Counselling in Canterbury

I am a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society and have a doctorate in Psychotherapeutic and Counselling Psychology from the University of Surrey. Prior to this qualification I was awarded a Bachelor of Science (First Class Honours) degree in Psychology with Clinical Psychology from the University of Kent. I have a wide range of experience working within a number of Community Mental Health Teams and Psychological Services Departments for the Kent and Medway NHS Foundation Trust. These roles involved working with a broad spectrum of psychological distress ranging from mild to severe and enduring.

Hi my name is Maria Malster and I am a qualified and registered integrative counsellor working with adults and adolescents. I am accredited with the British Association of Counsellors and psychotherapists - BACP and I abide by their ethical framework. I am passionate about supporting other people through difficult times In their lives and I have over 6 years experience working with survivors of sexual assault. I am a warm, caring and empathic person who can offer a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space where together we can explore the difficulties worrying you.

Sometimes people may experience emotional distress and pain arising from life changes, relationship break-up, redundancy, bereavement. They may feel depressed, anxious or confused. Perhaps there's trauma, stress or difficult illness. Problems may be from the past too. Sometimes the cause can be unclear, where low mood or anxiety have become overwhelming. If you’re struggling on your own to make sense of things or to find a way forward, reach out to someone outside of your immediate circle of family and friends. Here you can experience being listened to without judgment, feel understood and work to resolve your difficulties.

You may be struggling to cope with every day life, feeling overwhelmed with anxiety & dread social situations that take up your energy, resulting in you feeling there is no hope. Relationships may feel unhealthy, difficult & problematic, or like you just don’t fit in, and this can be within our families, our friendships, in the school environment, in the work place & beyond. Changes & transitions may feel too much & stop you from living the life that you want where you may feel stuck & dissatisfied, & trauma may prevent you from feeling at peace.

We are an established and experienced service supporting clients with a wide range of emotional issues. Integral to our working ethos is the therapeutic relationship, where we endeavour to help our clients with self-awareness, self- acceptance, resilience, re-connection and ultimately healing. We offer an integrative approach which draws from a range of psychological theories, with a foundation based in counselling. As therapists we work to understand your experience from your perspective, which can help restore a connection to your inner values and sense of self-worth, thus enabling you to find a way to move forward & progress.

I know the past couple of years have been really difficult times for everybody and there have been many changes in how we meet and talk to each other. Certainly in EMDR treatment, we have had to make rapid changes in how we think and work in order to remain available to those in need. My own experience in working online with life's complex and diverse difficulties has found that positive and effective work can equally be achieved via video sessions and has enabled me to work with so many who would otherwise find difficulty in travelling perhaps due to time, distance, work or other factors. Please email me if you wish to know more

Is your partner telling you something didn’t happen when you have evidence it did? Do you approach your partner about an issue only for it to be twisted around and the problem turned back on you, leaving you confused? These are common questions people ask in counselling and I can help you look at patterns of behaviour, why it might be happening in your relationship, how to decrease conflict and ultimately staying as safe as possible.

As an experienced counsellor, I provide help to individuals and couples who feel held back from leading healthy, fulfilling lives, and may feel unable to enjoy their relationship, either personally, or in their work. I see therapy as collaborative. Together, drawing on my years of experience and training, we can work to to help you make changes that enhance, or rebuild your life.whether its is relationship difficulties, or challenges you are experiencing in your work and creativity ..

I can work with issues such as; Depression and low mood, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Social Anxiety, Generalised Anxiety Disorder (chronic worry), Panic Disorder, Health Anxiety, Body Dysmorphic Disorder Phobias (including Agoraphobia, needle and blood phobias, and Emetophobia – fear of vomit), Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (including complex trauma), low self-esteem, perfectionism, difficulties with emotional regulation, stress, sleep difficulties, long-term difficulties stemming from childhood abuse and/or neglect

Are you finding every day tough to get through, feel trapped, overwhelmed or hopeless; feel you’ve lost your sense of self and confidence? Do you want someone to listen to you and feel able to say out loud what’s going on without feeling awkward or judged? My clients say I'm empathic and calming and allow them to make sense of everything, safely at their own pace. I'm qualified to work integratively which enables me to work in a way that suits you best. Experience includes 20 years with a leading UK emergency service and volunteering for a community counselling service. Introduction session free .