Vanessa Zopp

I do not work on Wednesdays and the weekends

Online sessions are offered to clients living and residents in the UK. 

There are many valid reasons to have an online counsellor.

For example: 

• you are uncomfortable with in-person therapy
• you need flexibility around your busy life
• you may find it difficult to afford childcare, but you can spare 50 min for yourself from home
• you cannot or don’t want to travel
• you prefer a bit more control over the process

Sometimes reasons are personal and meaningful to you only. 

When is online therapy NOT recommended?

There are circumstances when online therapy is not appropriate: in case of acute crisis; high level of suicide risk; or severe mental health issues, for example, people with current symptoms of psychosis or significant vulnerability to relapse due to a history of psychosis (unless diagnosis doubtful or a long time ago with a considerable period of stability since), or people with bipolar affective disorder / borderline or antisocial personality disorder.

Such needs will be better met elsewhere by a specialist service. It is always best to talk with your GP, and I will recommend you do so if this is the case.

How can I access online counselling?

We will schedule our therapy time via Skype and WhatsApp.  During our initial call, we will think about your options and preferences.

I will also ask you to fill in some details before our session. My strict policy is to work only if those details have been gathered before the first meeting.

Please be aware that I will always ask where you are at the beginning of each session for safety reasons. I need a complete address. I reserve the right to suspend the session on the grounding of health & safety. 

A note on technological interruptions

Interruptions may happen during our remote sessions together; we both agree that we will be active in trying to minimise this.

Feel free to contact me and book an initial informal conversation where you can voice doubts and questions on online meetings and the general topic of therapy. 

I use Zoom and as backup Whatsapp. 

The first couple of sessions is not much different from the initial sessions of the in-person meetings in terms of structure and rationale. 

You may find that we need to 'tune' a bit more into each other, e.g. unwanted interruptions. Usually, by the end of the initial meetings, we will have known each other enough to get used to most of the standard adjustments. 

My suggestion is always to bring up any comfortability you may experience in conversation. 

At times, we may decide that online Therapy is not the best solution, or I may inform you that I do not think online can be beneficial for you. It will always be a collaborative process where I will do my best to support you in the following steps. 

I do not work on Wednesdays and the week-ends.

I have a small practice, so my diary may, at times, quickly fill up with regular weekly appointments. You can be placed on the waiting list; I'll be in touch as soon as I have availability.

I am an Accredited Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and a Professional Member of ACTO (Association for Counselling and Therapy Online). I have over 10 years’ experience offering counselling and psychotherapy, with the past 8 years spent supporting local clients. I have worked across the third sector, insurance settings, and private practice, and I currently work full‑time in private practice.

My core professional training is in Psychodynamic Counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). I completed my training at Birkbeck, University of London, gaining a Foundation Degree in 2017.   In the last 5 years, I have focused on Existentialism through ongoing training, reading, reflective practice, group discussions, and weekly existential therapy. I attend supervision fortnightly with an existential psychologist.

My way of working is collaborative and relational. We explore what brings you to therapy together, as equals. I am interested in your lived experience rather than applying assumptions or labels, and I do not presume that words such as “depression” and “loneliness”  mean the same thing for everyone. In our work, I may invite you to slow down, reflect on where you are coming from, and notice what it is like to be where you are now. From there, we may begin to consider possible ways forward, which you remain free to choose and take at your own time. Therapy, for me, is not something I do to you, but something that begins together and unfolds step by step

While I am trained in CBT and may integrate CBT‑informed elements when appropriate, if we both agree on those. My work is not directive. I don’t usually give advice, instructions, or homework, as I focus on understanding and reflection rather than telling you what to do in between sessions.

After initial contact, I offer a brief, free introductory call to see whether working together feels right. For safeguarding reasons, clients must be registered with a GP. In early sessions, I may ask about mental health history, medical conditions, and medication to ensure appropriate support. If I believe my expertise is not the right fit for your needs, I will inform you and, where possible, if you wish, help you explore alternative services.

It can be challenging to predict how long therapy will take; it really depends on your needs, situation and story. We can work for a brief time or a longer time. Occasionally, we may decide to chat and review where we are.

In my practice, I am sex-positive and hold an affirmative approach to LGBTQIA+, agender and genderfluid. I am also neurodivergent-affirmative. I am queer, fluid, and kink-friendly.

I offer pet-bereavement counselling services & counselling to those impacted by the alcohol issues of a loved one.

I work with Insurance: AXA, , AVIVA, WPA. Please check fees for insurance vary, and I will guide you through the process. I will invoice your insurer directly after receiving some information from you. 

The first 1 or 2 sessions are a bit different from Therapy.

They help us to decide to think about your reasons, expectations, hopes and goals for therapy. We will evaluate whether Online Therapy or In-person Therapy is the right choice for you. We will both have a discussion to decide whether working together will help you, how and how long or if other services/professionals may better help you; in this case, we will discuss the various options available to you, and I will support you in this.

If we agree to work together, we will set up a time and day for regular weekly meetings; we will have clear written Terms of Engagement.

Types:

Single-session

Time-Limited Dynamic Psychotherapy

Brief Dynamic Therapy

Open-Therapy 

One-off sessions - please note extensive preparation needed on your side previous the meeting