Are you experiencing difficulties and feel overwhelmed by life’s challenges? Maybe something has unsettled you, or perhaps you are feeling anxious, lonely, or suffering the loss of a loved one. If so, I can provide the personalised help you need.
You shouldn’t ever feel like you have to face your problems alone;
I am here to share your burden and work with you to gain an understanding of what is beneath your distress or unhappiness and explore what is going on for you. Whether you are struggling with relationship issues, loss, trauma, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, or some other issue, my counselling and psychotherapy in Twickenham and South West London gives you a safe, confidential, strictly non-judgemental space to be guided and supported towards finding the answers you are looking for.
To set up your first session of counselling or psychotherapy in Twickenham and South West London, feel free to give me a ring on 07825137620 or email and I will get back to you within 24 hours. My service is available to those in Twickenham, Richmond, St Margarets, Kew, Barnes, Kingston, Teddington, Putney, New Malden, Hampton, Hampton Hill, Hampton Wick, as well as online using Microsoft Teams, other digital platforms or virtually.
About Me
Prior to becoming a counsellor and psychotherapist in Twickenham and South West London, I worked in Human Resources for a decade, giving me initial experience of working with people, supporting management and staff with workplace and personal issues. I came to counselling and psychotherapy as a second career, having volunteered at a charity called Homestart that supports families who are feeling vulnerable, isolated, or struggling in some way.
This experience was instrumental for me; I learned about the importance of listening and the need for a safe space for individuals to talk. I went on to train as an Integrative Counsellor and during that time gained experience in both the charitable and private sector, offering counselling to clients from a diverse range of social, cultural, and ethnic communities. My first degree was in politics, but I have since gained a diploma in therapeutic counselling. I also have training in trauma, compassionate mindfulness, and bereavement.
I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and I work in accordance with their ethical framework. Like all registered therapists, I am in regular professional supervision with an experienced qualified supervisor.
Relational
The relationship between client and therapist is the most important element of how I work. Not only is it crucial for helping you feel comfortable enough to properly express yourself; the relationship we develop acts as the primary route towards understanding how you relate to yourself and other people, and how this influences your mental health. That means you need to feel safe and trust me to support you without judgement and with sensitivity. It’s through building this relationship that change can occur.
Personalised
I take a client-centred approach, drawing on different therapeutic techniques depending on your specific needs. We will find out what works for you and move forward accordingly. I work at the client’s pace and although counselling isn’t about ‘fixing’ a person, it is a place to talk, reflect, and build an understanding and awareness that enables you to make changes.
Empathetic
My practice is a place where you can be heard and understood without any judgement at all. We will work together, in a way that feels right for you, to help you reach a better place. I am a down-to-earth, compassionate therapist who listens closely to you, to work out issues, and make sure you feel supported and heard.
What is the Difference Between Counselling and Psychotherapy?
Counselling is a chance for you to speak openly about the issues affecting you in the here and now. It tends to be focused on specific issues and can be shorter term and might be addressed using cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). We can talk through these problems and together come up with practical, personalised solutions that help you move forward. In my experience, clients often come wanting help with a particular issue and this work leads to looking at patterns of thinking, feeling, and relating.
Psychotherapy, on the other hand, involves deeper exploration and looks at the root causes and therefore tends to be for longer term issues like anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. We will look at your past attachments and memories to understand the role they play in how you feel in the present moment.
Areas of Speciality
Anxiety
You might feel constantly overwhelmed, uneasy, or overthink and catastrophise over certain situations. Perhaps you feel uncomfortable in social scenarios. Anxiety comes in different ways, and we will work together to pinpoint where your anxiety comes from, what the triggers are, ahead of coming up with a method for managing these feelings going forward.
Trauma
You may be feeling distressed by recurrent or unwanted memories of a traumatic event ( abuse, rape, accident or natural disaster), where you find yourself reliving the experience (flashbacks); or be experiencing dreams or nightmares about the event which leads to uncontrollable thoughts, all of which can interfere with your ability to go about your daily routine. I can support and teach you skills to address your symptoms and develop coping strategies to handle stressful situations in your life.
Relationship Issues
You may feel like you are growing apart from your loved one, or find yourself bogged down by the same conflicts – as if your relationship is going in circles. Perhaps you are struggling with a family member or work colleague. Whatever your issue may be, I can help you work through what’s troubling you and guide you towards communicating more effectively with your friend/partner/colleague.
Other Areas I Work With
- Bereavement
- Divorce
- Stress
- Depression
- Low self-esteem
- Abuse
- Self-harm
- Gender identity issues
- Addiction
- Work-related issues
Please note that this is not a full list of the problems I can work with as a counsellor and psychotherapist. If you are living with an issue that isn’t on the list, give me a call on 07825137620 and we will discuss it further.
Frequently Asked Questions
You are invited to meet me at my cosy practice room based in St Margarets or on Teams/Google Meets. This is your opportunity to talk about what is going on for you and explore if I can help. This session is paid for, so it gives you the opportunity to reflect on our meeting and decide whether working with me is right for you.
You can give me a call for an initial chat before we agree on a time for a session. If I don’t answer your call, I will get back to you as soon as possible. You can use this chat to share your concerns, ask any questions, and see whether you’d feel comfortable having a face-to-face or online session.
Yes. This is your completely private place where you can speak as freely as you like without any judgement, with complete assurance that what you say won’t be disclosed.
Generally, I see clients on a weekly basis for 50-minute sessions. The nature of your issue will reflect the number of sessions but this will be discussed at your initial appointment. I offer short or open-ended therapy.
All sessions last 50 minutes and cost £60.
I accept payment by cash or bank transfer. If you need to cancel our session, I require 48 hours’ notice by email or phone. If notice is not given in this timescale, you will have to pay for the session.
Want to know more about counselling and psychotherapy in Twickenham and South West London? Feel free to give me a call on 07825137620 at any time.
Get in touch
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or if you would like to arrange an appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to counselling or psychotherapy, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.
You can also give me a call on 07825137620 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first. I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have.
All enquires are usually answered within 24 hours, and all contact is strictly confidential and uses secure phone and email services.
©Vicki Kearney
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