways to support them both in psychotherapy and at home.
- For young people (13-17 years): Teenagers often need space to feel independent in psychotherapy. I work with parents to ensure we're supporting the family system as a whole, helping parents feel more connected to their teenager's world whilst protecting their teenagers privacy and safety.
- For young adults (18-25 years): we can think together about how much, if necessary, parents can be involved in their psychotherapeutic journey.
How Psychotherapy helps:
- A safe space to explore emotions without fear or judgement.
- A new perspective on changes offering clarity and insight into behaviours, emotions and relationships to self and others.
- A chance to build confidence and resilience, especially during developmental transitions.
Contact:
I offer complimentary 15-minute initial telephone or zoom consultations to help you find the right psychotherapist and treatment.
The initial consultation aims to provide a safe space to discuss your concerns and aspirations for treatment. I'm here to listen and help you navigate this journey and assess the suitability of our work together. Please feel free to contact me via email or phone, and we can arrange a time for your initial consultation.
Telephone: 07936 637 105
E-mail: dr.tmanolopoulou@gmail.com
Training, qualifications & experience
With over ten years of rich experience in various outpatient child and adolescent mental health services within the NHS, I have clinical and research expertise in:
- Family services and specialised programs for children under five.
- Working with adopted and looked-after children.
- Offering treatment to children and young people navigate key developmental transitions, such as adolescence and young adulthood.
- Offering treatment neurodivergent young people and families.
0-5 Years (Infancy & Early Childhood)
- Excessive crying or difficulty soothing
- Separation anxiety beyond typical age
- Difficulty bonding with caregivers (attachment difficulties)
- Extreme tantrums or aggression
- Sleep difficulties or night terrors
- Feeding issues (e.g., food refusal, extreme pickiness)
- Sensory processing difficulties
- Delayed speech or communication challenges
- Repetitive behaviors or lack of social engagement
- Separation/divorce in families
- Early Trauma & Adoption-Related Issues
- Experience of Trauma
6-12 Years (Middle Childhood)
- Anxiety (generalised, social, separation)
- Low mood, withdrawal, or signs of depression
- Frequent anger, outbursts, or difficulty managing frustration
- Perfectionism and excessive self-criticism
- Difficulty making or keeping friends
- Bullying (being bullied or bullying others)
- School refusal or anxiety around school
- ADHD-related challenges (inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity
- Sibling rivalry and family tension
- Experience of trauma
13-17 Years (Adolescence)
- Anxiety disorders (social anxiety, panic attacks, OCD)
- Depression, low self-esteem, and feelings of emptiness
- Self-harm or suicidal thoughts
- Mood swings and emotional dysregulation
- Identity & Peer Relationships Difficulites
- Struggles with identity, including gender and sexual identity exploration
- Peer pressure and social withdrawal
- Difficulties in friendships or romantic relationships
- School & Family Pressures
- Bullying (being bullied or bullying others)
- Academic stress and perfectionism
- School refusal and avoidance behaviors
- Conflict with parents
- Screen-Related Issues
- Social media addiction and screen dependency
- Gaming addiction and difficulties with real-life social engagement
- Eating Difficulties/ Disordered eating
- Experience of Trauma
18-25 Years (Young Adulthood)
- Anxiety, panic attacks, or generalised anxiety disorder
- Depression, feelings of isolation, and lack of direction
- Low self-esteem and self-confidence
- OCD, intrusive thoughts, and compulsions
- Self-harm or thoughts of suicide
- Struggles with self-identity, purpose, and future planning
- Difficulties in romantic relationships or friendships
- Family tensions and redefining relationships with parents
- Burnout and academic pressure
- Difficulty adjusting to university or independent living
- Work stress, career indecision, and fear of failure
- Social media and screen addiction
- Disordered eating behaviors
- Experience of Trauma
Qualifications:
- BSc Psychology
- MSc Psychoanalytic Developmental Psychology UCL/Anna Freud Centre
- DPSych British Psychotherapy Foundation/UCL/Anna Freud Centre
- Doctorate in Psychotherapy UCL
- Full member of the Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP)
The ACP is the professional body and accredited register for Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists in the UK. The ACP has been working to improve the mental health of infants, children, young people and families since 1949.
Fully insured and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checked.
Member organisations
The ACP is the registering body for NHS trained Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists. ACP members undergo a minimum 6 year training; two years at Masters level then 4 years full-time clinical in the NHS qualifying in a Doctorate Level course. Full members are able to work with neonates, mothers & babies, parents & toddlers, primary school age children & adolescents. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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.
