Ines Astrug

I work Tuesdays & Fridays 9:00 - 2:00

I work primarily on zoom, however I can also offer F2F sessions in Ebbsfleet Green. F2F sessions will incur a 15% supplement due to rental costs. 

Concessions available. Talk to me.

astrugcounselling.uk 

Through personal therapeutic care I will help you to cope and process the challenges you are currently facing.

I am flexible in my approach, however I work mostly with short, solution-focused therapy, which can then be extended ad-hoc as and when necessary with occasional sessions. 

In the confidentiality between us you can speak about your experience, discover thoughts and feelings, and we can explore together the causes as to why you feel the way you do. The trust that we develop in our therapeutic relationship will be the foundation of healing and change. 

Over the past 40+ years, I have lived in five different countries, including eastern-Europe, Israel and Germany - I am able to speak several languages. Each country, each experience, each community, has taught me something valuable outside the security and comfort-zone of the familiar environment, whether it's about people, personal growth, mentality or culture. I am especially aware of the differences between how we approach life, living and relating in the east and the west of Europe and the challenges  they bring with them.

I have experience especially working with bereavement and grief, loss, difficult childhood, trauma. Additionally I work with anxiety & depression, identity and self-esteem, guilt, assertiveness, healthy boundaries. 

Counselling is a process, one step at a time. As a counsellor I will support you in finding clarity and the best solutions for what you need. I work with every person to empower them in their lives. 

Choosing the right counsellor is important. It may not be an easy find as we all relate differently to each other. Ultimately the most important is perhaps feeling accepted and understood by your counsellor. 

I offer a 20mins get-to-know session free of charge, during which we will get a feel for each other and discuss how can we work together in the best possible way for you. 

Get in touch to book a slot.

Having experienced a variety of challenges myself, I don’t judge a person’s choices and situations. I am acutely aware of how difficult it is sometimes to find the best coping strategy, healthy boundaries, self-confidence and the right measure of assertiveness. We will work together to gain more insight into how to improve your well-being and ultimately feel better.

As a counsellor, I endeavour to empower every person in their lives.

I work with a solid grounding in the humanistic person-centred tradition, yet depending on each client’s individual needs, I borrow tools from other counselling traditions into an integrated and personalised approach. We will work together to establish what works best for you and for your goals and expectations.

I have worked as a counsellor in an NHS GP Practice, where I counselled individuals with a wide range of issues and challenges. I also volunteered as a counsellor for Cruse Bereavement Care Charity. 

Currently I work privately and as an EAP affiliated counsellor in brief solutions-focused therapy.

Training and qualifications

Therapeutic Counselling, Person-centred Humanistic Counselling (Dipl Therapeutic Counselling)

Introduction to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Certificate

Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) Certificate

Suicide & Self-Harm - Working Safely & Ethically with Clients at Risk Certificate

Introduction to Transactional Analysis (TA) Certificate

Bereavement Foundation Course Certificate

Working with Suicide Remotely Certificate

Working Briefly Certificate

Master of Arts, Nationalism Studies, Central European University

Bachelor of Arts, Journalism & Mass Communications, AUBG

Languages 

English - Fluent native proficiency

German - Proficient

Hebrew - Proficient

Spanish - Advanced

French - Intermediate

Russian - Intermediate

Bulgarian - Native

Common concerns when reaching out to a counsellor are trust and confidentiality. "How many sessions would I need? Would you be able to help me? Would you tell anyone about what I will confide in you? Would you judge me?"

During our first session we will discuss any concerns and how can we make therapy work for you in the best possible way.