Umaa Thampu - Dip.Couns MBACP (Accred)

In response to the current COVID-19 situation in the UK, I would like to reassure you that I am following government guidelines since March 17th 2020 and all of my therapy practice is online using Zoom or Skype. I will continue to offer counselling whilst I am fit and healthy if that changes I will let you know. I acknowledge this is a difficult time for many - all of us are affected by the current climate, and I am keenly aware of the challenges many are facing.

Welcome, my name is Umaa and I am an ethical and independent Gestalt Counsellor Dip.Couns MBACP (Accred) . My passion is enhancing people's well-being. I have experience working with anxiety, depression, trauma and cross cultural themes.

I have over 10 years experience in a diverse mix of professional settings which include social services, youth charities and corporate settings. My practice offers a warm, confidential and discreet environment in Shoreditch. By recognising  unhelpful patterns of behaviour, you can reduce internal conflict and develop a greater sense of compassion towards yourself and others.

Questions:

How long does it take? - I offer both open- ended and short term counselling. The minimum amount of sessions I offer is 6. I constantly offer reviews and remind you that at any point you can stop. I welcome feedback.

How do I know if I need therapy? Often by the time some people have booked an appointment they can be suffering and very distressed. It really needn't take such a level of suffering to access a supportive space. Only you can decide if you need therapy.

What happens if I become reliant on you? During the initial stages of therapy it is normal to feel a sense of urgency and dependency. I strive to empower you, we will work together to develop a set of skills that works for your personality and lifestyle post-therapy. One of the main goals in counselling is to develop the language of self-responsibility.

How do you not take work home with you or be able to separate your stuff from what a client brings? I attend supervision, peer support, CPD workshops and this enables me to process the work, attend to any blind spots and ensures I am working ethically. I practice good self-care. I find the work incredibly powerful, life affirming and rewarding. It is one of the few places authentic dialogue can happen, discovering new ways of being and having more choices in life! I enjoy my work because I witness change happen! It is a rewarding process.

What do you work with? I work with loss, anxiety and relationship difficulties. I have found a client may initially want to focus on loss and actually we travel to many other places. Please see my website for more information: www.talkingwithUmaa.com

This is what I can offer you:

• I can help create meaning when difficult feelings arise and offer a different perspective on 'life's curve balls' such as bereavement, family conflict, frustrations at work.
• I will support you to implement change in your life, assist in understanding your defences, emotional blocks at a pace that is safe.
• Collaboratively working together to understand why and when you feel triggered and develop self-soothing strategies.
• Often counselling can be seen as "talking therapy" and I can offer different ways of working such as experiments, drawings, body awareness and movement.
• Benefits of counselling include developing a deeper sense of calm, awareness and increased self assurance.

Next Steps

You can email me and we can meet face to face for a co-assessment session. Co-assessment is a mutual process. During this initial session, you can tell me what you would like to work towards and I can tell you how I work and we can both decide if it is suitable to go ahead.