About me
Hello and Welcome. My name is Valentina. I’m a fully qualified and experienced therapist.
I know that taking the first step to find a therapist can feel daunting. Most of us strive to be strong and self-sufficient including when it comes to managing our emotional struggles. Contrary to what it may feel like, seeking support is a sign of self-awareness, strength and wisdom, it is not a weakness.
Over my years as a practitioner, I have developed my own style which puts relationships at the heart of the work, I’ve woven many different practice styles into my thinking:
Psychodynamic, Attachment and Systemic theories form much of the backdrop to my approach.
In summary, I believe many factors influence who we become; - starting with the interplay between the characteristics we are born with and our early life experience of close relationships, within the broader context of culture and religion. This has a continuing, though not always conscious, influence on our everyday lives and affects the way we relate to others, as well as our ability to form lasting and positive relationships.
We are often drawn to people who feel familiar and/or who compensate for aspects in ourselves. Those closest to us continue to have an influence. When our choices have been good, we flourish, or, when they haven’t, they can confirm our worst fears, reinforcing destructive patterns of relating. I am interested in helping you think about your relationships with an aim to break out of old destructive patterns.
Life can be hard and we all struggle from time to time. Most of us know how invaluable a good friend can be during these times. However, they may feel too close, and we often don’t want to complicate these relationships. A therapist is not a friend, this distance can make it feel safer and easier.
Counselling / therapy is not magical, - I do not hold all of the answers and cannot change a difficult past. However, the process of sharing hidden, messy thoughts can be surprisingly powerful. It can help you disentangle them intellectually and emotionally and put them into perspective. This can lead to greater confidence and resilience in managing difficult situations and generally lead to a more fulfilling life.
I aim to provide a safe space where it is possible to talk, and for me to get to know you, - the things that cause worry and stress as well as those that bring you well-being and joy.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist. I qualified at Birkbeck College in 2004 and have over 40 years of related work experience. During this time I have worked with many different people from diverse backgrounds, addressing a wide range of issues (see below). I have particular understanding of issues around adjustment and loss, bereavement, disability, and chronic illness.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
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 - £80.00
Additional information
I generally work face to face with clients in consulting rooms in Hackney. However, I have found that Zoom and phone sessions can be surprisingly effective for some people. I work in whatever medium suits each individual.
I usually suggest that we meet (in person, by Zoom or phone) for an initial session. If it feels right to continue, I usually suggest six further sessions. This may make a difference, or you may wish to commit to longer term therapy.
For longer term work, I find it helpful to build in regular reviews.
The continuity of weekly sessions helps to build a relationship where it feels safer to talk about some of the important, but difficult things - allowing more significant change to take place.
I aim to provide a space where you feel safe to be yourself, which means getting to know your strengths and the things you enjoy as well as the more troubling worries. It helps to hear about your earlier life, the present as well as your hopes for the future.
What I can help with
Abuse, addictions, AIDS/HIV, anger management, anxiety, bereavement, cancer, child related issues, chronic fatigue syndrome / ME, cultural issues, depression, disability, health related issues, identity issues, infertility, loss, menopause, obsessions, OCD, personal development, post-traumatic stress, pregnancy related issues, redundancy, relationships, self esteem, self-harm, sex-related issues, sexual identity, sexuality, stress, trauma, women's issues, work related issues
Further information
I am a BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist. I qualified at Birkbeck College in 2004 and have over 40 years of related work experience. During this time I have worked with many different people from diverse backgrounds, addressing a wide range of issues (see below). I have particular understanding of issues around adjustment and loss, bereavement, disability, and chronic illness.
