ABOUT ME
Hi, I'm Daniela, a Chartered Counselling Psychologist with nearly 20 years of experience working with people navigating the complexities of intimacy, identity, and relationships. What draws me to the work I do is the privilege of being able to create and share a space where people can feel genuinely heard and feel listened to in order for them to be able to explore what it means to be themselves. My aim always is to do that attentively- with an open ear and heart.
What I have noticed is that, perhaps especially in our busy, technology-dominated times, what people seem to need most is to be able to form an authentic human connection in order to have a bit of space to make sense of their lives and relationships, and it is exactly this what I aim to offer.
My Approach
My therapeutic work is grounded in existential-phenomenological psychology with a strong relational focus. This means I'm interested in your lived experience and the meaning you make of your life and relationships, rather than diagnosing symptoms or applying standardised techniques. I work from a sex-positive perspective that welcomes all gender identities and sexual orientations, creating a non-judgmental space to explore whatever you bring.
I take a fairly active approach in sessions - reflecting, asking questions, and engaging in dialogue with you rather than remaining silent. My aim is to help you explore your experience from different angles, gently challenge assumptions when helpful, and support you in seeing patterns you might not recognise on your own. That said, the content and pace are always led by you.
Who I Work With
In my practice I tend to work with individuals and people in relationships navigating:
Emotional intimacy and vulnerability difficulties
Sexual intimacy and desire concerns
Trust and emotional connection
Relationship patterns and dynamics
Consensual non-monogamy and polyamory
Questions of gender identity and sexuality
Anxiety, depression, and existential concerns
Loneliness, isolation, and self-esteem
Stress, burnout, and work-life balance
Body image and eating concerns
Abuse- emotional, physical and sexual
Experience
Over nearly two decades, I have been working with people from many walks of life across various settings - from community mental health services and substance use treatment programmes to school-based work with children, group therapy facilitation, and private practice. This breadth of experience informs my understanding that while presenting issues vary widely, the core work often comes down to the same fundamental human concerns: how to connect authentically with others, how to make meaning of our experiences, and how to live in a way that feels genuinely aligned with who we are.
Qualifications and Professional Standing
I am a Chartered Senior Counselling Psychologist (CPsychol) and Associate Fellow (AFBPsS), accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
I hold a Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology, a Foundation Certificate in Counselling and Psychotherapy, and a BSc (Hons) in Psychology. I am a member of the Division of Counselling Psychology (DCoP) with the BPS and a full member of the Society of Existential Analysis (SEA).
I maintain professional, personal and civil indemnity insurance and practice according to the ethical and good practice guidance of the BPS and HCPC.
Academic and supervisory work
Alongside my clinical practice, I'm a freelance lecturer at the New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling (NSPC), where I teach doctoral students, provide clinical and research supervision, and serve as both Internal and External Examiner for doctoral theses. My research background is in phenomenological qualitative methodologies, particularly Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). My doctorate explored the lived experience of recovery from substance use through an existential-phenomenological lens - research that continues to inform how I approach therapeutic work with all clients.
