Anshu Rastogi

I can help with...

• Affairs and betrayals
• Anxiety
• Communication skills
• Cross-cultural relationships
• Depression
• Emotional abuse
• Family issues
• Identity issues
• Infertility
• Low self-esteem
• Panic attacks
• Physical abuse
• Pregnancy, birth and loss
• Relationship difficulties
• Separation and divorce
• Sexual abuse
• Sexual problems
• Sexuality
• Stress
• Trauma

Types of clients I see

• Individuals
• Couples
• Families
• Groups

Languages I speak

• English

Location(s)

• Contact me for details

Types of therapy I offer

• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
• Family/systemic therapy
• Integrative
• Mindfulness
• Psychodynamic
• Solution-focussed brief therapy

My approach

I work with different types of clients – including families and individuals – but specialise in couples counselling.

Relationship counselling focuses on how couples, families and individuals relate to one another and themselves. My aim is to improve people’s relationships.

The relationship we develop together will be the first step to helping you achieve your expectations.

When couples are at an ‘impasse’ they often feel stuck or helpless – this is where I can help untangle or break down the issues in a sensitive and insightful way.

My time with couples is spent helping them navigate their communication blocks – why they are struggling to hear each other or why they have stopped listening altogether.

Through my training, I have developed techniques to support relationships going through such obstacles.

However, the complexity of how couples communicate can often be symptomatic of something else, such as:

• having affairs
• sexual problems/practices
• anger
• abuse
• controlling behaviour
• stress
• pressure of life/work balance
• bereavements
• redundancy
• promotion
• financial strain
• lack of intimacy
• loss of desire
• starting a family
• postnatal depression
• chronic anxiety
• falling out of love

Together, we unpack and flesh out what is behind the communication issues to explore new ways of moving forward and being happier. Sometimes, this may involve separation or divorce.

I offer counselling that is supportive for both parties during this uncertain and often conflictual period.

With couples and families in distress, I use combinations of narrative therapy and mindfulness techniques to provide ‘a distance from the problems’, which then allows space to observe and understand how to find new ways to resolve issues, which would otherwise be too difficult.

For individuals who find their relationships are not meeting expectations, are disappointing or unfulfilling, then I can help by working through the anxiety or depression you might be left with.

I use psychodynamic and attachment psychology to unpack what might be behind your subconscious patterns – looking at family history as well as wider contexts, such as social life, politics, class, gender, sexuality, religion, culture or race.

My training in mindfulness-based stress reduction, plus my own meditation practice, gives me another platform of expertise to share with you, depending on the issues and style of counselling that’s required.

If you feel your relationship with yourself or another is at breaking point, getting in touch with me could allow you that safe space to reflect and understand if there are other ways to find answers.

About me

As a private practitioner, I work hard to make sure my clients’ experience meets their expectations. Whilst working as a relationship counsellor for Relate, I’ve gained a solid foundation and network that supports and informs my private practice.

My time working in private practice is busy seeing couples, families and individuals with relationship issues, including most importantly the relationship we all have with our-SELF.

It’s important to me that I work in an ethical manner, which is why I have a private supervisor (BACP accredited member) and take part in regular continuous professional learning.

I believe it’s a privilege to help people live more happily in better relationships with themselves and others, as everything we do or are in life is because of how we ‘relate’ to it, them or ourselves.

Training, qualifications and experience

I trained with Relate where I gained my PG Diploma in Relationship Counselling, which focuses on an integrative psychological approach.

I continued with my training at the Institute of Family Therapy, gaining my PG Certificate in Systemic Practice with Families and Couples.

This led me to complete PG level two Certificate in Narrative Therapy as well as a comprehensive course in mindfulness-based therapies.

In addition to my work with Relate, I have worked with other charities counselling parents and vulnerable adults covering issues such as pregnancy, perinatal care, postnatal depression, eating disorders, anxiety, sexual, emotional and physical abuse, borderline personality disorder, race, gender and sexuality.

In my past I have also been a Samaritan, helping people with suicidal thoughts as well as training with Relate in suicidal risk and advanced certification in domestic violence and child protection and safeguarding. I have worked regularly with a charity helping people with complex issues based around abuse, rape, eating disorders, depression and sexuality.

As a counsellor, my learning never ends – the story continues with each person I work with, where change, reflection, understanding and insight become part of the narrative.

Professional affiliations

• MBACP – Registered member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy)
• Relate Registered Practitioner
• Member of AICTP (Association of Coach-Therapist Professionals)
• Member of BAATN (Black and Asian Therapists Network)

Code of ethics

I abide by the BACP code of ethics.

Fees and availability

• £50 for individual, couple and family counselling
• Concessions for students/low income is offered, depending on availability
• Sessions are online, by phone or in person where possible
• I work Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursday and Friday
• I charge the full fee, unless I receive notice within 48 hours