Odafe Sideso

In person in Ealing, West London, or online. 

Appointments are available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Sessions are 50 minutes and cost £70.

I offer counselling and psychotherapy for adults, in person in Ealing and online. After more than 25 years in business in Africa and Europe, I retrained as an integrative therapist.

That experience has given me an appreciation of the pressures that come with responsibility and the weight of expectation. As a Black man, my own life has also made me aware of isolation, questions of belonging and what it means to move between cultures.

Life can feel demanding, unsettled or uncertain, even while you hold everything together. It can become a lot to deal with alone, and your own needs can go unspoken.

It is not always easy to name what you are experiencing, and you don’t need to. We can start with the discomfort, concern or uncertainty itself.

Some people come with stress, anxiety, low mood or a loss of confidence. Others bring strain in their personal or professional relationships, or cross-cultural concerns, discrimination or exclusion.

Whatever you bring will be treated with respect, confidentially, and without judgement.

How I work

I shape the work around you and what you bring. Depending on what you need, that can mean space to talk and be heard, practical ways to handle difficult thoughts and feelings, or time to step back and think through what is working, what isn’t and what matters now.

The approaches I draw on include person-centred therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and existential therapy.

Qualifications

• Advanced Diploma in Counselling Practice
• Postgraduate Certificate in Psychological Sciences
• Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling

Getting started

It matters that you feel comfortable with who you work with, so we start with a free 15-minute introductory video call. To arrange it, use the contact form on this page.

Support for when you carry more than others see

Much of your time may go on work, family and the people who rely on you. In our sessions, the attention is on you. You can speak plainly, take your time and say things you may not have said anywhere else.

Making space for unseen or unspoken needs

We can look at what is happening now, what may have shaped it, how it affects you, your relationships and the parts of life that matter to you, and what you may need.

The work is not always about changing something. Sometimes it may be useful to understand an experience more clearly, to accept something that cannot be changed, or to consider the choices and possibilities open to you. What is useful can change as we go, so we review it together.

Arranged around your circumstances

Sessions do not have to be weekly. After the introductory call, we agree the frequency together, based on what you need. This might mean one session at a time, an agreed four-session starting point at your own pace, or regular sessions, whether weekly, fortnightly or monthly.

I do not offer a crisis or emergency service, and sessions are arranged in advance. If you need urgent help, call 999, NHS 111 and select the mental health option, or Samaritans on 116 123.

We begin with a free 15-minute introductory video call. It is mostly a chance for you to briefly tell me what brought you here and ask any questions about how I work. There is no obligation to continue, and you don’t need to have it all worked out before we speak.

We also talk through what might suit you, including how often to meet and how to arrange sessions around your circumstances.

After the call, you receive a link to book your first session yourself, whenever you are ready. There is no pressure to decide on the spot.

Sessions are in person in Ealing, West London (W5), or online by video, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.