Self-Harming Counselling in East London
Sara Dawson Psychology
Psychologist, MSc, HCPC - Clin. Psych.
East London, London E8
Waitlist for new clients
Hello hello. I'm a HCPC Registered Clinical Psychologist specialising in assessment and therapeutic work with children, teens, young adults, and families, both online and in person in Hackney, London. Are you (or your young person) struggling with low mood, anxiety, trauma, identity, overwhelming or confusing emotions, or a combination of concerns? I have over a decade of experience within NHS, social care, university, and private settings helping individuals and families to reach their goals.
Hello hello. I'm a HCPC Registered Clinical Psychologist specialising in assessment and therapeutic work with children, teens, young adults, and families, both online and in person in Hackney, London. Are you (or your young person) struggling with low mood, anxiety, trauma, identity, overwhelming or confusing emotions, or a combination of concerns? I have over a decade of experience within NHS, social care, university, and private settings helping individuals and families to reach their goals.
Born in the North of England, I emigrated to Australia with my family as a child, returning after a few years. I left for London in my late teens. My dyslexia, and not fitting in, had left me feeling as if I couldn’t learn and would have few job opportunities. In my town, I had two options: hairdressing or nuclear shipbuilding. I chose cutting hair and talking to human beings about their relationships. Working in West End salons, listening to clients’ stories, raising 4 children, and living with my husband with a terminal illness, gave me a deep understanding of human dynamics so I decided to retrain as a counsellor.
Born in the North of England, I emigrated to Australia with my family as a child, returning after a few years. I left for London in my late teens. My dyslexia, and not fitting in, had left me feeling as if I couldn’t learn and would have few job opportunities. In my town, I had two options: hairdressing or nuclear shipbuilding. I chose cutting hair and talking to human beings about their relationships. Working in West End salons, listening to clients’ stories, raising 4 children, and living with my husband with a terminal illness, gave me a deep understanding of human dynamics so I decided to retrain as a counsellor.
People seek therapy for a many reasons.
Perhaps following relational wounding in child or adulthood, you wish to process the impacts of these wounds.
Or, having identified habitual relational patterns, you now seek relational change and confidence.
You may struggle with unwelcome thoughts or emotions or negative sense of self. We can explore how these impact your choices and your body and behaviour responses as you seek new approaches to life issues.
Perhaps you are struggling with loss or unwelcome changes in your life and want to consider how to live with new realities.
I offer a safe space, to be heard, valued and accepted.
People seek therapy for a many reasons.
Perhaps following relational wounding in child or adulthood, you wish to process the impacts of these wounds.
Or, having identified habitual relational patterns, you now seek relational change and confidence.
You may struggle with unwelcome thoughts or emotions or negative sense of self. We can explore how these impact your choices and your body and behaviour responses as you seek new approaches to life issues.
Perhaps you are struggling with loss or unwelcome changes in your life and want to consider how to live with new realities.
I offer a safe space, to be heard, valued and accepted.
I provide a safe, non-judgemental space to heal and grow. With over 15 years of experience, I help adults as well as teenagers and their families navigate life’s most difficult periods. I believe that when you feel truly seen and heard, you can begin to make sense of how past experiences impact your present life. I provide specialised support for a range of emotional difficulties including: Anxiety, depression and low self-esteem; Suicidal ideation, anger management, and self-harm. Trauma, grief, and major life transitions.
I provide a safe, non-judgemental space to heal and grow. With over 15 years of experience, I help adults as well as teenagers and their families navigate life’s most difficult periods. I believe that when you feel truly seen and heard, you can begin to make sense of how past experiences impact your present life. I provide specialised support for a range of emotional difficulties including: Anxiety, depression and low self-esteem; Suicidal ideation, anger management, and self-harm. Trauma, grief, and major life transitions.
It’s likely that if you are here, you are moving through life with unhelpful patterns and unhealed wounds from the past. This will be affecting how you feel, react and relate to others.
If you are ready to get into the weeds - to explore what's happening in your life in-depth, what might be out of your awareness, to find ways to change, then my warm, inquisitive and gently challenging approach might be right for you. People say that I am very open, down-to-earth and easy to talk to.
Get in touch for a no-obligation conversation to see if we might be a good fit.
It’s likely that if you are here, you are moving through life with unhelpful patterns and unhealed wounds from the past. This will be affecting how you feel, react and relate to others.
If you are ready to get into the weeds - to explore what's happening in your life in-depth, what might be out of your awareness, to find ways to change, then my warm, inquisitive and gently challenging approach might be right for you. People say that I am very open, down-to-earth and easy to talk to.
Get in touch for a no-obligation conversation to see if we might be a good fit.
