Qualifications

MSc Integrative Psychotherapy [Level 7] (SPTI, 2018); PGDip Integrative Psychotherapy (SPTI, 2016); PGCert Integrative Psychotherapy (SPTI, 2015)

Therapeutic Approach

Integrative, Psychodynamic

Membership body

BACP, UKCP (Accred.)

Years practicing

9 years

Issues worked with

Attachment issues, Bereavement, Childhood abuse, Cultural identity, Personal growth/wellbeing, Social anxiety, Insomnia, Loneliness, Stress, Family issues/relationships, Anxiety (Worries, Fears, Panic), Bullying, Depression, Rape/sexual assault, Grief/Loss, Romantic Relationships, Confidence/Self-esteem, Trauma, Adoption, Drugs, Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), Health anxiety, Identity issues, Mood instability, Sexual abuse, Sexuality, Suicidal thoughts, Personality disorders, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Chronic or acute health conditions, Disordered eating, Anger, LGBTQ+, Sexual identity, Sexual matters, Self-harm, OCD, Work-related issues, Not Assessed, Abuse (unspecified), Spirituality/Religion, Abortion, Academic Stress, Adjustment/Changes, Burnout/Fatigue, Divorce, Emotional Expression, Financial concerns, Friendships, Illness in the family, Leaving University, Low/Depressed Mood, Parental Alcohol/Drug Problems, Parental Separation/Divorce, Perfectionism, Public Speaking/Performance Anxiety, Relationships with Academic Staff, Sleep Problems, University Pressures (non-academic).

Special interest areas

Self-care and building resilience; emotional regulation; trauma and recovery; relationships (with self and others) life transitions; Higher Education and the student experience. Having spent over 2 decades studying, teaching and providing academic and pastoral support at universities in the UK and US, I am well-placed to work therapeutically with students and those employed within HE settings.

Personal Statement

Welcome to my profile. I’m Paloma, a perceptive and supportive UKCP-registered Psychotherapist, offering brief counselling and longer-term psychotherapy to UK-based individuals aged 18 and over. 

My 4-year MSc in Integrative Psychotherapy has equipped me with the expertise to thoughtfully draw from different psychotherapeutic traditions (such as Psychoanalysis, Object Relations, Self-Psychology, Psychodynamic, Gestalt, Transactional Analysis, Person Centred and CBT) to devise a customised approach tailored to your unique history, way-of-being, skill set and goals. I use a developmental-relational model as the foundation for my practice; in other words, the way that I work is underpinned by the principle that early relational experience defines the course of psychological development, establishing templates for our understanding of who we are, how the world ‘works’ and how to interact/connect with others.

I will work with you to co-create a therapeutic relationship which, while structured and boundaried, is also authentic, nurturing and meaningful. I will listen- with interest, empathy and compassion- to whatever you choose to share with me. I will actively engage in dialogue; asking questions, offering observations and insights, sharing tools and strategies, and signposting you to additional resources. Together, we will reflect on what brings you to therapy and formulate a way forward that feels right to you, enriching your understanding of yourself and your relationships in the process.

The motivations for our thoughts, feelings and actions frequently operate outside of our awareness which can keep us 'stuck', repeating established patterns that may not serve our best interests in the here-and-now. By sensitively bringing unconscious processes to your attention, I will provide you with an opportunity to reflect on- and potentially revise- your longstanding beliefs about yourself, others and the world around you, freeing you up to experiment with thinking, feeling and behaving differently.

I invite you to book an initial/intro session to see how we get along and give you a sense of whether you would find my approach useful. I offer appointments 12pm-8pm weekdays, with limited availability 12pm-4pm Saturdays. To check if I am available at a particular time, message me via the envelope icon at the top of this page. While I realise that reaching out to a professional can feel daunting, I assure you that I am friendly and down-to-earth and would be delighted to hear from you!