Chindilani Andekalithan, UKCP Accredited Psychotherapist

Chindilani Andekalithan

London W6
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Chindilani Andekalithan, UKCP Accredited Psychotherapist

Chindilani Andekalithan

London W6
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My Approach

I am an existential therapist, which means I am interested in questions about existence. What does it mean to be you? What is it like? How do you interact with the world and with others around you?

Most of the people I work with have experienced abuse in childhood and want to find a safe, supportive space where they can talk about what happened and process its meaning in their lives.

I do not believe that therapy is apolitical. I am a member of TACTT (Therapists Against Conversion Therapy and Transphobia) and PCSR (Psychotherapists and Counsellors for Social Responsibility). I believe all of us, not only those from historically marginalised groups, should work towards decolonising our ideas of what 'health' and 'wellbeing' look like, and I consistently try to do this in my practice.

About Me

Hi, my name is Chindilani (Shin-dill-AH-nee) and I live in West London with my cat, Pangur Bán, who enjoys joining us for therapy sessions. I practice from my home, which is quiet, peaceful and fully wheelchair accessible (I am a wheelchair user and I sit in my wheelchair during sessions).

I am Romani and grew up in a mixture of environments, from caravan sites to refuges and hostels for unhoused people, to council estates in and around the UK. I have lived in the city and the countryside although nowadays I call London home. I am fat and fat-positive, and I work from a HAES perspective.

I work with

  • Individuals

Special Interests

Like all UKCP registered psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors I can work with a wide range of issues, but here are some areas in which I have a special interest or additional experience.

Abuse of any kind and at any age deeply affects the way we see the world and engage with others. Sometimes it can be helpful to talk through what has happened with someone who is outside of the rest of your life. I feel honoured to be able to provide a safe space where people can be themselves and be heard.
Growing up in a mixed-culture family myself, I have some understanding of what it can be like to not quite feel like you fit anywhere. One of the things I love about living in London is being able to interact with people from all different cultures and learning about their experiences. It can be hard to work out which parts of our cultures of origin we want to continue engaging with as adults, especially if aspects of our personal identities -- such as gender, sexuality or career choice -- are frowned upon by our cultures. I provide an accepting, explorative environment where we can look at your cultural identity and work out what to embrace and what might need to shift in relation to who you are now.
Abuse can take a huge toll on a person and that can show itself in many different ways. Perhaps you find it difficult to leave the house or feel a need to control your environment. Perhaps you have been given a clinical label or diagnosis, which you might find helpful or unhelpful. Many people who have been abused experience some form of dissociation, whether that's feeling cut off from the world and other people, or internal dissociation such as finding yourself to be living as a system. Unfortunately we can't go back in time and change the past, but we might be able to shift your relationship with it to make it more comfortable for you to be in the world.
Childhood sexual abuse is a huge problem and is much more common than many people realise. It also takes many different forms, not just the most obvious ones that come to mind when hearing the term. I have experience of working with all sorts of sexual abuse including people who have been trafficked; forced to participate in the creation of image and video content; abused by women as well as men; and all different kinds of experiences within the abuse itself. The way people relate to their history and their abusers is different for everyone and can be very confusing, and sometimes people worry that a therapist will not understand or will judge them for their reactions. Please know that I am not here to do that; my goal will always be to understand where you are coming from and be with you through the difficult times, rather than judging you or making any presumptions.

Types of Therapies Offered

  • Existential Psychotherapist

What I can help with

  • Abuse
  • Cultural Issues
  • Post-Traumatic Stress
  • Sexual Abuse

Types of sessions

  • Face to Face - Long Term
  • Online Therapy

London Office

Fulham
Hammersmith & Fulham
London W6

  Wheelchair accessible View Map

Cost:

I work on a 'pay what you can' basis, so we will discuss your fee in the consultation session, which is free.

UKCP College

  • Constructivist and Existential College (CEC)
Chindilani Andekalithan

Chindilani Andekalithan

London W6
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