Hi there, my name is Sonya and I am a qualified Mental Health Therapist based in the West Midlands. I was awarded with a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology at Keele University in year 2016 after I followed my passion to help others. Since being awarded with my qualification I have been working therapeutically with adults on a one to one basis and gained vast experience overtime with clients presenting various mental health issues including anxiety, trauma, stress, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), low self-esteem, and low mood to name a few.

Over the years in a therapeutic setting I have worked directly with both male and female adult clients aged 18 and over belonging to different ethnic groups and from different working backgrounds. I feel this has exposed me to have a wide range of experiences as every client brings their own uniqueness and individuality which I have comfortably been able to adapt to as a Counselling Therapist.
I have worked with clients in a face to face setting, and most recently I have been working with clients via online platforms, such as Zoom, and over telephone calls which has worked very well. I generally work with clients on a weekly basis at a chosen allocated time but this can be discussed with the client depending on what is suitable for their needs.
It can vary with how quickly a client progresses whilst on their counselling journey as everyone has their own personal challenges, so the number of sessions each client feels is suitable can also vary due to this. I hold invaluable experience working therapeutically with clients over a short term period, i.e. three sessions, and also over a long term period. I feel my role as a Mental Health Therapist has been very rewarding as it has enabled me to see the client’s progress and the transformation they have whilst on their counselling journey. I have seen many clients’ grow in their self-awareness overtime, and adapt to enjoying new helpful skills such as mindfulness, self-care techniques, and learning to express themselves by writing in a journal. This then naturally helps to boost their low mood, low self-esteem and low-confidence considerably.

I am very passionate in helping and supporting others who are struggling with their mental health, and I strive to provide an effective holistic means of improving others wellbeing.
I have been trained predominantly in Person-Centred Therapy which is a humanistic approach focusing on the client’s needs. It is a non-directive talking therapy allowing the client the space to move freely in the session. I also hold experience in practicing Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with clients which is also a talking therapy where the Therapist and client work together to identify any dysfunctional thoughts or behaviours that are maintaining the issues they are presenting, and thinking about whether these could be changed. Solution-Focused Therapy is another talking therapy I find to be powerful, and this is a more goal-orientated approach which highlights the client’s ability to find solutions or alternatives to the problems they are facing.

Sometimes clients require a mixture of therapies on their counselling journey for it to have an effective outcome, so I believe my knowledge and experience in other therapies is helpful for the client to allow them to have the best tailored therapy that is right for them. I feel it is important to tailor the correct support and technique to each individual and to provide a treatment plan based on this to meet the client’s individual needs. To achieve this, I carry out an initial assessment with the client to identify the key issues they are presenting, and work through a treatment plan with them. As an Integrative Therapist, I aim to create a safe therapeutic space where the individual can openly express and explore difficulties they may be experiencing. I listen and offer emotional support to individuals to help them find and strengthen new or existing coping strategies which will be beneficial in building their self-confidence and self-esteem overtime.

Coming from an Asian cultural background I am able to speak fluently in the two other languages Punjabi and Hindi. I feel this enables me to reach out to those who feel limited with not being able to speak the language English fluently, and are struggling to find the right support due to their language barriers.
I understand how difficult it can be for any person to approach therapy for the first time and not know what to expect, and it can be daunting to speak about personal experiences with an unfamiliar Therapist, but my aim is to autonomously work with clients where they can feel safe and able to fully express how they are feeling. My passion is to help others and support them during their time of difficulty. Overtime I have worked with clients who are grieving, experiencing relationship/domestic related issues, having issues in the workplace, and experiencing an identity crisis to name a few.

As a professional, working within the ethical framework to ensure boundaries are set and confidentiality is maintained is very important to me. I do my best to ensure I hold a good understanding of client’s wellbeing and safety, so I do keep myself updated with continued professional development to ensure I am working within the ethical guidelines. I do strive to expand my knowledge where I can and enhance my skills as a Therapist in order to offer my best self to my clients.
The client’s welfare is the upmost priority for me, so I ensured I registered with a reputable organisation and became an individual member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I also hold valid professional indemnity insurance, and I have a clear Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

I believe my patient, empathetic and non-judgmental approach will allow the client to explore their internal feelings and come to the realisation of their inner strength which can then work to transforming the client to become closer to their goal of achieving the best version of themselves.