Victoria Todd

I offer face to face, telephone and online sessions using VSee, Zoom, WhatsApp. During the pandemic it was my practice to hold some sessions out of doors.

I am an experienced BACP accredited psychodynamic psychotherapist and counsellor working in Chiswick. My approach is compassionate and non-judgemental. I start my sessions carefully observing and listening. I offer a private safe space where together we can explore what is troubling you. My aim is to create a relationship of trust, openness and honesty which will enable you to identify, understand and work through your concerns and approach your life with meaning and hope.

I have extensive experience of helping people affected by cancer and other health related issues (10 years heading an independent charity within an NHS teaching hospital), which included dealing with the trauma of diagnosis. I have worked with families, carers and friends of those who have cancer. We work together through the treatment and related health issues helping each person with their emotional responses to the fears around cancer, including treatment, loss and death.

This experience has proved especially relevant when working with those affected by the pandemic.

I have also worked with university students on a range of mental health issues that they faced, such as depression, loneliness, fear of failure, bereavement, sexual abuse and substance abuse. Overseas students also experienced strong feelings of isolation, homesickness, relationship problems including facing arranged marriages. Some had experienced FGM.

I have been fortunate to meet in my counselling practice a richly diverse range of people in terms of age, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability and socio-economic status. I have learned so much from all of them.

Before the first session I will ask you to fill in a client contact form, a counselling agreement and a patient health questionnaire, all of which we will discuss in our first session.  We will explore what you want from therapy and whether I am the right person to help you.