The Person Behind the Practice
My Context & Journey
I am a Trainee Person-Centred Counsellor (BACP Student Member), but before I am a therapist, I am a human being who understands that life is complex. I believe that supporting individuals on their path to self-acceptance is at the heart of meaningful change.
My work is shaped by my diverse experiences across cultures. Before establishing my practice here in the UK, I worked as a Placement Counsellor at FPA Sri Lanka and as an intern at Deep Haven Counseling in Colombo. I have also spent time as a Visiting Lecturer and Psychology Tutor.
These experiences have taught me one crucial lesson: Human distress does not arise in a vacuum. It is deeply connected to our environment, our culture, our families, and the power structures we live within.
Why Person-Centred?
I chose the Person-Centred approach because it aligns with my core values about human dignity. It is a non-directive, non-pathologising approach.
I don't see my clients as patients who need to be "cured." I see them as individuals who, when provided with the right conditions—genuineness, empathy, and acceptance—have an innate capacity to grow and heal.
The Core Conditions
In our sessions, I offer three non-negotiable things, not as "techniques," but as a way of being:
- Empathy: Not just an intellectual understanding, but a felt sense of being with your world as you experience it.
- Unconditional Positive Regard: A deep valuing of you, separate from your behaviors or expectations. I am not here to approve or disapprove, but to accept.
- Congruence (Genuineness): I will be a real person with you. I don't hide behind a professional "expert" mask.
Professional & Educational Background
- 🎓 MSc Counselling & Psychotherapy (Keele University, In Progress)
- 🎓 PGDip Counselling & Psychosocial Support (University of Colombo, Merit)
- 🎓 BSc Psychology (Coventry University, 2:1)
- 💼 Placement Counsellor, Axis Counselling, Shrewsbury (Current)
A Note on Culture & Power
Therapy has often been centered around Western ideals of independence and individualism. I challenge that. I know that for many of us, especially from collectivist backgrounds, identity is relational. We belong to our families and communities.
I strive to be aware of the power dynamics in the room. I am not the expert on your life—you are. My role is to walk alongside you, honoring your culture, your pace, and your ambivalence.