Counselling, Psychotherapy and Beyond
Online Counselling and Psychotherapy IN WEST LONDON
"Our consciousness is like a small candle in vast darkness; we must not let it go out!"
- Esther Ajeh Benson
Welcome to A Safe Space to explore, heal and grow!
Hello, I am Esther, welcome to Counselling, Psychotherapy and Beyond. COVID changed the world and we are living in unsettling times of disruption and unexpected events, and we all experience anxiety about the present times and our futures. When we find ourselves in these circumstances we need to find ways of restoring our sense of connection to ourselves and to others. You are probably visiting my site because you are looking for someone to help you understand why you are struggling and to find a way to the light: as written by Albus Dumbledore “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light”.
I am experienced at working with a wide range of adults. I am a trained trauma informed counsellor and (Transactional Analysis) psychotherapist in advanced level training, which means I am experienced in listening to deeper communications, including unconscious processes and dynamics.
I also have an interest in childhood trauma, intergenerational family patterns and dynamics, cultural influences, and wrong religious beliefs. I am curious about how these affect an individual negatively, debilitating and limiting their life paths. I work with adults seeking growth and development, as well as those facing more profound difficulties.
I offer online counselling and psychotherapy for individual adults, couples and groups on a short term and long term basis. I offer you a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space in which we can explore the issues you are struggling with together. Through our therapeutic relationship, you will gain a new understanding of yourself and the challenges you are facing, while developing strategies to help you make positive choices in your life.I can help with a variety of issues, such as anxiety, depression, abuse, trauma, self esteem, loss, bereavement and stress. As a couples counsellor, I can help with conflict, infidelity, communication problems, intimacy issues and life transitions.
For the full list of issues I can help with, click here.
About Me
I am person-centred, which means my job is to accompany you on your journey - as a fellow traveller and sometimes guide - towards what the founder of person-centred counselling, Carl Rogers, called ‘self-actualisation’.
Person-centred work is focussed on empathy, a non-judgemental approach and providing emotional support; everyone has a built-in motivation to reach for their full potential, but sometimes need a bit of support to get there!
Relational Counselling
My approach is relational model, transpersonal and person centred, which just means that you are at the centre of our work together. You have control over your own journey, you bring the issues you want to discuss to our sessions together, and you determine the pace we go at. You will not be pressured into sharing anything that you feel uncomfortable discussing. Over time, as our relationship grows, you may feel comfortable discussing sensitive emotions and experiences, but that is up to you. This way, with you at the helm, you are empowered to find your own answers, with my support, so you can continue to flourish long after our relationship has ended.
A safe space
When we work together, I will listen with sensitivity and empathy, so you feel comfortable and confident exploring the issues that you are struggling with. Through therapy, you will reach a greater understanding of the issues you are struggling with so you can find ways to make better choices in your life.
Couples
Maintaining a relationship can be hard. Whether it is communication, conflict, intimacy or transitions that are affecting you and your partner, counselling can help put your relationship at the heart of our discussions. Your relationship is the client, and we work together to restore balance and give you the tools so you and your partner can work through any issue together.
Trauma Informed
As a trauma informed therapist, I can help you cope with trauma that you have experienced, whether it is current or something from your past. By exploring your trauma in detail, I can help you understand the root cause of your trauma and develop ways to manage your emotions and make more positive choices moving forward.
How I Work With Clients
Counselling and psychotherapy provides you with the time to explore your issues in a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space. By taking the time to explore your thoughts, feelings and behaviours in detail, you will become more self aware, and you will understand the challenges you are facing better. This new self-awareness can help you manage your emotions better, make better choices and achieve your goals.
I am not here to fix you. I am here to listen closely, and with warm empathy, offering you a fresh perspective of your struggles and encouraging you to challenge your thoughts and feelings so you can get to the root cause of your problems. I know that you have the answers within you, and it is my job to help you come to a new understanding so you can work towards independence and fulfil your potential.
“Trauma robs the victim of a sense of power and control over her own life; therefore, the guiding principle of recovery is to restore power and control to the survivor. She must be the author and arbiter of her own recovery.”- Judith Lewis Herman
For more information about how I work, please see my ‘My Approach’ page.
Couples Counselling
Have you lost the spark in your relationship? Are you and your partner constantly arguing? Has there been an event in your relationship that you are both struggling to get past? Or is communication difficult between you?
Relationships take commitment and effort to maintain. It is perfectly normal for couples to experience difficulties in their relationships from time to time. As you change and grow, you cannot expect your relationship to stay the same. You need to work on it together, so you can evolve as individuals, and as a couple. You may be struggling with an issue that has happened recently, or your issues may lie in your past.
I am passionate about helping couples see the benefits of counselling as a way to break the cycle of negativity. When we work together, the relationship is the client. Couples counselling is not a way to win an argument or prove the other person wrong, it is a way to forge new lines of communication, to work alongside each other so you can problem solve any future issues together. Counselling acknowledges the three people in your relationship – you, your partner and the relationship – and each needs to be given the opportunity to flourish and thrive.
Please get in contact for more information about couples counselling.
Issues I can help with
Working with individuals, I can help with a range of issues that you may be struggling with.
Abuse
Addictions
Anger management
Anxiety
Autism spectrum
Bereavement
Chronic fatigue syndrome / ME
Communication issues
Cultural issues
Depression
Domestic Abuse
Family issues
Infidelity
Intimacy
Life transitions
Personal development
Post-traumatic stress
Redundancy
Relationships
Self esteem
Self-harm
Spirituality
Stress
Trauma
Unmet emotional needs
Women's issues
Work related issues
If you are struggling with an issue that isn’t listed above, please contact me to see if we can work together.
Testimonials
Get in touch
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how counselling works, or to arrange an initial assessment appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to counselling, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.
You can also call me on 07405 216056 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first.
I am registered with UK Council for Psychotherapy and abide by the ethical codes and standards, I hold professional indemnity insurance.
