Welcome to Vanessa Contreras Consulting
I am an experienced, warm and compassionate qualified psychologist trained at doctoral level offering psychotherapy services primarily in East London.
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My Practice |
Specialisms |
Therapy
My practice focuses on delivering individual psychological therapy to adults (18 and over) on a one-to-one basis. In my therapy sessions I offer a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space, where you can speak freely about any issues affecting you. Sessions last 50 minutes and usually take place once a week with flexibility depending on your particular requirements. Our first session will consist of an assessment, where we will discuss the issues that bring you to therapy and how best to approach them going forward. I am able to offer short-term and longer-term therapy depending on your specific needs. Supervision As an HCPC registered practitioner, I am also able to offer clinical supervision to counsellors, psychotherapists and psychologists. My stance is integrative and informed by my training and experience in different psychotherapeutic approaches (such as psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural and ego state work), therefore, I am able to tailor clinical supervision to the needs of individual supervisees. Academic work I work as a guest lecturer, clinical tutor and director of studies at key London universities on their Counselling Psychology doctoral programmes. |
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My Approach
My doctoral training has provided me not only with core counselling skills to support my work with clients, but with specialist knowledge that enables me to integrate both established and contemporary psychological theory and research with therapeutic practice.
During the course of therapy, I will work closely with each individual to understand their specific difficulties and explore the underlying issues that may have caused the problems that affect them. In essence, my approach involves working collaboratively with clients to enable them to understand themselves and their difficulties and to empower them to make the changes that are relevant to them in order to improve their wellbeing.
I have knowledge and experience in two core modalities: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (which focuses on the links between thoughts behaviour and emotion) and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (which aims to bring into conscious awareness true, deep-rooted feelings in order to resolve them) as well as robust skills in other approaches. However, as an integrative practitioner, I am able to work flexibly by assimilating the most useful elements from any of the above models so that I can offer the most helpful and relevant therapy according to the unique needs of each individual.
I am also a trained EMDR therapist and work primarily from an attachment-based stance in order to address presentations of complex trauma, PTSD, anxiety and eating difficulties among others.
The extensive experience I have in the field of psychology and mental health has been principally gained in the NHS in both primary care (dealing with mild to moderate difficulties), secondary care (focusing on more serious, complex and enduring psychological issues) as well as in the third sector with charities that deliver psychological interventions.
During the course of therapy, I will work closely with each individual to understand their specific difficulties and explore the underlying issues that may have caused the problems that affect them. In essence, my approach involves working collaboratively with clients to enable them to understand themselves and their difficulties and to empower them to make the changes that are relevant to them in order to improve their wellbeing.
I have knowledge and experience in two core modalities: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (which focuses on the links between thoughts behaviour and emotion) and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (which aims to bring into conscious awareness true, deep-rooted feelings in order to resolve them) as well as robust skills in other approaches. However, as an integrative practitioner, I am able to work flexibly by assimilating the most useful elements from any of the above models so that I can offer the most helpful and relevant therapy according to the unique needs of each individual.
I am also a trained EMDR therapist and work primarily from an attachment-based stance in order to address presentations of complex trauma, PTSD, anxiety and eating difficulties among others.
The extensive experience I have in the field of psychology and mental health has been principally gained in the NHS in both primary care (dealing with mild to moderate difficulties), secondary care (focusing on more serious, complex and enduring psychological issues) as well as in the third sector with charities that deliver psychological interventions.
" Human beings are inherently endowed with the power to bring out the best possible results from the worst possible circumstances "
Daisaku Ikeda.