Carla brings 15 years of experience to her integrative counselling and psychotherapy work. She is dedicated to helping people gain insight, understanding and, ultimately, more fulfilment in their lives.
I can help with...
- Abandonment issues
- Ageing and retirement
- Anxiety
- Bereavement and loss
- Body image
- Bullying
- Burnout
- Changing bad habits
- Childbirth
- Chronic fatigue syndrome/ME
- Communication skills
- Coping with chronic ill health or chronic pain
- Creative blocks
- Depression
- Domestic violence
- Eating disorders
- Educational performance
- Emotional abuse
- Existential crises
- Family issues
- Guilt
- Identity issues
- Infertility
- Insomnia and sleep problems
- Internet addiction
- Lack of energy
- Loneliness and isolation
- Low mood
- Low self-confidence
- Low self-esteem
- Major life changes
- Mentoring
- Narcissistic abuse
- Panic attacks
- Parenting
- Perfectionist traits
- Personal development
- Postnatal depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Pregnancy, birth and loss
- Procrastination and 'stuckness'
- Psychological abuse
- Rape
- Redundancy
- Regaining control of emotions
- Relationship difficulties
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Separation and divorce
- Social anxiety
- Somatic illnesses
- Stress
- Traumatic childhood
- Work-related issues
Types of clients I see
- Individuals
- Young people
- Older people
- Men
- Women
- Trainee and qualified clinicians
Languages I speak
- English
Location(s)
- Contact me for details
Types of therapy I offer
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- Humanistic
- Integrative
- Play therapy
My approach
Being human is complex. I believe that there is potential in all of us for growth and the capacity to live full lives. Sometimes we can feel, anxious, depressed, stuck or blocked for no apparent reason, or as a result of current or past events. I will work with you to identify and understand these obstacles, how to face them and manoeuvre safely around them.
I offer short-term counselling and longer-term psychotherapy for adults over 18 in West Hampstead. I work from an integrative humanistic perspective, which means that I adapt how I work to suit your needs, with a belief that the relationship between counsellor and client is a crucial element.
I offer a free 15-minute consultation on the phone where we will briefly discuss your needs and arrange an initial session. Our first meeting is for you to tell me what is troubling you, to take a brief history and discuss your hopes for the therapy – it is also an opportunity to see how we feel working together. If we agree to continue then we will discuss treatment. Depending on what you would like to address we can discuss short term treatment (6–18 sessions) or alternatively more open-ended deeper exploration. Once terms are agreed, we will begin working weekly; sessions are 50 minutes at the same time each week.
Training and qualifications
Initially I trained at the CPPD Counselling School and gained their Advanced Diploma in Humanistic Integrative Counselling. I then went on to gain my Masters in Psychotherapy at The Minster Centre.
I continue to supplement my core training with continuing professional development and am particularly interested in the areas of trauma, chronic pain, parenthood and fertility.
Professional affiliations
I am an accredited member of the BACP and abide by their ethical framework.
Past experience
For 15 years I have worked as a therapist and mental health mentor in higher education and for global employee assistance programmes (EAP). This has provided me with a deep understanding and interest in the functioning and impact of organisations. The roles we take on in our social and family groups can get replicated in our work or student life and affect the way we respond to others and feel about ourselves.
My EAP work includes helping clients working for UK and global brands, plus employees of local councils, ambulance and fire services, schools, banks and telecommunication corporations.
The universities I have worked for include: Goldsmiths university, The City Literary Institute, University of Bedfordshire, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, London School of Economics and Politics and The Courtauld Institute.
For a decade after graduating with a BA in Arts and Humanities I worked in the museum, arts and photography sector and continue to be interested in and enjoy the fine and performing arts. I began my counselling experience at university in Leicester where I volunteered as a Niteline counsellor and went on to train other students to work on the helpline.
Fees and availability
- £75 for an hourly session
- £80 after 6pm
- I offer some concessionary fees; please contact me to talk about this
- Tuesday daytime and evening – West Hampstead