People seek therapy when they are dissatisfied or unhappy and feel that it is possible to make changes but this is very difficult alone. Psychotherapy is a particular type of conversation exploring thoughts, feelings and relationships. Psychotherapy offers the opportunity to think about what is troubling in a safe setting to understand and improve relationships, both with ourselves and others. My thinking and approach places relationships at the heart of experience. When patterns in relationships can be understood we can feel liberated to change.
People seek therapy when they are dissatisfied or unhappy and feel that it is possible to make changes but this is very difficult alone. Psychotherapy is a particular type of conversation exploring thoughts, feelings and relationships. Psychotherapy offers the opportunity to think about what is troubling in a safe setting to understand and improve relationships, both with ourselves and others. My thinking and approach places relationships at the heart of experience. When patterns in relationships can be understood we can feel liberated to change.
I am a Psychotherapist & EMDR therapist. I feel passionately about the power of therapy to provide healing and transformation. Therapy is a collaborative journey and with kindness and curiosity I will be by your side as you navigate your way back to a ‘fullness of being’ that is there inside of you waiting to be discovered. There are many reasons for seeking therapy. You may want to feel at peace in your body and mind to allow you the space to access your innate potential for growth and fulfilment. You may wish to feel safe enough to be more authentically you in relationships, or caught in worry, fear, self-doubt and feeling stuck.
I am a Psychotherapist & EMDR therapist. I feel passionately about the power of therapy to provide healing and transformation. Therapy is a collaborative journey and with kindness and curiosity I will be by your side as you navigate your way back to a ‘fullness of being’ that is there inside of you waiting to be discovered. There are many reasons for seeking therapy. You may want to feel at peace in your body and mind to allow you the space to access your innate potential for growth and fulfilment. You may wish to feel safe enough to be more authentically you in relationships, or caught in worry, fear, self-doubt and feeling stuck.
I offer in-person and remote therapy. I have over 15 years of experience working in mental health and in supporting people to identify, better understand and work through any challenges they may be experiencing in their lives or feeling stuck with. Therapy is often about exploring different perspectives and developing the skills we need to help navigate life’s challenges to allow us to move forward. I am flexible and collaborative in my approach to therapy because, in my experience, therapy is most helpful to people when it is tailored to their specific needs and the hopes they may have for the process.
I offer in-person and remote therapy. I have over 15 years of experience working in mental health and in supporting people to identify, better understand and work through any challenges they may be experiencing in their lives or feeling stuck with. Therapy is often about exploring different perspectives and developing the skills we need to help navigate life’s challenges to allow us to move forward. I am flexible and collaborative in my approach to therapy because, in my experience, therapy is most helpful to people when it is tailored to their specific needs and the hopes they may have for the process.
If you’re suffering from anxiety, depression or stress, if you’re feeling stuck, or if you’re facing a big change in your life, it can help to talk to someone independent and outside of family and friendship groups. I’m Alison, a psychodynamic counsellor based in Waltham Forest in East London. I work with individuals on an open-ended or short-term basis.
If you’re suffering from anxiety, depression or stress, if you’re feeling stuck, or if you’re facing a big change in your life, it can help to talk to someone independent and outside of family and friendship groups. I’m Alison, a psychodynamic counsellor based in Waltham Forest in East London. I work with individuals on an open-ended or short-term basis.
There are many reasons why you might find yourself here. You may be working with a current issue, something rooted in your past or perhaps you are unsure but something does not feel 'right'. Whatever it may be, it takes courage to explore these issues.
I offer a safe, non-judgemental and grounded space for you to feel at ease and begin to explore what is currently going on in your world at a pace that feels right for you.
Together, we can begin to unpack what you are currently experiencing. We can begin to make sense of your thoughts and feelings and move towards a place of understanding and healing.
There are many reasons why you might find yourself here. You may be working with a current issue, something rooted in your past or perhaps you are unsure but something does not feel 'right'. Whatever it may be, it takes courage to explore these issues.
I offer a safe, non-judgemental and grounded space for you to feel at ease and begin to explore what is currently going on in your world at a pace that feels right for you.
Together, we can begin to unpack what you are currently experiencing. We can begin to make sense of your thoughts and feelings and move towards a place of understanding and healing.
My name is Roxanne Haydon, I am a qualified Integrative Counsellor. I am registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and currently working at Hackney Therapy Centre in Hackney and online. I believe everyone should have the chance to receive therapeutic support. Whether it’s for something specific or you want to make changes in your life in a more general way, integrative therapy and counselling can offer a safe space for you to review your where are currently, explore why you feel this way and where you would like to go next.
