Dr Violetta Papachristodoulou
Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.
This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
Most people experience anxiety or depression at some point in their lives and need to cope with pain and confusion. You may feel stuck and unmotivated or need to work through a traumatic experience from your past so you can move on with your life. You might also experience work related stress or be dealing with relationship difficulties. Self-development may also be the reason for seeking therapy.
Therapy provides an opportunity to explore and make sense of your difficulties in a safe, non-judgmental environment, to develop your self-understanding and improve your relationships.
I am a Chartered Counselling Psychologist providing short and long-term therapy in my private practice located opposite Liverpool Street station. Counselling psychology is concerned with the integration of psychological theory and research with therapeutic practice and is applied in supporting individuals dealing with some kind of distress in their daily lives. My extensive experience gained in various settings and multicultural environments enables me to relate to and support individuals dealing with a variety of difficulties.
I draw on a variety of psychological approaches including Humanistic, Cognitive Behavioural (CBT) and Psychodynamic Therapy. I am particularly interested in how our earlier experiences and relationships influence us in our present. My style of therapy will be tailored to you and your individual needs.
I offer short-term work as well as long-term psychotherapy. You do not need to commit to ongoing therapy when you decide to make contact with me. Our initial appointment will give us the opportunity to discuss your difficulties and how we can work together. We can have a phone conversation before arranging an initial consultation.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have 17 years of experience working in Mental Health, with children, adults and groups. I initially worked with children and adolescents with autism and learning disabilities for a local authority and subsequently for private and mainstream schools.
I then developed an interest in working therapeutically with adults and completed extensive postgraduate training, including a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology. I have also gained further training in Clinical Supervision.
I have provided a counselling psychology and psychotherapy service to adults from different cultural backgrounds and in a variety of settings.
As part of my training I worked for a Community counselling service and for Mind Mental Health charity providing both short and long term therapy. I then worked for King’s College Hospital Psychotherapy service with inpatients, outpatients and their relatives dealing with medical problems, trauma, terminal illnesses and bereavement.
Subsequently I gained extensive experience working as part of NHS specialised psychological therapy services (secondary care) in the South and North of London with individuals dealing with complex psychological difficulties. I worked in a community mental health team with individuals struggling with mood, anxiety and personality disorders. I then gained specialised experience of working with Complex Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with refugees and asylum seekers offering both group and individual psychological therapy interventions.
Following this, I worked as part of The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust in primary care, offering Brief-Psychodynamic therapy to individuals struggling with a range of difficulties including medically unexplained symptoms, interpersonal difficulties, complex anxiety and depression.
Through my clinical experience I developed a specialised interest in facilitating therapy groups. As part of of my NHS post I facilitated a photography group for individuals struggling with different difficulties, a therapeutic intervention where people were encouraged to reflect on their difficulties, emotions and experiences using the medium of photography. I also facilitated 16-week experiential therapy groups, as part of the The School Of Life Psychotherapy Service.
I recently facilitated a novel group psychological treatment as part of a research pilot study, which was developed for people with Multiple Sclerosis to help them process and manage the implications of their condition.
Qualifications and Professional Registration
I am Chartered by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and hold full membership to the BPS Division of Counselling Psychology. I am registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and hold a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology.
- BSc in Psychology
- Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology
- DPsych, Doctorate in Psychology, Counselling Psychology
- CPsychol-Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society (BPS)
- Registered with the Division of Counselling Psychology(BPS)
- Registered Practitioner Psychologist with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
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.
The HCPC are an independent, UK-wide health regulator. They set standards of professional training, performance and conduct for 16 professions.
They keep a register of health professionals who meet their standards, and they take action if registered health professionals fall below those standards. They were created by a piece of legislation called the Health Professions Order 2001.
Registration means that a health professional meets national standards for their professional training, performance and conduct.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£130.00 per session
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Sessions are 50 minutes long
£130 per session
Skype/Zoom sessions are available
Concessions sometimes available for students and individuals on lower incomes
Please contact me on 07811467849 or by email - I will endeavour to get back to you within 48 hours.
I am registered with insurance healthcare providers such as Bupa, Cigna, WPA, Aviva, VitalityHealth, Aetna and AXA PPP.
Further information
I am committed to my personal and professional development (CPD) in Counselling Psychology and Psychotherapy and keep abreast of research developments.
Recent CPD training:
- EMDR Certificate - Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing treatment for trauma (Sandi Richman Training)
- Completed a 5 day training in Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP)
- Took part in a 5 day Group Relations Conference provided by the Tavistock Institute: Role, Mask, and Person in Groups and Organisations
- 1 day Seminar The Fragile Self: working with narcissistic vulnerability, grandiosity, shame, and alienation - Dr Phil Mollon (Confer)
- Completed a series of 4 Clinical Supervision Workshops by the BPS
- Completed the Treating Trauma Master Series: 5 web seminars delivered by world experts in the treatment of trauma. Provided by NICABM
- 1 day Seminar - Desire in the Consulting Room with Dr Andrea Celenza (Confer)
- Working with Psychotherapy Groups - 3 month course delivered by the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust.
I abide by the Code of Ethics and Conduct of the British Psychological Society (BPS), the Professional Practice Guidelines for Counselling Psychologists (BPS) and the Standards of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Languages: English and Greek.