Sophia Papantoniou-McDonald

Sessions occur on a weekly basis, but I also offer fortnightly sessions (subject to an assessment to ensure this is ethical for your particular issue).

I currently have no availability and am operating a waiting list for daytime and evening slots.

I provide counselling to individuals (over 18), and couples, and am also a clinical supervisor. I work with a range of everyday life issues such as relationship difficulties, lack of self-confidence, financial worries, depression, stress, anxiety, and bullying. I also have experience of working with trauma, sexual abuse, domestic abuse, self-harm and suicidal thoughts.

I offer a calm, confidential and non-judgmental space where you can talk about whatever it is that’s troubling you, no matter how big or small the issue. Being able to talk, and being listened to and heard, can be an empowering experience.

I can help you to process difficult life experiences, find out what changes you want to make in your life and how to do that, by looking at past and present issues together. We can also look at your values and beliefs and where they came from in relation to your upbringing, and whether they still work for you.

Counselling can help if there’s something getting in the way of how you want to live your life. Every so often, people can become stuck, and my aim is for us to work together to make sense of these times, and to find positive change.

Couples counselling can apply to any relationship: husband-wife, parent-child, siblings, etc. Often in relationships, people feel they’re not being heard or accepted, causing tension. I remain impartial whilst helping you to look at the main aspects of your relationship, eg communication, in order to help you decide how you would like to move forward.

Please feel free to contact me for an initial chat (free of charge and up to 30 mins) to see if you think I’m the right person to work with you.

Individuals - £70 for 50 mins                                                          Couples - £85 for 1 hour                                                                    Supervision - £60 for 1 hour 

During our first session, we will go through our working contract together so that you know what you can expect from me. I will ask you for some personal details, and we will complete an assessment together so that I can get an idea of your family background, whether you've had counselling before, what you would like from counselling. I generally find this a helpful way to get into the session organically, because I understand that you might be hesitant at first in opening up to someone you don't know. As we go on, you're likely to feel much more comfortable doing this.

I currently don't have any availability to take on new supervisees.

I am a clinical supervisor offering individual and couples supervision to qualified counsellors and trainees at all stages of your journey. I also offer group supervision to counsellors and other groups in the helping profession.

My supervision practice reflects my counselling style which is predominantly person-centred and psychodynamic, and I sometimes use a selection of elements from TA and CBT.

I believe effective supervision starts with the relationship between the supervisor and the supervisee and I aim to offer you a non-judgemental and collaborative environment where you will feel valued, supported and encouraged to express your needs.

As your supervisor I aim to:

• Understand the issues your clients are bringing and offer effective ways to help them

• Increase your confidence and self-awareness as a counsellor and explore their impact on the therapy you provide

• Support you in your own self-care and work-life balance

• Help you to resolve concerns you have with ethical dilemmas

• Help you to grow as a counsellor

• Support you with the business side of private practice 

I offer a 30-minute free initial session for you to discuss your needs as a counsellor. You can tell me about your work, level of experience, placement if in training, and type and number of clients that you see. We can look at what you would like from supervision and I can answer any of your questions.