Psychosis Counselling in Belfast

Summoning the courage to talk to a professional about what is distressing us can be the most difficult, but also the most powerful step towards improving our wellbeing and our lives to a standard that we are more satisfied with and that we deserve. I aim to create a space where the client feels safe, whilst also communicating trust, compassion and understanding so that I may understand what their current experience is truly like for them. I integrate various schools and models of therapy, which I have assessed, are the best intervention for a client in each session and closely monitor their reaction to these.

I am a qualified registered counsellor working in the Belfast and Bangor areas. I provide a comfortable and supportive safe space for you to explore any unresolved issues past or present. Whilst we cannot change difficult events from the past, we can work together to better understand and work through the challenges that you are experiencing in your life. Together we can develop an awareness of patterns of negative behavior and perceptions that may be leaving you feeling anxious or depressed. The symptoms of your distress can show in a physical and psychological way.

I work with individuals (18+) who are seeking to increase their self awareness and to better understand how they think, feel and act. My therapeutic approach can help you take notice of unhelpful relational patterns that feel automatic and cause distress, worry and self doubt. As you progress in therapy, you will feel more able to respond to stressors with greater flexibility and confidence. This frees you up to think and act in a manner that serves your needs better and helps you achieve the sustainable balance you seek.

I am a Clinical Psychologist registered with the Health & Care Professionals Council (HCPC). Having worked with children and adult mental health sectors using models of psychological assessment, formulation, and treatment, knowledgeable of our community and voluntary sector. I am privileged to have experience with people from a broad range of cultural backgrounds and levels of complexity. And help them to overcome the language and the culture barriers by speaking the same language with them as I m fluent in Arabic, English, French and Persian.

I am an experienced Clinical Psychologist working with young people and adults with a range of difficulties. I have held posts working with people with a range of mental health difficulties as well as those adjusting to physical ill health and disability. I am an integrative practitioner, incorporating person-centred, psychodynamic and attachment theories, as well as cognitive models such as CBT and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. I have also completed training in Autism diagnostic assessment (ADOS-2 and DISCO) and have over four years experience in completing diagnostic assessments for ASD within multi-disciplinary teams.

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It can be a huge step to decide to talk to a counsellor/psychotherapist about personal issues so it is important to find someone you are comfortable with, who will not judge you but accept you for who you are. I offer office based and/or telephone therapy. The relationship between therapist and patient is fundamentally important. I liken psychotherapy to being in a clothing shop changing room where we get a unique view of ourselves from all angles.  Likewise therapy is about helping someone to glimpse  and explore hidden parts of themselves or just helping them make sense of their distress.

After having taught for 7 years at the Faculty of Psychology of an Italian private University, I moved to Northern Ireland where I founded Athena Mental Health which I now direct as the CEO. I am a Fellow of the National Council of Integrative Psychotherapists (UK) where I served as Ethics Committee Member and currently offer Clinical Supervision. During the COVID19 pandemic I moved my business online accessing the global market where I still work treating adults, couples and families from any country in the world. I was trained to provide therapy in English to speakers of other languages.

I am a fully qualified and accredited Counsellor working in the Mid Ulster area. I also have a Bsc (Hons) Applied Psychology and have spent many years working in the field of Behavioural Neuroscience and research, a GP medical practice and schools. My approach is warm, direct, and engaging with an emphasis on building trust and using the therapeutic relationship as a medium for change. I strive to create a space to explore patterns in relationships, emotional expression, and practising new ways of thinking, feeling and being. My private counselling service is founded on clinical excellence informed by up to date research.

Way Forward offers Professional Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and Specialist Counselling services to Adults, children, and adolescents. I have been supporting people who are struggling with their mental health and well-being for more than 20 years in a variety of settings including the NHS, Private, Voluntary, and Public Sectors. My overall approach to therapy tends to be straightforward and honest, I value transparency and direct communication in the therapeutic relationship.

I am a friendly, compassionate and experienced Clinical Psychologist who has worked within a range of NHS adult mental health services both in Scotland and here in Northern Ireland for 18 years. Having worked as a Consultant Clinical Psychologist for the past 5 years, I have a wealth of experience and training in different types of psychological therapy, making me well placed to identify and offer the therapies that would best suit your needs. These may include Cognitive- Behavioural Therapy, Eye-Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Mindfulness, Compassion-Focussed Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy and Exposure Therapy.