Diego Avila

My name is Diego Avila and I am a Counselling Psychotherapist. I am an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), and fully uphold their Ethical Framework.

I work using a Relational Integrative Model, which puts the emphasis on the way that we, as humans, relate to each other, both inside and outside of the therapy room. 

I am also a Clinical Supervisor as well as a Lecturer in Counselling, currently working in Adult Further Education.

I offer Couples'/Relationship therapy having completed specialist training:

Level 5 Certificate in Couple/Relationship Therapy, accredited by COSRT (College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists).

I am currently undergoing specialised training in working with Compulsive Sexual Behaviours and am able to offer some limited reduced fees to clients presenting these issues for the duration of my training, expected to finish in September 2024.

My aim is to provide you with a safe and contained space for you to talk, share and explore your feelings, in your own time and at your own pace. Within our therapeutic relationship I will aim to facilitate a space for self-growth and exploring your own personality, how you relate to others and to yourself.

​The first session will be an assessment to explore what you feel you need help with and how we can work together. I will ask you to complete a brief questionnaire beforehand, which will give us a clearer picture of your presenting issues.

I am also able to carry out session both in the English and Spanish languages.

Couples'/Relationship Therapy

The way that we relate to others is, to a great degree, strongly influenced by our earlier relationship experiences, as well as by the society and culture that we live in. These component can make relationships both an exciting as well as a complex experience for us which, sometimes, might not work to each partner's best potential, or for the benefit of the relationship. Whether you are in a romantic union of two (or more) people, a parent and adult child, work colleagues or friends, Relationship Therapy can help you take a deep dive into the dynamics of the way you relate, explore where it comes from and work out how best to use it for the benefit of all involved. 

When it comes to Couple's/Relationship Therapy work my recommendation is that we work either weekly for 60 minutes (at a cost of £80 for the sessions) or fortnightly for 90 minutes (£100 per session).

Compulsive Sexual Behaviours

Sometimes referred as "sex addition", Compulsive Sexual Behaviours are repetitive and unwanted sexual behaviours that are having a negative impact on your life.

Some of these could include:

. Sexual activities and behaviours that are difficult to stop despite them bringing negative impact and consequences to life and relationships

. Feeling bad and ashamed about certain sexual behaviours

. Engaging in regular non-consensual non-monogamy (commonly known as "cheating") on partner/s

​. Problematic use of pornography to the point of it having a negative effect on life

​. Gay men and Chemsex

My approach to working with Compulsive Sexual Behaviours is sex-positive, psychotherapeutically framed and based on contemporary psycho-sexological interventions. I do not work from a "Sex/Love Addiction/sexual sobriety" model.​

As a qualified Supervisor my aim is to provide you with a space that will work on a Reciprocal Mentorship basis in order to better support your client work.

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Both as a Counselling Psychotherapist and Supervisor I work using a Relational Integrative model which works with the Five Aspects of the Therapeutic Relationship (sometimes known as the "Clarkson Model"), and this is the therapeutic model that I use to underpin the supervision work that we will do.

In addition, I will work using the Psychoanalytic, Cognitive Behavioural and Solution-focused models of supervision in order to further facilitate your progress around specific areas of client work.

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I am able to work with trainee counsellors, as this is a particular area of expertise due to my lecturing work.