Andreea Varga

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Integrative therapy with Andreea

I am a BACP accredited integrative psychodynamic counsellor. I believe that therapy can mean various things for different people. To ensure I meet your individual needs, I take a flexible and integrative approach to counselling which blends psychodynamic therapy with humanistic and trauma-informed models. I aim to meet you where you are and work at a pace that feels manageable and respectful of your experiences. While I am led by you, my approach is collaborative and dialogical, grounded in deep listening.

The therapy that I offer is relational. We all have blind spots and sometimes our patterns of relating, behaving, thinking or feeling are out of our consciousness. By building a safe and trusting therapeutic relationship, I can help you become aware of these patterns. When we have this kind of awareness, we can step out of our conditioning and open up space for choice. Being culturally sensitive is an important part of my approach, so I am enthusiastic to learn about your unique sense of identity, cultural perspective and ways of belonging or non-belonging in the world.

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Trauma Informed Therapy

Having trained in various Trauma-based approaches, I can support you in better understanding your nervous system responses and recognising triggers both internal and coming from the outside environment. Often having this kind of insight leads to an improved ability to regulate emotions and better manage challenging situations.

“Trauma is not what happens to you, it’s what happens inside of you as a result of what happens to you.” (G. Mate)

When we experience stress, overwhelm or trauma, especially at early stages in our life, we learn to cope or survive as best as we can. However, when we take these survival or coping strategies into adulthood, sometimes they can come into conflict with our “getting on with normal life” self.

We may also learn to disconnect from parts of us that might not have felt safe or accepted. Therapy can help you gently reconnect with these parts that may have gone into hiding after stress, trauma, or emotional challenges. It can also help facilitate dialogue between these parts to ease inner conflicts and unburden them from the hard work they do to protect and defend against challenging situations or feelings, for example fear of failure, not feeling good enough, humiliation, rejection or abandonment.

“Befriending one’s parts is not simply a therapeutic endeavour: it also contributes to developing the practice of self-acceptance, one part at a time.” (J. Fisher)

Profound changes can only happen when we learn to forgive and accept ourselves, with all of our parts, even the ones we do not like. While we can extend compassion and understanding to others, self-compassion might not be something we readily grant ourselves. If you are seeking to embark on a journey of self-acceptance, then this is something that I can help you with.

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Areas I work with:

Some of the areas I work with are:

• Abuse
• ADHD and HSP
• Anger
• Anxiety and panic attacks
• Attachment Issues and Relational Trauma
• Body image
• Boarding School Syndrome
• Cultural and gender identity
• Depression and low mood
• Eating disorders
• Grief and loss
• Life transitions
• Narcissistic abuse
• Relationship Issues
• Self-esteem and confidence
• Self-harm
• Shame and self-loathing
• Spirituality
• Stress
• Suicidal ideation
• Trauma

I have extensive experience in working with anxiety and panic, low self-esteem, depression, processing difficult emotions, particularly anger, shame and grief, and relational wounding (neglect, abuse or abandonment). I am also supporting clients come to terms with past traumatic experiences, improve their relationships with others and themselves. By working through self-criticism, negative self-dialogue, catastrophizing, rumination, rigidity (black and white thinking) and perfectionist tendencies, this can help alleviate internal pressures and cultivate self-compassion and self-acceptance.

In my past role of associate counsellor at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, I supported students in performance arts and theatre production with mental health issues, particularly performance anxiety, low mood and depression, body-image issues, eating issues, life transitions, peer relationships and family conflicts, self-harm and suicidal ideation.

Before training to become a therapist, I worked as a lecturer across different countries for over 14 years, gaining an understanding of diverse cultural backgrounds and promoting cultural sensitivity. Having a master’s degree in Creative Writing, I was also involved in charity work with underprivileged children, leading creative writing workshops. This has helped me understand the value of empowering individuals by recognising their suffering and giving them a voice. I believe that when we feel deeply heard and understood, we can connect with out intrinsic value as individuals and our potential to live more wholesomely.

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Psychotherapy qualifications, training and background:

As a registered and accredited member of BACP, I adhere to the BACP ethical framework. This means that I am committed to offering you a confidential, empathic and non-judgemental space.

My professional qualifications in counselling and psychotherapy include a 3-year postgraduate BACP accredited course in Humanistic-Integrative Counselling from CPPD, London.

In addition to my core training, I also hold a clinical certification in Complex Trauma (Levels 1 and 2), training in Integrative Polyvagal Theory for Anxiety, Depression, Trauma and Attachment, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Trauma and Shame and CBT. I am committed to continuous learning and improving my practice through regular professional development training to support my clients as best as I can.  

I also hold a master’s degree in Creative Writing and take a special interest in the therapeutic and reparative value of writing.

Outside of my counselling work, I am a clinical supervisor and tutor of counselling, supporting trainee counsellors on their journeys to becoming qualified practitioners.

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Languages

I offer therapy in English as well as Romanian.

Contact:

You can either call or email me. I’m happy to talk on the telephone about any concerns or questions you may have about the process.

07592 264 351
andreea@andreeavargatherapy.com

Rates:

I offer weekly therapy sessions in person and online.
15-minute initial online or phone consultation free of charge.
50-minute individual session: £80.
Limited concession places are available.

Psychotherapy sessions at Barnsbury Therapy Space:
Thursday and Friday
Directions to Barnsbury Therapy Space