Sheista Ahmed

I work  with an integrative approach that embraces the person-centred philosophy at the core. I believe that a sincere trusting relationship is key to effective therapy, and provide a safe space where it is possible to explore thoughts, feelings and past experiences. Together, we can examine current difficulties and look for positive ways to move forward.

I am trained in Cognitive Behaviour therapy ( CBT) helping clients identify and challenge negative thought patterns. This approach works for obssessive compulsive disorders, anxieties and phobias.

 I offer affordable counselling to adults, online and face to face. I am an experienced counsellor and engage with a range of issues including anxiety, depression, symptoms of trauma, bereavement, stress, relationship and communication issues, and personal change management. 

 My background makes me well placed to understand the complexity of issues faced by minority clients and the challenges linked to living and working in a country not your own.  I also speak Punjabi and Urdu languages. 

Often people feel anxious or uncomfortable about seeking counselling, for what can be very personal matters. Sometimes low mood, feelings of loss, anger, anxiety or shame, relationship difficulties or navigating change can feel overwhelming. Sometimes you might have a sense of struggling with your mental health but without knowing quite how or why. Attending counselling can help you find ways through such challenges.

 I work with people experiencing anxiety, bereavement, stress, relationship problems, cultural barriers, abuse as a child or adult, depression or low mood, or changes in life such as divorce, getting older or retirement in both time-limited and open-ended therapy. 

I also work with couples in the safety of the therapeutic environment exploring ways to make progress with effective communication.

My approach is to make therapy open and enjoyable, and your feedback will enable us to make sure this is the case. I work very flexibly, drawing on a wide range of tools, and we will review our progress together, to make sure we are moving toward your desired results. Where appropriate, I can show you self-help skills to use between sessions and in the future.

I offer a free introductory phone call. This will be an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have and establish whether we might schedule an assessment. The initial assessment session will usually be for up to one hour and fifteen in duration and will enable me to hear in detail what brings you to seek counselling. If we chose to work together, we will then discuss our working arrangements, including timings of sessions, fees, cancellation policy, confidentiality and so on.

Subsequent counselling sessions are 50 minutes each in duration and in most cases are held at the same time and on the same day each week.