Darren Vella

I am available for evening sessions with clients and also have flexibility to meet with you on a Friday during the day. 

Welcome, to my profile, and thank you for considering me as your therapist. I’m Darren an Integrative therapist based in Birmingham offering online appointments in Birmingham or anywhere else in the UK. I can work with a range of issues, that may be bringing you to therapy.

A core tenant to my approach is to offer you a grounded, compassionate and relational space for reflection and growth. I really appreciate how daunting it is to take the first step into therapy, and please do get in touch for us to discuss your specific needs further.

I am a qualified BACP registered integrative therapist in Birmingham offering a grounded, compassionate and relational space for reflection and growth. I am offering online appointments and hence am flexible to see clients from across the UK.

I have worked with a wide range of issues be those related to anxiety and depression, self-esteem and neurodivergence, in both a short term and longer-term capacity. I have a particular interest and expertise in supporting individuals from LGBTQ+ communities, and I am committed to creating a space where all identities are respected, affirmed, and understood.

My own background includes many years of experience in the LGBTQ+ sector and over 15 years of working in mental health, both in clinical settings and in leadership roles across the NHS and voluntary sectors bringing that depth of insight into my work as a therapist.

My therapeutic approach is integrative, drawing primarily from Gestalt Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). This means I work flexibly and responsively, shaping our work together around your individual needs, goals, and lived experience. At the heart of my practice is a strong relational ethos, rooted in Gestalt principles, I believe that the therapeutic relationship itself is a powerful space for awareness, connection, and growth. Together, we’ll explore not just the challenges you may be facing, but also how you relate to yourself, others, and the world around you.

People come to therapy for many reasons, feeling stuck, anxious, overwhelmed, or simply wanting to understand themselves more fully. Whatever brings you here, I’ll meet you with warmth, curiosity, and respect, as we work together to support meaningful change.

I work with a range of issues, and we will explore this in our initial work together, I have experience also of working with neurodivergent clients. My approach is to always meet you with where you are and together explore how to progress forward in our work.  

If you’re interested in starting therapy with me, the first step is a free 15-minute online consultation. This is a chance for us to briefly meet, discuss what’s bringing you to therapy, and see whether it feels like a good fit with me and there is no pressure or obligation to continue.

If we decide to move forward, we’ll begin with an initial block of six weekly sessions. This assessment period gives us both the opportunity to explore what you’d like to focus on, begin the therapeutic work, and reflect on how the relationship is developing. At the end of these six sessions, we’ll check in together and decide whether to continue.

I work both short-term and longer-term, depending on your needs and goals. Some people come to therapy with a specific issue they’d like to work through, while others are seeking a deeper exploration over time. We’ll take things at a pace that feels right for you.