Hilary Powers

I currently have availability on Mondays and Wednesdays. However, please contact me as this is subject to change.

At present, I am unavailable at weekends.

Hello, I'm Hilary Powers, a fully qualified integrative arts psychotherapist and counsellor based in Croydon, south London. 

I firmly believe that everyone is capable of change and that you have the ability to help yourself - it is just that sometimes we all need a helping hand to support us. Committing to therapy especially for the first time, can be a big step but you can be reassured that I will be by your side helping you to find your own way to manage your distress.

Since you are individual and your challenges unique to you, I aim to be flexible and to meet your needs in the way that best suits you. That is why I chose to train as an integrative counsellor since I believe that “no one size fits all”. 

I offer individual counselling to adults and young people using a variety of methods including talking therapies and art-based techniques.

Sometimes words are not enough and it can be hard to articulate how you are feeling. Using the arts can be a fantastic way to see things from a different perspective, to help you to discover your true self and to find a way to heal.

Whatever your problems, I will remain open and empathic and offer you a warm, calm, neutral space. 

My clinical experience is varied, I have worked in many different settings including the NHS and specialist agencies for adult survivors of sexual abuse and I have also worked in schools as a learning support assistant for children with special needs. 

I am experienced in working with people with a range of issues including anxiety and depression and long-term health conditions and dementia and I have a special interest in women's problems.

I have an MA in Integrative Arts Psychotherapy and am a full member of the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT). I am also registered with the HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council) registered: ASO17560

I am fully insured, the holder of an enhanced DBS certificate and  work to the ethical standards set by my registering bodies. 

I provide both short and long term or open-ended counselling - we can discuss what might suit you best or is affordable for you at our initial consultation. Sessions usually last 50 minutes and are held at the same time each week although as life can be varied, I try to be flexible for my clients.

There are many different ways to practise counselling and psychotherapy which can be confusing but I trained as an integrative counsellor so that I can draw on a variety of different approaches in order to best help you.

I might use psychodynamic models like attachment theory to help identify how past patterns and childhood experience may continue to influence your life now or humanistic models such as Gestalt or Transactional Analysis which focus more on the present situation - or maybe a combination of both!

As a registered arts psychotherapist, I believe strongly in the power of creativity to help you express what is often unconscious or unknown. It's a common misconception that art therapy is just for artists, but you don’t need to be “artistic” to benefit, just willing to give it a go!  With your permission, I will offer techniques such as story-telling, drama, sand play or music as well as image-making and sculpture to support you.

Additionally, it is important to recognise the powerful link between the mind and body so I might use psychoeducation to help explain how emotions and feelings can present themselves as “symptoms” in the body.

I want to empower you to help yourself so I could also use other techniques similar to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or mindfulness to provide practical solutions.

My private counselling room is based in Addiscombe, Croydon, with easy access to East and West Croydon stations. However, while I prefer to meet with you in person, I also offer online sessions via Zoom or on the telephone.

I am passionate about accessibility so if disability prevents you from travelling outside the home, I may be able to offer home visits.

I offer an initial consultation at a reduced fee. This is either over the telephone, online or in person and is an opportunity for us both to decide if we want to work together. It is a chance for you to ask any questions, we can discuss your main concerns and agree a provisional timescale. 

If you decide that you would like work with me, in order to put your safety first, I will complete a brief assessement of your needs which might include some background details and personal history. Any information you give me will remain confidential and will be stored in compliance with GDPR regulations.