Gulzira Shamyrbekova

I offer online counselling appointments during weekday daytime and evening hours.

Sessions are available weekly or fortnightly, subject to availability. Please get in touch to discuss suitable appointment times.

You may be feeling anxious, overwhelmed or disconnected from yourself. Perhaps you're trying to balance the pressures of work, relationships and everyday life, or you're going through a period of change and no longer feel quite sure where you belong. You might also find yourself repeating patterns that you understand intellectually but still struggle to change.

I am an integrative relational counsellor, which means that the relationship we build together is at the heart of my work. I believe that feeling understood and able to be yourself can make an important difference in counselling.

In our sessions, we can explore what is happening in your life now, while also looking at how earlier experiences and relationships may have shaped the way you see yourself and connect with others. Understanding these connections may help us recognise recurring patterns, emotional responses and ways of coping that no longer feel helpful.

I see counselling as a collaborative process, where we can approach your experiences with curiosity and openness. Rather than offering ready-made answers, I aim to understand your perspective and work alongside you as you develop a deeper understanding of your thoughts, feelings and relationships.

I work with adults experiencing anxiety, stress, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties and life transitions. Whatever brings you to counselling, we can explore how your experiences, relationships and circumstances may be affecting you.

My own experiences have played an important role in shaping my interest in counselling. I grew up in Kyrgyzstan, lived in Hong Kong and later moved to London. Living across three different cultures has influenced my understanding of identity, belonging and what it can mean to build a life away from home.

I have a particular interest in working with people navigating relocation, cultural adjustment or the experience of living away from home. Whether you've moved to a different city or another country, starting somewhere new can bring freedom and opportunity, but also loneliness, uncertainty and grief for the people, places and lives we've left behind. You may love the life you've built while simultaneously missing the one you left behind.

You don't need to have everything figured out before starting counselling. Sometimes, simply having the opportunity to explore what you're experiencing can be a starting point for understanding yourself and what you need.

If you would like to work with me, I offer a free 20-minute initial consultation via Zoom, with the option of a telephone call if you prefer. This gives us an opportunity to briefly discuss what brings you to counselling, ask any questions you may have and consider whether we might be a good fit.

If you decide to continue, our first counselling session will take place online via Zoom and last 50 minutes.

During this session, we'll talk more about your current circumstances, what you hope to gain from counselling and any relevant experiences you would like to share. I'll also explain how I work and discuss practical matters such as confidentiality, boundaries and our counselling agreement.

There is no expectation to share everything in our first meeting. We can take time to get to know each other and focus on what feels important to you.