Welcome to my website.

 

My practice is based in Notting Hill and is a short walk from Notting Hill Gate underground station and is on the route of the 52, 23, 12 and 28 buses.  

I hope you will find my website helpful. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

 

MY APPROACH

 

 

The way I work is described as integrative which means that I combine elements from the main therapeutic approaches to suit each individual client’s needs and requirements.

You may have heard of CBT, Psychoanalysis, Person-Centred or Existential therapies among others and may be confused about how to choose what the best approach might be for you.

 

 

In other words it is the method adapting to the client and not the other way round. Even though they may subscribe to a specific therapeutic school, most experienced therapists are at the very least aware of developments in approaches other than their own.  In any case research indicates that the most significant factor relating to successful outcome is not the therapist’s preferred school of thought, but the quality of the relationship between therapist and clients.  

 

By establishing an empathic, safe and supportive therapeutic environment I will guide you towards clarifying what your aims and objectives are if you need to, and then towards achieving them.  This can be done not just by talking, but also in many cases by a variety of experiential exercises which can bring to awareness those aspects of oneself that cannot be reached by words alone.  Therapy remains at all times a collaborative and creative process.   It allows an opening up of possibilities. It is not a question of me telling you what to do but of us, client and therapist, exploring your current way of making sense of your experience.  This is done in order to identify how your problems may have originated, how they are maintained, the function they may serve and the best way for you to challenge them and move forward.

 

 

Marina Claessens - B.Sc., M.A., Dip. Ex. Psych. C.Psychol.

Chartered Psychologist

Counselling, Psychotherapy & Coaching

Notting Hill, W11, West London & Central London

 

mobile: 0791 766 5756

 

e-mail: marina@nottinghillcounselling.com

Therapy Offered

 

Along with my private practice in Notting Hill, I work within the NHS as a Counselling Psychologist, providing both primary and secondary care. I also have wide ranging experience in the voluntary sector, with London University students counselling services, with Drug and Alcohol agencies and with generic counselling services working with people experiencing a wide variety of difficulties including:

 

· Addictions

· Substance abuse

· Anger

· Depression

· Anxiety and panic

· Phobias

· Stress

· Bereavement and loss

· Low self-esteem

· Sexual identity

· Relationships

· Psychosis

· Surviving childhood abuse

· Personality-based difficulties

 

How long will therapy last?

 

What I offer is not open-ended therapy lasting decades.  Many people only need 6, 12 or at the most 20 sessions to come to a successful resolution of their issues. In those cases where longer term intervention may be required (and this I shall always negotiate with you), we shall review the progress we have made every 6 sessions to ensure that we are both happy with the direction taken.

 

Group Therapy

 

We are relational beings and most of the problems explored in therapy are both rooted in and affecting our relationships.  Taking part in a therapeutic or psycho-educational group can therefore be a very valuable experience as a complement or, in some cases, as an alternative to individual therapy.

 

The types of group that I run include: mindfulness, women’s, dealing with depression, dealing with anxiety and self-esteem groups as well as an open-ended therapeutic group.

 

If you are finding it difficult to find a therapy group that meets your particular needs – specific groups can be organised on request – please feel free to contact me.

 

 

Marina Claessens

 

mobile: 0791 766 5756

 

e-mail: marina@nottinghillcounselling.com

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