mobile: 07720 837083 - email: diego.s.avila@icloud.com
WHAT IS COUNSELLING?
Drawing upon a variety of personality development theories, the process of couselling and psychotherapy is about exploring who you are and who you want to be. From Attachment to Psychosocial, Person-Centred to Existential, Freud, Rogers and Jung, we are going to reflect on what works for you, in an integrative way. However, the most fundamental resource we will have will be the relationships that you and I will establish. Because indeed, personality can only develop through relationship.
The first session will be an assessment to explore what you feel you need help with and how we can work together. I will ask you to complete a brief questionnaire beforehand, which will give us a clearer picture of your presenting issues.
Whilst it is my intention to uphold confidentially at all times, I also want to be transparent here: not everything we discuss in the counselling room remains confidential. There are limits to confidentiality and certain circumstances will warrant me breaking
this confidentiality agreement: the disclosure of serious risk of harm to you or someone else, any information regulated by the Children's Act, acts of terrorism, money laundering or drug trafficking and ongoing court proceeds.
In line with the BAPC's Ethical Framework I am in supervision and some of the issues we talk about during your sessions might need to be taken to my supervisor for the benefit of my professional support and development. This will always be done in an anonymous way, making sure not to disclose identifying details. Our confidentiality agreement extends to the supervision space.
I am available for short, fixed-term work as well as longer, open-ended therapy. In any case, my recommendation is to commit to an initial minimum of 6 (six) sessions, which is an optimal time to develop our therapeutic relationship and explore your presenting issues to a better extent.
AREAS OF FOCUS
General-Lifestyle: low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, fears, general lack of motivation, dissatisfaction with home, work and/or social life.
Relationships: break ups, break downs in communication, inability to establish intimacy, bullying, childhood "life scripts", caring for vulnerable dependants, domestic violence, abuse.
Gender, Sexuality and issues faced by the LGBTQ+ community.
Grief and Loss: past, present or future bereavement, major life-changing situations.
Jungian Dream Exploration and Analysis: based on the works of Swiss Psychiatrist Carl Jung, we will be looking at the symbolism behind your dream, engaging in a unique dialogue to allow you to make better sense of the possible messages underneath. This work can be done as a one-off or series of sessions.
WHEN, WHERE, HOW MUCH?
I run my therapeutic practice on Upper Teddington Road (KT1), in the heart of Hampton Wick, South West London - please enquire for availability.
I am at present working both face to face as well as remotely online, using platforms such as Zoom, Skype and FaceTime.
Remote online work from your own home is also not without its complexities so I recommend you give this option careful thought before committing to it, especially when it comes to securing a safe and comfortable space that will be conducive to upholding confidentiality.
I am able to carry out session both in the English and Spanish languages.
The counselling session lasts for 50 (fifty) minutes and the cost is £60 per session, payable at the end of the session. I offer a sliding scale fee in the negotiable range of £40 - £60 for counselling students as well as those on low income/social welfare benefits.
Please note that I review my rates annually, and may bring small increases in line with inflation and cost of living.