My Approach

In my practice as an integrative psychotherapist, I offer a therapeutic relationship that affirms creative renewal, integration and wholeness, by encouraging clarity and mindfulness in the development of self-compassion and awareness of our inner compass that stirs our choice making abilities.

I draw on psychodynamic, existential, attachment – relational, systemic, trauma, cognitive, transpersonal, neuroscience perspectives and insights, and in my work with children I apply play-therapy modalities.

A core interest I have is in the coping strategies and beliefs that can be triggered by distress, neglect and trauma, which can compromise self-esteem and the image one has of themselves, diminish our expectations of life relationships, which is a factor in the development of various compulsions and addictions.

By learning to stably create and maintain a relationship with our inner child or higher self, and parent our distress, we can find greater clarity, peace and lightness, affirm our self-acceptance, and anchor our emotional security, to better nurture our life relationships’ needs, and make choices in our lives which are more balanced and fair. Often because of traumatic and disappointing events in our lives, we develop coping strategies that help us survive but that might not be beneficial for us anymore.

It is by telling our story that we can meet ourselves, and embark on a mindful journey back to us. Give ourselves permission to let go of what does not serve us anymore, and open the door to new possibilities, to a new story.

About Me

Hi, I am Farida,
I am an integrative adult and systemic family psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, and EMDR trauma therapist with over 15 years experience both in the NHS and private sector.

Balance and simplicity are core qualities I apply to my life and work, as I believe they bring awareness and groundedness in the daily choices we make.

Everything has a cycle – a beginning, a life and an end – and the most valuable element of this cycle is our conscious awareness of the here and now and how we choose to live each step of the way.

I have a great interest in human relationships, their dynamics and interconnectedness. When we are born our first interaction is a relationship to another, our families become the first nucleus within which we create those very first impressions that will shape our future interactions with individuals and society. It is by learning to relate with one another, I believe, that we may nurture and polish those inner qualities we all have the potential to reveal and gain greater clarity on the purpose of our lives.

In the course of my life I have learnt that when we have negative and unhealthy experiences, especially at a very young age, we develop coping strategies and core beliefs – whether triggered by distress, neglect or trauma – that become core wounds and can compromise our self-esteem and the image one has of themselves, as well as diminish our expectations of life relationships and the way we create meaning in our lives.

By learning to stably create and maintain a relationship with our inner child or higher self, and parent our distress, we can find greater clarity, peace and lightness, affirm our self-acceptance, and anchor our emotional security, to better nurture our life relationships’ needs and make choices in our lives which are more balanced and fair.

I work with

• Children and young people
• Companies
• Couples
• Families
• Groups
• 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.

Types of Therapies Offered

• Family and Systemic Psychotherapist
• Family Therapist
• Systemic Family and Couple Psychotherapist
• Systemic Psychotherapist

What I can help with

• Abuse
• Age-related Issues
• Anxiety
• Bereavement
• Bulimia
• Bullying
• Chronic Illness
• Couple Issues
• Cultural Issues
• Depression
• Domestic Violence
• EMDR
• Employment Difficulties
• Family
• Health-related Issues
• Identity Problems
• Infertility
• Mental Health Issues
• Online Counselling
• Parents
• Post-Traumatic Stress
• Private Practice Issues
• Race Issues
• Relationships
• Sexuality
• Spirituality
• Stress
• Supervision
• Terminal Illness
• Training
• Trauma
• Workplace Counselling