Counselling & Psychotherapy

Counselling & psychotherapy services in South-West London

Our therapists running our counselling and psychotherapy services are of an impressive standard and their work greatly complements our other treatments. Our therapists provide an evidence based approach which may include a combination of solution focused, cognitive behavioral therapy, hypnotherapy and mindfulness depending on your condition and needs. 

The White Hart Clinic not only offers services to stay on top of your mental health and wellbeing, we also offer various treatments aimed at overall body and musculoskeletal health. Osteopathy, massage therapy, specialised physiotherapy aimed at both men and women and services aimed at new and expectant mothers are just a few of the services we offer. We provide a range of psychological, brief strategic and integrative techniques including CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), acceptance & commitment, compassion therapy and solution focussed therapy. Our therapists work in a goal directed manner and are experienced in managing a range of difficulties including: 

• Generalised and health anxiety

• panic

• OCD

• Phobias

• Low mood & depression

• Self esteem and relationship problems

• Anger

• Addictions

• Emotional difficulties

What is counselling & psychotherapy?

Counselling is a type of therapy provided by psychologists to help individuals, couples, families, or groups discuss and address the personal, social, or psychological challenges that we face every day. The goal is to provide expert insight and support in order to improve your mental wellbeing and health through discussion and talking therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), couples counselling and psychodynamic therapy. Whether you want to address a specific event or issue, you need psychological support in combination with manual therapy in order to manage a chronic condition or pain, or you would simply like to manage your mental health more effectively, our trained psychologists can help.

There are many reasons an individual may seek out counselling and psychological therapy. Some of the most common reasons are:

Grief and bereavement

One of the most common reasons an individual may require counselling is due to the loss of a loved one. This is a particularly sensitive subject for many people and one that some of us struggle to talk about. Losing a family member or close friend is devastating and can require counselling or therapy in order to manage the issues and emotions that come with loss. Grief and bereavement counselling focuses on providing support, understanding, and strategies for managing grief, helping you move forward in life. Bereavement and grief requires a sensitive approach that will differ depending on the individual, addressing different issues such as intense sadness, isolation, anger or the uncertainty surrounding a life transition such as the loss of a loved one.

Relationship issues

The goal is to resolve conflict and encourage communication in order to address issues in a non-judgmental and unbiased environment. Couples counselling is an effective therapy for couples at any stage of a relationship, whether at the beginning dating stage, engaged to be married or in a long-term marriage or partnership. Typically, you may seek out counselling for infidelity and trust issues, financial problems, issues with showing intimacy, psycho-sexual issues, difference in parenting opinions or to resolve and work through repeated conflicts and arguments that seemingly have no resolution.

Child and teenage counselling

Counselling and psychological therapies aimed at children and teens can be essential in helping them cope with emotional, behavioural, and psychological challenges. Therapies aimed specifically at children and adolescents will focus on creating a safe environment, encouraging the individual to open up and discuss issues and talking points facing children as they navigate growing up, school and social situations. Bullying, trauma or loss, academic pressure, anxiety and behavioural issues are all common discussion points for children and teens that they perhaps struggle to open up about at home, at school or with friends. Typically, therapy sessions aimed at children and teens will incorporate play therapy, art therapy, social skills training and other approaches that aim to raise confidence and comfort, creating a safe environment where a child feels safe discussing sensitive issues.

Drug and alcohol addiction

Addiction counselling is a vital tool for individuals battling substance or alcohol addiction, as well as other addictions such as smoking, gambling or excessive eating. Our counsellors will help equip you with various coping mechanisms in a supportive, non-judgemental environment. We can help you attain and maintain sobriety, improve your mental health and the way you think about your addictions, assisting you in building a better quality of life.

Should I see a Counsellor, CBT Therapist or Psychotherapist?

It can be confusing when deciding whether to see a counsellor, a therapist or a psychotherapist. What do these terms actually mean? With psychological services in the UK, the titles counsellor, psychotherapist and therapist are often used interchangeably but none of them are protected titles in the UK. The main regulatory professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy are UKCP (the UK Council for Psychotherapy) and BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy), and all our therapists are members of their relevant governing body. Typically, a counsellor would be seen to provide short-term support for a variety of reasons, such as life transitions or stress. A psychotherapist works more deeply with clients, addressing underlying emotional or psychological issues that may originate from a childhood experience or deep-rooted trauma. A CBT therapist specialises in cognitive behavioral therapy, a structured approach to treating mental health issues such as phobias, anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) or depression.

Counselling and Psychotherapist Qualifications 

Therapist training varies, for example a Level 6 is considered a degree level, meaning a counsellor qualified at Level 6 will have received more extensive academic training than one with a Level 4 qualification. Experience and specialisations are also important factors to consider when choosing your therapist.

If you are looking for help with a particular issue, you can check the individual profile of our team for more information. The best indication of a successful outcome to therapy is the connection you have with your therapist. We have a team of counsellors, psychotherapists and cognitive behaviour therapists, also known as CBT therapists. Our team work closely with local psychiatrists and our in-house GP’s mental health services if you need signposting for medical intervention.

All our therapists are happy to arrange a brief chat to see whether they might be the right person to support you and answer any questions you may have.

We have specialised child counsellors and psychotherapists for older children and teenagers. For couples, marriage or family counselling we are happy to talk to you to find out if individual therapy will be more helpful to start with or start with our couple counsellor.

How can I book a counselling/psychotherapy appointment?

If you or somebody you know has been affected by any of the above mentioned issues, our counselling practitioners can help. Whether you feel lost after the recent loss of a loved one, you are experiencing issues in your relationship, you are concerned your child may require counselling or you are searching for assistance managing and treating your addictions, we here at the White Hart Clinic can help you. Simply call the team on 020 8876 9897 or use our quick and easy online booking system to make your appointment now. Our clinic is conveniently located a 5 minute walk from Barnes Bridge railway station and is very close to White Hart Lane bus station.