My name is Roxanne Haydon, I am a qualified Integrative Counsellor. I am registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and currently working at Hackney Therapy Centre in Hackney and online. I believe everyone should have the chance to receive therapeutic support. Whether it’s for something specific or you want to make changes in your life in a more general way, integrative therapy and counselling can offer a safe space for you to review your where are currently, explore why you feel this way and where you would like to go next.
I appreciate that entering therapy can be daunting. I work to help you explore different parts of yourself, so you can feel more comfortable in your skin and help strengthen the significant relationships in your life. I am curious about unconscious patterns we repeat and the role our early experiences play in shaping these behaviours. I will help you understand the root of why you may act/think in certain ways; pinpointing certain roles & dynamics from early experiences to help you identify the patterns you are still carrying that didn’t start with you & begin to create new ones through awareness, self-compassion & choice.
I appreciate that entering therapy can be daunting. I work to help you explore different parts of yourself, so you can feel more comfortable in your skin and help strengthen the significant relationships in your life. I am curious about unconscious patterns we repeat and the role our early experiences play in shaping these behaviours. I will help you understand the root of why you may act/think in certain ways; pinpointing certain roles & dynamics from early experiences to help you identify the patterns you are still carrying that didn’t start with you & begin to create new ones through awareness, self-compassion & choice.
Hi, I’m Zsófi, and I am a person-centred counsellor offering psychotherapy to adults at two different locations in London (in Hackney and in Golders Green) and online, in English and in Hungarian (Magyar). I am curious and ready to be surprised and be led by you in whichever direction feels to be the most important to be brought into the room. I believe that every counselling process is different, and it is the uniqueness of the counselling relationship that can provide a soil for the process of change.
Hi, I’m Zsófi, and I am a person-centred counsellor offering psychotherapy to adults at two different locations in London (in Hackney and in Golders Green) and online, in English and in Hungarian (Magyar). I am curious and ready to be surprised and be led by you in whichever direction feels to be the most important to be brought into the room. I believe that every counselling process is different, and it is the uniqueness of the counselling relationship that can provide a soil for the process of change.
Hello, I'm Luisa (she/they), a clinical psychologist with significant experience and expertise in integrating psychodynamic, trauma-informed, LGBTQIA+, and feminist approaches in my practice. Over the past decade, I have worked with individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and conditions in Bogota, New York, and London, gaining valuable insights from diverse settings including psychiatric hospitals, after-school programmes, psychosocial trauma, gender-based violence, immigration-related emotional reactions, and more.
Hello, I'm Luisa (she/they), a clinical psychologist with significant experience and expertise in integrating psychodynamic, trauma-informed, LGBTQIA+, and feminist approaches in my practice. Over the past decade, I have worked with individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and conditions in Bogota, New York, and London, gaining valuable insights from diverse settings including psychiatric hospitals, after-school programmes, psychosocial trauma, gender-based violence, immigration-related emotional reactions, and more.
I am a qualified counsellor and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP). I work with adults on a one-to-one basis offering short-term and open-ended talking therapy. I use an integrative approach, which means that I draw from different models and techniques (psychodynamic, CBT and person centred) to best suit your individual needs. My aim is to help you find and change those repetitive unhelpful or destructive patterns in your behaviour and relationships, as well as providing you with a space for personal development, growth and exploration.
I am a qualified counsellor and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP). I work with adults on a one-to-one basis offering short-term and open-ended talking therapy. I use an integrative approach, which means that I draw from different models and techniques (psychodynamic, CBT and person centred) to best suit your individual needs. My aim is to help you find and change those repetitive unhelpful or destructive patterns in your behaviour and relationships, as well as providing you with a space for personal development, growth and exploration.
You could be seeking therapy because you are struggling with difficult feelings such as low mood, anxiety, anger or guilt, which could be adversely affecting your everyday life. Or you may feel that a closer look into your inner landscape helps you relate to yourself in healthier ways which paves the way for more contentment.
You could be seeking therapy because you are struggling with difficult feelings such as low mood, anxiety, anger or guilt, which could be adversely affecting your everyday life. Or you may feel that a closer look into your inner landscape helps you relate to yourself in healthier ways which paves the way for more contentment.
I’m a highly qualified and professionally experienced psychotherapist/counsellor and psychologist. I have abundant experience working with clients from diverse backgrounds and cultures in the NHS and the private settings, for both the short-term and long-term periods. Rather than offering clients so-called expert’s version of advice, I offer therapeutic work tailored to suit the individual needs of clients, whilst acting as a facilitator to the clients’ process to find their own ways to deal with their issues. This will lead the clients to experience self-discovery and self-acceptance while strengthening their self-healing process.
