Sophie Burdess
Counselling & Psychotherapy
About Therapy
Who is Therapy for?
Therapy is for anyone. Different people come for different reasons. Perhaps you feel unhappy or overwhelmed in yourself or with certain relationships. Maybe you are struggling with a specific problem or want to make sense of something in your life or past. It could be you feel lost or at a crisis point and can’t see a way forward. Perhaps an unexpected or traumatic event has happened in your life and you need some help with the healing process. Or maybe you want to explore your inner life more deeply. Everyone is unique, so everyone’s reasons for coming to therapy are unique too.
What is Therapy?
Therapy can provide emotional support, a space to focus on your personal growth and a chance to talk to someone confidentially - someone who is supportive, compassionate and non-judgemental of you, whatever you share or wherever you are in your life. It can be an opportunity to understand the way you relate to others to help improve the relationships in your life. Above all, it is a process of working together to bring about relief, insight, growth and change with your best interests at heart.
The usefulness of therapy mostly depends on a good fit between you and your therapist - someone you feel supported by and able to be honest and open with. It is a collaborative process. This is why it is advisable to have an initial consultation to see if it feels possible to work together.
This video describes how having psychotherapy can be one of the most significant and interesting things you could do to improve your chances of contentment - in relationships, at work, and with friends and family.
Counselling or Psychotherapy?
Counselling is usually short-term work, focussing on a specific issue or goal.
Psychotherapy is usually long-term or open-ended work and can explore more deeply into less conscious patterns and conflicts.
Sometimes goals change over time, so you may begin with short or long-term work in mind but it can be reviewed during the work accordingly.
About Sophie
I am a qualified therapist with a private practice based in Central London.
I offer one to one counselling and psychotherapy to adults, and have experience of working with clients from diverse backgrounds with a wide range of concerns.
I work in person from my consultation room in Central London or online.
I continuously develop my personal and professional integration with supervision, reflective practice and regular Continual Professional Development (CPD).
I abide by the BACP Code of Ethics and the UKCP Code of Ethics and Professional Practice
Qualifications
MA in Integrative Psychotherapy and Counselling, Middlesex University
Advanced Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy and Counselling, Minster Centre
Diploma in Integrative Counselling, Minster Centre
Memberships & Accreditations
How I Work
I am an integrative therapist
Being integrative means a few things. It means I believe therapy can help us feel more integrated in ourselves - more whole and alive in body and mind. And more accepting of ourselves so we can feel more enjoyment, freedom and fulfilment in our lives.
It also means that I integrate several different ways of thinking about therapy, rather than just drawing from one theory. Therefore, my approach depends on the individual - we are all unique after all.
And it means I integrate myself in the work - I am not a blank-faced ‘expert’, I am fully engaged, interactive and human! Our relationship is an important part of the work. The way we relate to one another can be helpful to explore because it may be similar and offer insight into other relationships in your life.
Whatever your reasons for coming to therapy, wherever you are in your life, you are welcome. I am here to support you.
Practicalities
Session Duration: 50 minutes
Session Frequency: Once or twice weekly, at the same time each week
Location: In person at Studio 31 or online via Zoom
Fee: £95 a session
Payment: Bank transfer or Paypal
If you have a private health insurance policy with one of the following providers,
it may be possible to cover some or all of the fee through your policy.
Resources
If you, or someone you are concerned about, are in immediate crisis or feel like you want to die, here are some places you can get help and support straight away.
Immediate Emotional Support
NHS Local Urgent Mental Health Helpline (England only)
Provides a rapid assessment of mental health crises
Samaritans
Free helpline for anyone who’s struggling to cope.
t: 116 123 2 (Available at all times)
e: jo@samaritans.org
Shout
Free text service, for anyone in crisis
t: 85258 (Anytime)
SANEline
Free helpline for anyone experiencing a mental health problem or supporting someone else
t: 0300 304 7000 (4.30pm–10.30pm every day).
CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)
Free helpline for anyone struggling or in a crisis.
t: 0800 58 58 58 (5pm - midnight every day)
e: webchat
Switchboard
Free helpline for people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender
t: 0300 330 0630 (10am–10pm every day)
e: chris@switchboard.lgbt
24hr text messenger service: 85258
Papyrus
Free helpline for people under 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide.
t: 0800 068 41 41 (Mon - Fri 9am - 10pm, weekends & bank holidays 2pm - 10pm)
text: 07860 039967
e: pat@papyrus-uk.org
The Mix
Free support for people under 25
t: 0808 808 4994 (Sunday-Friday 2pm–11pm)
e: using this form
text messenger service
Childline
Free helpline for children and young people under 19.
t: 0800 1111 (9am - midnight. Number will not show up on bills)
e: via website locker
Mental Health Information
Mental Health Foundation
The UK’s leading charity for everyone’s mental health.
NHS
Medical mental health information and advice.
Mind
Advice and support for anyone experiencing a mental health problem,including what to do in a mental health crisis.
Rethink
Advice and information about mental health, including tips for coping and how to support someone who is having suicidal thoughts.
Contact
If you are interested in arranging an initial consultation or have any questions, please get in touch - I’d be happy to hear from you.
You can send me a message using this form,
or email me: sophieburdess@gmail.com
or call/text/whatsapp me: 07429 295923
All information provided is strictly confidential.
Data Protection
Under the EU’s new data privacy law, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), you have a right to know about the information I collect, what it is used for, where it is shared, and how it is stored.
I collect the following personal data to contact about appointments: name, address, phone number, email address, and background information in the initial assessment. At our first meeting, I will also take your GP details, in case of emergency. If any of your information changes, please advise me.
To ensure best practice, I also make separate notes of our work together under an identifying code. These notes will be a brief factual record of the session.
All data will be kept securely and will only be accessible to myself. I will take the appropriate measures to protect your personal data. I will store it for as long as required under contract and by law. Where there is no legal requirement for me to keep it, it will be destroyed at the close of our work together.
If you wish to remove your agreement to my use of your data at any point, please let me know either in person, by phone 07429 295923, or by email sophieburdess@gmail.com