Hello
I'm
Dr. Sophie
About me
I approach therapy with the understanding that emotional distress is rarely a personal failing. More often, it is an understandable response to your life experiences, relationships, and circumstances. By slowing things down and exploring these areas together, what feels overwhelming can begin to make more sense and feel easier to hold.
I tend to focus on helping you understand what may be happening beneath the surface, rather than rushing to fix things quickly. For many people, taking the time to reflect and make meaning of their experiences can bring a greater sense of clarity and direction. At the same time, where it feels helpful, we can also think about practical ways of making changes in your day-to-day life.
I often work with people who feel stuck, disconnected from themselves or others, or unsure about the direction their life is taking. This can include exploring patterns in relationships, questions around identity, or behaviours that feel difficult to shift, with the aim of developing a deeper understanding and a greater sense of choice.
What can clients expect when working with you?
I see therapy as a collaborative process, where we work alongside each other to find what is most helpful for you. I am genuinely invested in your progress and aim to create a space where you feel supported, but also gently encouraged to grow.
Openness and honesty are important in my work. At times, this may mean I offer thoughtful challenge, particularly when it feels like this could help you move forward. I will always aim to do this in a way that feels respectful and attuned to you.
Clients often experience me as personable and down to earth. I aim to bring a sense of authenticity into the room, so that the space feels real and human. Where it fits, I may also use humour, or draw on ideas and metaphors to help make sense of complex experiences in a way that feels more relatable.
If we are working online, I aim to keep the space flexible and responsive to your needs. This might include thinking together about how to manage screen fatigue, or adapting how we work so that sessions feel more manageable and supportive within your day.
What is unique about how you work with clients?
My approach is shaped by a range of professional and personal experiences. I have worked across NHS services, private practice, and the charity sector, which has given me a broad understanding of different ways people experience and access support.
Alongside this, my work in humanitarian and third-sector settings has deepened my awareness of how wider social and cultural factors can impact mental health. I hold in mind not just what you are experiencing internally, but also the context you are living in.
I have completed doctoral training in counselling psychology and am accredited with the BACP, which supports a thoughtful and well-rounded approach to therapy. I am also Swiss and have lived in the UK for many years, so I understand some of the complexities of navigating different cultures and identities. I offer therapy in both English and German, which can be important for people who feel more comfortable expressing themselves across languages.
I can work with...
Anxiety including generalised anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks, health anxiety and phobias;
Depression and low mood;
Trauma, including childhood or developmental trauma;
Stress and burnout, including work-related pressures;
Relationship and interpersonal difficulties, including family dynamics;
Identity, self-esteem, and sense of self;
Emotional regulation, including anger and overwhelm;
Grief and bereavement;
Life transitions and questions around meaning or direction;
Health-related concerns, including chronic illness and medically unexplained symptoms;
Eating disorders and body image concerns;
Academic and career-related challenges;
Sexuality and sexual health;
Perinatal mental health;
Substance use and addiction including alcohol and smoking;
Experiences of discrimination or prejudice;
Psychedelic integration
My qualifications
Doctorate in Counselling Psychology (DPsych)
BACP
Research expertise
My research has explored couples, with a focus on the use of psychedelics together within relationships (see https://openaccess.city.ac.uk/id/eprint/37326/)
Fees
£120 per session. I am available to offer a free consultation.