Erika Lawal, UKCP Accredited Psychotherapist

Erika Lawal

Canterbury CT4 English
Shortlist Share
Erika Lawal, UKCP Accredited Psychotherapist

Erika Lawal

Canterbury CT4 English
Shortlist Share

About Me

About Me

There's a first time for everything. Most newcomers to counselling and psychotherapy start out feeling a little intimidated by the idea of this rather mysterious process. I aim to demystify what I do clients often comment on what they describe as a down-to-earth and accessible approach. My aim is ultimately to help you understand yourself and your behaviour. I feel that goal is best achieved by working in a non-threatening, straightforward and inclusive way.


The Practice

Based in a location within easy reach of Ashford, Folkestone, Canterbury, and as Faversham), I have developed a practice which the product of 25+ years experience of person-to-person work in statutory, voluntary and commercial organisations as well as in private practice.

Derived from an integrative approach to psychotherapy and counselling, my aim is to shape my practice and methodology to the unique needs of each client, rather than attempting to shoehorn people into a pre-determined way of working. The formulation of an individual package based on feedback from the most recent research starts from the very first moment you contact me, when I begin assessing what you might require.

Integral to my work is the need to practise in the context of a real world outside the therapy room. I work with an awareness of the importance of identity and culture in helping to shape a sense of self and therefore welcome the opportunity help clients explore issues relevant to women, Black people, people with disabilities, lesbians, bisexual, gay and transgendered people.

Whether you are interested in working with me as a private individual or as an organisation, your first point of contact will usually be an email or telephone call. We will usually spend some time on the telephone discussing your needs in an attempt to establish whether we are the right people for the job. If I am are unable to help, I will do my best to refer you to a practitioner or service that can.
If I think I am able to provide the kind of service you are looking for, I will invite you to an assessment or consultancy session. This is not normally a session for I charge.


Assessment

I regard your initial assessment session as an opportunity for us both to assess whether counselling or therapy is something from which you would benefit, and if so, in what form. You will normally have completed a questionnaire prior to attending for your assessment this gives me some basic background information with which to work.

At the end of the assessment, I will offer some preliminary feedback about what I have observed during the session, and will advise you as to whether or not he or I believe therapy would be beneficial. Many clients who are deemed suitable wish to make an appointment to begin work there and then, while others prefer to go away and think about it. I'm more than happy that you should do this in fact I encourage you to visit more than one potential therapist before making a firm commitment, since your relationship with your therapist will be the most important element in the potential success or failure of the work you undertake.

Working Together

I would normally expect you to commit to an initial 6 sessions of work, usually (although not always) occurring once weekly. I find this often proves sufficient for those bringing relatively simple issues. For others, the six sessions offers a time-limited introduction to counselling and therapy, during which period I am able to assess needs and preferred style of working in more detail. For such clients, the review which takes place at the end of the initial period allows them to examine what they have achieved thus far and to consider what remains to be worked on. If we decide to continue, we will formulate a plan for continued work, usually in an open-ended contract.

I work with

  • Companies
  • Groups
  • Individuals
  • Private healthcare referrals

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.

