About Me
I always had an interest in individual behaviours as a child. My curious child mind would always try to understand why people in my life would say and behave in certain ways and why. This curiosity led me to undertake an A Level in Psychology in 2001. I enjoyed the study of the human mind so much that I went on to study my Psychology degree in 2002 whilst working with children who were underachieving in school because of burdens in their personal life. I also counselled students online who were having difficulties at university.
Once I had completed my degree I went on to work in a Personality Disorder secure unit for adults who had committed dangerous and violent crimes. Here, I learnt firsthand the importance of early childhood experiences and how they can impact our lives in a very negative and self destructive way. I then went on to work in an adult acute mental health ward where I worked with schizophrenia, acute depression, generalised anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder/manic depression, suicidal ideation, psychosis, problems with drugs and alcohol etc.
In 2009 I undertook my Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology. I published a thesis titled "When Personal and Professional Worlds Collide: An exploration of trainee counselling psychologists' experience of having a relative with mental health problems". I undertook placements where I worked using a Play Therapy approach with children in a school. I also continued to work on the acute mental health ward where I delivered one-to-one personal therapy with the individuals staying there. I also worked in a primary care NHS Psychological Health centre where I also worked with individuals experiencing difficulties like anxiety, depression, bereavement, OCD, abuse, etc.
I am currently working in a Secondary school where I deliver one-to-one short and long term therapy to adolescents who are experiencing phenomenons like panic disorder, OCD, SAD, phobias, low self esteem, body dysmorphic disorder, the effects of bullying/cyber bullying etc. I also work with the NHS where I deliver one-to-one psychological therapy to adults. I work with relationship issues, depression, anxiety, phobias, postnatal depression, family issues, separation and divorce, carer support, domestic violence, abuse, bereavement etc.
What I offer
Within my private therapy practice, I offer specialised counseling to adults and adolescents. I currently practice within Cognitive Behavioural therapy (CBT), psychodynamic and person-centered psychological therapy models. I offer short and longer term therapy services. The duration of counseling for each individual is dependent on the presenting problem/s of each individual client and is tailoured specifically to client individual need.
I am an insightful, warm and approchable therapist. I genuinely care for each and every one of my clients and I believe this is recognised from the clients I have had the pleasure of working with. I am experienced in working accross the wide spectrum of lifes difficulties. I want the best for my clients and if after an assessment session we both feel we cannot work together, I will do my best to signpost you to a service which can better match your needs. Therapy can be a trial and error process and finding the right therapist for you can take some time and patience. The client-therapist relationship is of great importance. As client and therapist we will work together as a team to find the best mode of treatment for you.
My philosophical stance
I believe that medication and the diagnostic system are not the only or complete answer to achieving positive therapeutic change. An individuals environment or way of thinking can have a direct effect on their thoughts, behaviours and physiological make-up. The way that each of us view and interpret the world is different. I aim to understand each individuals experience of being human and what each persons lived world consists of. We are all different.
Areas of counselling I work with:
Abortion
Abuse
Abandonment
Adoption issues
Affairs & betrayals
Anxiety
Anger management
Bereavement
Bipolar disorder/manic depression
Bullying (including cyber bullying)
Cancer
Carer support
Child related issues
Cross cultural relationships
Depression
Dissociation
Domestic violence
Family issues
Fertility
Generalised anxiety disorders
Hearing voices
Low self-confidence
Low self-esteem
Obessive compulsive disorder
Panic disorder
Phobias
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Pregnancy
Postnatal depression
Relationship issues
Self harm
Seperation and divorce
Sexuality
Stress
Suicidal thoughts
Trauma
Work related stress
Dr Niki Andreou