Andala Jabbar

I offer sessions for individuals from Mondays to Wednesdays during the morning and afternoon hours.

I am a Psychospiritual Therapeutic Counsellor rooted in the Islamic model of the self/soul, a model of universal applicability for anyone interested in psychospiritual work. I have an MA in Islamic Cultures & Societies (SOAS), L4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (Stephen Maynard & Associates) & am currently also completing a PG-Dip in Islamic Psychology (Cambridge Muslim College). I have a background in management in both the NHS Primary Care & higher Islamic Education, alongside therapeutic counselling. I have studied Islamic sciences/texts part-time in various settings for over a decade and continue to do so. This deeply informs my work (though it’s important to note I am not a traditional Islamic scholar by any means).

At the heart of the way I work is…the heart. A place within whose state profoundly impacts, and is impacted by, our inner and outer experiences of life and our own reality. I seek to cultivate a space in which clients feel able to bring their whole selves, their whole hearts into the room. I also seek to connect from this place within myself too. From here, we can look at all that is coming up for you and discover the landscape of your unique soul. We work together to explore intentions and hopes whilst navigating the pain, difficulties and challenges present in the kaleidoscope of our often complex and multilayered lives. As we grow in our awareness, we seek to find a new way forwards.

By working in this way, I intend to meet clients where they are at. I hope to support a greater sense of meaning and connectedness for my clients. Connectedness to self, to soul and to that which is greater. 

I work in a way that intends to meet you in your wholeness, where you are at, in order to facilitate a sustained encounter with the self. Though this encounter can be uncomfortable, it is this same encounter, through a safe, therapeutic relationship with another, that allows for a mirroring of hearts and for so much of what is hidden in our depths to emerge. This mirroring, rooted in an awareness of the Divine, often allows us to receive healing and tap into greater resources, meaning and guidance within.

In order to create the foundations for this kind of work, regular weekly sessions are most often needed. We agree an initial number of sessions and then review on a regular basis. In these sessions, I hope to bring stillness and presence whilst working in a dynamic way that meets your needs. For some clients, this may look like processing what is happening on a week to week basis, as when we begin therapy things can begin to unfold in our immediate lives that speak to deeper aspects of our being and lived experiences. For others, it may look like focusing on specific themes in depth. This depends on you, however, I will be honest with you about my assessment too.

The way I work is deeply relational. It is also cognisant of difference and diversity and always open to learning more. To begin, we need foundations of mercy and acceptance. We can then also explore some of the subtle and sometimes complicated realities and dynamics that relationships often reveal. Ultimately, we seek to reconnect more deeply with our being and Being itself, so that we may return grounded, whole and in a state of Islam.

I offer an initial consultation free of charge via zoom in order to better understand your reasons for seeking therapy and to provide you with an opportunity to get to know me and my way of working a bit better.

If you would like to begin sessions with me, we would then arrange a regular weekly timing to meet. Thereafter, our first session would be a clinical assessment to evaluate your needs and background in more depth.