Natalia Vartapetova

I offer sessions online and in person in South London (currently in London Bridge, Greenwich; Peckham and Clapham) and walk-and-talk sessions outdoors. 

I also work online with clients elsewhere in the UK and abroad. 

My general availability is in the afternoons and evenings on weekdays - please get in touch to discuss specific time slots.

You might be facing a change you did not choose, carrying more pressure than usual, or feeling stuck in a pattern you cannot quite name. Perhaps you are building a life in a new place or country, or working in a field that brings uncertainty as well as meaning. Counselling and coaching give you time and space to understand what is happening and find your way forward.

I am an integrative counsellor and coach based in London, offering calm, encouraging and empathetic support to adults. People often come to me with:

• anxiety, low mood, depression, stress or burnout

• bereavement, loss, separation, redundancy or retirement

• feeling stuck, or questions of direction, confidence, self-worth and meaning

• strain in relationships with a partner, family or colleagues

• cultural adaptation, identity and belonging

• pressure, rejection or uncertainty in creative or freelance work

My approach is integrative: I adapt how I work to you, rather than fitting you to one method. The foundation is person-centred, a non-judgemental relationship in which you are treated as the expert on your own life. I also draw on psychodynamic, existential, solution-focused, CBT, ACT and transactional analysis approaches. Trained in the Personal Consultancy model at the University of East London, I combine counselling and coaching, so we can explore feelings and patterns and also work towards decisions and next steps.

I work with people from multicultural backgrounds, migrants and expats, freelancers and entrepreneurs, and creative professionals. My own experience of migration, career change and multicultural relationships, and more than twenty years in the creative industries, inform my work. I have worked as a counsellor in NHS settings and in a counselling service for people working in the arts.

Ways to work together

• Online, by secure video (Zoom or Google Meet), wherever you are based in the UK or abroad

• In person, in a private room in South London (currently in London Bridge, Greenwich, Clapham, or Peckham)

• Walk and talk, outdoors in a South London park, with the route and practical arrangements agreed in advance

Sessions and frequency

Counselling sessions last 50 minutes. I recommend starting with six weekly sessions, then agreeing the pace together. Some people come for a short piece of work on a specific concern; others prefer open-ended counselling support. 

Coaching sessions last 60 minutes and usually run in cycles of four to eight sessions. We review progress together regularly. If your hours are irregular, we can agree a flexible pattern, including online sessions when you are away.

Fees

• Counselling: £80 per 50-minute session

• Coaching: £95 per 60-minute session

• 10% discount when you book a block of six or more sessions

Payment is due 48 hours before each session, by bank transfer or PayPal.

Confidentiality and professional standards

What you share stays confidential, with a small number of legal and safety exceptions that I explain at the start and set out in our written agreement. I am a Registered Member of BACP (no. 421820) and a member of NCPS, work within the BACP Ethical Framework, and have regular clinical supervision.

Introductory call

Before we book a session, I offer a free introductory video call of up to 30 minutes. You can tell me a little about what you are looking for, ask any questions, and see whether we are a good fit. 

Before we start

I send you a short client agreement to read and sign and a brief assessment form. It sets out how we will work together and how I look after your personal information. I explain how I work, how confidentiality works and its limits, and the arrangements for payment and cancellations.

Your first session

The first session focuses on what has brought you to counselling or coaching, what you hope will change, and any practical needs. You do not need to have it all worked out before you come, and there is no pressure to say more than you want to.

After the first session

We agree together how often to meet and what to focus on. I usually suggest a set number of weekly sessions to begin with, and we review how things are going at regular points.

If you would like to explore working together, send me a message through this page. I reply to every enquiry within 24 hours.