My Approach

You might feel lost, stuck, or keen to make changes in your life. Seeking help can be daunting, particularly for those that have suffered oppression and marginalisation. Reaching out is an act of resistance; a demonstration of your desire to heal and grow.

I privilege compassion, creativity and cultural sensitivity in my work to support clients to make changes in their lives. I aim to collaborate with clients to co-construct a therapeutic relationship that features a balance of safety and challenge, to help clients reflect, evaluate and experiment with difference, as they take action to achieve their preferred futures.

My approach is non-blaming and strengths-based, meaning that patterns of shame and blame are reduced, and people's values, skills and abilities are harnessed to create long-lasting change.

About Me

I consider it a privilege to work alongside individuals, couples and families, assisting them to improve the quality and safety of their relationships, recover from distress, trauma and abuse, navigate critical life transitions (i.e. death, separation, parenthood), improve mental well-being and resilience, and achieve their preferred futures (whatever they may be!)

I believe that people are the experts of their lives and that the suffering people experience impairs their ability to recognise and harness the knowledge, skills and abilities within them to overcome their challenges. My aim is to help people to re-discover their knowledge, skills and abilities, and acquire new ones, to help them improve their relationships and liberate themselves from the negative stories their lives have become dominated by.

I am a qualified Family and Systemic Psychotherapist; also known as a Marriage and Family Therapist, Couple Therapist or Family Therapist. I trained at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London, receiving a Distinction grade.

I have worked in public and private mental health and social care settings in the UK, as a practitioner and leader, for many years. I have supervised and supported practitioners in training and provided training and coaching on university programmes and in social care settings.

I currently work in a London-based social care setting as a Family and Systemic Psychotherapist, providing therapy to adults and children, particularly those affected by relationship distress, adolescent risk-taking behaviour, family separation, developmental trauma, violence and patterns of escalation. In addition to providing therapy, I also provide consultation and training to other professionals working with children and young people (i.e. Social Workers, Psychologists, Foster Carers, Mental Health Nurses).

I have my own private practice, 'Mak Consultancy', where I see clients and offer ad-hoc consultancy services to external organisations. I tend to see clients on Tuesday and Thursday evenings; however I can be flexible, if these days do not suit you. I can offer virtual and in-person sessions. In-person sessions are usually held in the London Bridge or Hackney areas.

I have undertaken additional training in the following: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Social Learning Theory, Webster-Stratton Early Years Parenting Programme, Motivational Interviewing, and Non-Violent Resistance. I have also learned greatly from the many individuals and families that I have worked with and their teachings live on in my work.

It is essential in therapy to attend to issues of difference, power and privilege. Our experience of the world, relationships, work and everyday lives are hugely shaped by our individual identities, as constructed by our gender, nationality, race, religion, class, appearance, culture, sexual orientation, ability/disability, and so on.

The different parts of who we are intersect and afford us positions of privilege, at times, and at other times, oppression and subjugation, depending on who we are in relationship with and the wider context around us (i.e. social, cultural, political). The problems that we encounter, be it our own mental health, within our intimate relationships, in our parenting, issues with colleagues etc., are inextricably linked to our individual lived realities, unique identities and the collisions/tensions that occur with others.

So, in therapy, we will co-create a safe space to explore how your experiences are shaped by your history, lived reality, identity, perceptions, relationships, habits and patterns; explore where you are now, where you want to get to, and consider actions you can take to achieve your preferred future.

I work with

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

Types of Therapies Offered

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

What I can help with

• Abuse
• Addiction
• Adoption
• Anger Management
• Anxiety
• Bereavement
• Bullying
• Couple Issues
• Cultural Issues
• Depression
• Domestic Violence
• Family
• Identity Problems
• Mental Health Issues
• Online Counselling
• Parents
• Physical Abuse
• Race Issues
• Relationships
• Sex Problems
• Sexuality
• Stress
• Suicide
• Trauma