I offer a variety of forms of support to practitioners wanting to start up or needing support in developing a private practice. It’s difficult to come by reliable and personally tailored support when you are setting up in private practice because: • Counselling, psychotherapy and psychology training programmes rarely offer any insight into what is required in order to successfully set up and run a private practice. • Ongoing supervision provides access to support, but the focus of supervision is usually on clients and casework. • If you’re working in an employed role and supervision is paid for by your employer, it will be regarded as inequitable/unethical to use that supervision to further your own ends outside your paid role. I offer both 1:1 coaching/mentoring and a hybrid online training programme to work around these difficulties. 1. Ask Erika 1:1 This is a simple and affordable on-demand coaching service. Starting from as little as £25, you can book individual sessions ranging from 15 – 60 minutes to receive support in relation to setting up a private practice. • Use the 60-minute sessions to discuss and develop your ideas and plans. • Use the 30-minute sessions to look at single issues that arise as your practice develops or to fine-tune aspects of your development plan as it unfolds. • Use the 15-minute sessions to get quick-fire help with a simple, uncomplicate issue that has emerged. Book an Ask Erika 1:1 session at https://www.thetherapyhour.uk/book-call 2. Private Practitioner Preparation (PPP) Hybrid Training This is a comprehensive training programme which covers all aspects of setting up and running a private practice. Using a mixture of on-demand learning, social posting and live participatory video seminars, you have access to everything you need to move into private practice without making expensive or tiresome mistakes. Learn more about PPP at https://www.thetherapyhour.uk/ppp-intro or Book a free Discovery Call to discuss how it works https://calendly.com/therapyhour/ppp-call
I use Schema Therapy to help clients examine feelings, beliefs and behaviour patterns that arise out of being ‘othered’ or different as part of a racial or ethnic minority. In working together, we will excavate the triggers and coping strategies you habitually employ to manage yourself. We’ll also look at the ways in which you are both limited and limit yourself and work to help you find a greater sense of personal freedom and autonomy in a world in which being different frequently means being invisible or pigeonholed without individuality.
I’m a UKCP registered psychotherapist and clinical supervisor who has worked in a variety of clinical settings over the course of 25+ years of practice. Having originally trained as an Integrative Psychotherapist at The Minster Centre in London, my practice is now heavily influenced by Schema Therapy. While I’m open to supervising psychotherapists and counsellors working in a wide range of contexts and specialisms, I have a particular interest in the following areas: While I’m open to supervising psychotherapists and counsellors working in a wide range of contexts and specialisms, I have a particular interest in the following areas: • Borderline Personality Disorder/Emotional Instability Disorder • Difference, diversity and identity (in particular; LGTBQ issues, neurodiversity, race and ethnicity) • Transitioning into private practice How I Work as a Supervisor I see clinical supervision as knowing how and when to shift subtly between the role of consultant, teacher and temporary therapist as appropriate. This means that if we work together, I am able to adjust the range and type of support offered in a way that matches a your own level of experience as a supervisee, while allowing and encouraging you to move towards increased understanding of, confidence in and responsibility for your own practice. This is all done within the context of modelling reflective practice in which you are encouraged to feel safe to explore both strengths and weaknesses by being shown that these are also dilemmas for experienced practitioner/supervisors. In practice, a typical supervision session would see you checking in before going on to survey your caseload, either with reference to individual cases or by exploring emerging themes or patterns. There is normally the opportunity given to explore what I refer to as "big issues' or dilemmas that exist within practice. I work with training, novice and experienced practitioners, offering face-to-face and online supervision across a range of platforms.
I use both Schema Therapy and EMDR to support clients in managing historic trauma and PTSD.

Types of Therapies Offered

  • Integrative Psychotherapist

What I can help with

  • Abuse
  • ADHD
  • Adoption
  • Anger Management
  • Anorexia
  • Anxiety
  • Bereavement
  • Bulimia
  • Bullying
  • Cancer
  • Chronic Illness
  • Cultural Issues
  • Depression
  • Divorce
  • Domestic Violence
  • Eating Disorders
  • EMDR
  • Employment Difficulties
  • Gender
  • Health-related Issues
  • Identity Problems
  • Infertility
  • Mental Health Issues
  • Obsessions
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
  • Online Counselling
  • Parents
  • Phobias
  • Physical Abuse
  • Post-Traumatic Stress
  • Private Practice Issues
  • Race Issues
  • Relationships
  • Separation
  • Sex Problems
  • Sexual Abuse
  • Sexuality
  • Step Families
  • Stress
  • Suicide
  • Supervision
  • Training
  • Transgender
  • Trauma
  • Workplace Counselling

Types of sessions

  • Face to Face - Long Term
  • Face to Face - Short Term
  • Online Therapy

Canterbury Office

54, Shalmsford Street
Chartham
Canterbury CT4 7RH
UK

View Map

Cost:

Individual & Couple - £75.00 (50-minute session)
EMDR - £135 (90-minute session)

Concession:

Sliding scale concessions are available to low income individuals and trainees in limited numbers.

UKCP College

  • Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy College (HIPC)
Erika Lawal

Erika Lawal

Canterbury CT4

Bookmarks My Shortlist

All shortlisted profiles

Find a therapist near you