All About Therapy

About Petra

I am a Family and Systemic Psychotherapist and Supervisor accredited by UK Council for Psychotherapy

Ever since I was young, I knew I wanted to get into a career path that would make a difference in people’s lives. This interest led me to study therapeutic social work and eventually family and systemic psychotherapy. As an UKCP accredited  Psychotherapist I am committed to the well-being of all people I work with and I go above and beyond to cater to their needs.

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I truly care for all people I work with, and I work diligently to help them find the answers they seek. I believe in developing a strong collaborative relationship with people that come to see me to maximize their success. My strength-based approach is rooted in Systemic Theory. Empathy and humour play a significant role in my relational style.

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I have worked with children, adolescents, and families with a variety of social, emotional, behavioural and learning issues. First, as a Clinical Social worker and Systemic Practitioner with children and adolescents that were being treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital.  Since 2012 I have worked as a Family and Systemic Psychotherapist with individuals, couples and families in my private practice, The Brandon Centre and most recently the Local Authority. I also worked as a Family and Systemic Psychotherapist at The Tavistock Centre,  a specialist mental health trust based in north London.

In my private practice I provide individual, couples and family therapy to people that refer themselves to my clinic or that are referred to me by other agencies and professionals. I also provide highly specialist assessment and clinical formulations to children and adolescents that are referred to my clinic by Children’s services.

In addition to my clinical work I also work as a trainer and supervisor.

My therapy rooms are located in Kingston upon Thames but I also offer online therapy.

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About Bernice

I am a Family and Systemic Psychotherapist

As a young woman I proclaimed loudly, ‘I want to change the world’ and chose the career path of a Social Worker, in which I have twenty years’ experience. Over this time, I discovered that my idealistic notion is challenging, but I did not discard it but adjusted it and learnt that I can support others in making both small and big changes in their lives, which may impact their world.

As I gained more life experience, I learnt that I can change my actions, but it is my thinking that also needs to change. This influenced how I thought of myself and others and influenced my career path into family and systemic psychotherapy.

Being with and working with people energises me, which enhances my determination to help them seek answers, with the hope that they achieve clarity and success. This strength-based approach is rooted in Systemic Theory.

I have extensive experience in working with children, adolescents, and families in London and Surrey. Throughout my career I have worked closely with individuals, families and professionals in managing a variety of social, emotional and behavioural issues.

​As a trainee systemic psychotherapist, I completed two years of training Prudence Skynner Clinic, which specialises in working with families and couples when an adult is experiencing psychological problems.

My therapy rooms are located in Kingston upon Thames and Chelsea.

Office Hours

New Clients Welcome/Online Therapy Offered

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 5pm - 8pm
Thursday, Friday: 8am - 9pm
Saturday: 10am - 4pm

Services We Offer

Mental health is a positive concept related to the social and emotional wellbeing of individuals. Having good mental health, or being mentally healthy, is, in my view, more than just the absence of illness; rather it’s a state of overall wellbeing. And that is what I strive to achieve when I start working with people they come to see me in my clinic. There are many experiences and changes both, children, young people, men and women experience during their life cycle that threaten their equilibrium. Finding the new balance is my ultimate concern.
Since 2012, I have provided individuals, couples and families in Richmond and Kingston area a wide range of psychological and counselling services to suit their needs.
Whether you are an individual, a couple or a family looking for help - my therapy sessions are designed to strengthen your confidence, and assist you in the healing process. Take a look at the services I offer, and get in touch with me today.

Questions

You Ask - I Answer

Have a question you’d like to ask? I’m committed to giving patients the best care and experience I can. There’s no such thing as a bad question when it comes to mental health. Check out the answers to the FAQs below, and don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any additional questions.

How long will it take before I see any benefits?

Being able to share your problems and worries with a therapist can help you better manage some of pressures you may be  experiencing and that can  already lead to some sense of relief after the first session. The intervals between sessions are from one to two weeks initially depending on the presented problems and needs of the family members. Decisions over these matters are negotiated collaboratively with all family members present.
Although it is hard to estimate and it differs widely, the average length of family therapy treatment ranges between 6 – 20 sessions.

Do you offer sliding scale rates?

I do not offer sliding scale rates but I have a limited number of sessions each month on which I am able to offer a discount.

How long does each therapy session take?

An individual therapy session usually lasts for 60 minutes and a couple and family session for 90 minutes.

What issues  does Systemic Approach address?

Family and systemic therapy approach is beneficial at times of crisis and also when families and individuals deal with longstanding problems.

It serves to prevent problems such as behavioural difficulties in children and young people and improves parenting skills. 

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Some of the issues or situations at which an individual or family could benefit from systemic and family therapy are listed bellow.

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• Promoting parenting skills and communication among family members.

• Relationship difficulties.

• Health problems, and particularly chronic physical illnesses. 

• Psychosomatic problems. 

• Child and adolescent mental health. 

• Adult mental health. 

• Psychosexual difficulties. 

• Alcohol and other substance abuse. 

• Anxiety and Depression.

• Low Self-esteem.

• Marital problems including lack of communication, separation and divorce.

• Foster care and adoption.

• Family life cycle and transitional stages of life issues. 

• School-related problems. 

• Work-related problems. 

• Traumatic experiences, loss and bereavement. 

• Disruption of family life due to social, political and religious conflicts.