I’m a highly qualified and professionally experienced psychotherapist/counsellor and psychologist. I have abundant experience working with clients from diverse backgrounds and cultures in the NHS and the private settings, for both the short-term and long-term periods. Rather than offering clients so-called expert’s version of advice, I offer therapeutic work tailored to suit the individual needs of clients, whilst acting as a facilitator to the clients’ process to find their own ways to deal with their issues. This will lead the clients to experience self-discovery and self-acceptance while strengthening their self-healing process.
I'm a transpersonal integrative psychotherapist, and have provided therapeutic support for clients who have experienced a range of issues including: abuse, childhood neglect, addictions, low self-esteem, self-harm, narcissistic abuse and wounding, weakened sense of self, anxiety, depression, low confidence, and trauma related issues. I feel the work that I do with my clients aligns with Carl Jung's statement "it is a privilege of a lifetime to become who you truly are." I believe that psychotherapy is a process that supports this, through self awareness and understanding one's life experiences, one can heal and transform.
I'm a transpersonal integrative psychotherapist, and have provided therapeutic support for clients who have experienced a range of issues including: abuse, childhood neglect, addictions, low self-esteem, self-harm, narcissistic abuse and wounding, weakened sense of self, anxiety, depression, low confidence, and trauma related issues. I feel the work that I do with my clients aligns with Carl Jung's statement "it is a privilege of a lifetime to become who you truly are." I believe that psychotherapy is a process that supports this, through self awareness and understanding one's life experiences, one can heal and transform.
You might be feeling anxious or low. Life events such as a loss or bereavement or any kind of very troubling experiences such as relationship or work problems may be causing you distress. Issues from your past may be causing you difficulty today or, you may simply have a more general feeling of not being as content with your life as you would wish to be but are unsure of the reasons why. Counselling can help you to explore and understand what is going on for you and how your life experiences may have affected you and help you find more satisfying ways of living. Counselling helps thousands of people in this way.
You might be feeling anxious or low. Life events such as a loss or bereavement or any kind of very troubling experiences such as relationship or work problems may be causing you distress. Issues from your past may be causing you difficulty today or, you may simply have a more general feeling of not being as content with your life as you would wish to be but are unsure of the reasons why. Counselling can help you to explore and understand what is going on for you and how your life experiences may have affected you and help you find more satisfying ways of living. Counselling helps thousands of people in this way.
You may be the one others rely on - thoughtful, capable, socially conscious - yet privately exhausted. Perhaps you learned to survive through competence, caretaking, or control. You have navigated spaces not built for you, carrying responsibility early. Beneath achievement, adaptation or resilience, there may be burnout, resentment or quiet loneliness. You want to untangle inherited baggage, understand relational patterns shaped by power and history, and build a life organised around desire and choice, rather than endurance and survival.
You may be the one others rely on - thoughtful, capable, socially conscious - yet privately exhausted. Perhaps you learned to survive through competence, caretaking, or control. You have navigated spaces not built for you, carrying responsibility early. Beneath achievement, adaptation or resilience, there may be burnout, resentment or quiet loneliness. You want to untangle inherited baggage, understand relational patterns shaped by power and history, and build a life organised around desire and choice, rather than endurance and survival.
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Self-Harming Counsellors
How does therapy for self-harm work?
A person may turn to self-injury so that they can distract themselves from their stress, depression, anxiety, or upsetting circumstances. Therapy can address the cause of an individual’s suffering. A therapist can help a person understand why they may want to self-harm and help the person learn new methods of coping. A person may have poor emotion regulation, and treatment such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is helpful for breaking this behaviour. In addition, treatment such as dialectical behaviour therapy can help a person manage their tolerance of distress.
Which therapies are best for self-harm?
Specific approaches used by professionals include cognitive behavioural, dialectical behaviour, psychodynamic, and mentalisation-based therapies, among others. Cognitive behavioural and dialectical behaviour therapies are common approaches for people who have painful thoughts and past traumas. These therapies help an individual cope with distress, regulate emotions, and manage impulsive urges.
Does the tendency to self-harm mean the person is suicidal?
Having this urge does not mean the individual suffers from suicidal ideation. People who want to self-injure look to distract or alleviate themselves from the pain they are experiencing. People with suicidal tendencies want to end life altogether. However, this does not mean a person with the intent to self-harm will not attempt suicide.
How often and how long are therapy sessions for self-harm?
As with any type of therapy, sessions depend on the individual. Clients may see improvement within 20 sessions, at an average of 50 minutes per session, while others may opt for 20 to 30 sessions over, maybe, a six-month period. People, especially those with co-occurring conditions like depression and anxiety, may need to continue therapy for up to 12 to 18 months.