Dr Paula Bermudez

I believe that there is no particular therapy or approach that works for everyone. We are all unique human beings, and therefore therapy has to be designed based on the multifaceted needs of each individual. This has been strongly supported by research and my clinical experience. My doctoral training as a Counselling Psychologist has equipped me to understand and work with people in a holistic way, providing me with knowledge and skills to be able to adapt to my client's needs, combining different therapeutic models in a congruent and sensitive manner. I work in a relational and flexible way, which means that I use the therapeutic relationship as a vehicle to help us make sense of your ways of relating with others, and whilst my core modality is Psychodynamic therapy I can also incorporate techniques and theories from Humanistic, Systemic and Cognitive Behavioural therapy (CBT), depending on your particular needs. My goal is to empower you to feel and cope better, so you can make conscious choices about how you want to live your life in a way that is meaningful to you.

I have been working in different mental health settings since 2012, including charities, home programmes, and primary and secondary care services in the NHS. I have experience working with children, families and adults, providing both short-term and long-term therapy with a variety of people dealing with circumstances unique to their lives. For years, I worked in several settings simultaneously. Apart from my private practice, I worked at the University of East London (UEL) in research related matters in the Prof Doc Programme in Counselling Psychology, and I was also involved in training and supervising counsellors. At the same time, I worked part-time in a Secondary Care NHS Service providing long term Psychodynamic and Integrative therapy to adults presenting with severe and enduring mental health difficulties. ​ Currently, I am focusing on developing my own private practice to create a life in which I can find a good work-life balance. As I often say to my clients "a vital aspect of our wellbeing is to build a life we like living, a life that is meaningful to us". Thus, I am trying my best to "do what I preach"- being congruent and authentic. I am only practising online, offering therapy to people based across Europe, mainly people living in the UK and Spain, as I have Professional Registration in both countries and I have also lived experience of training and living there. I love my work and I make sure that I continue my professional development with regular clinical supervision and attending trainings to ensure I continue to provide the best care I can to all my clients. As a registered member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), I work following their ethical framework and standard of proficiency.

I offer therapy in English and Spanish. I have expertise working with people experiencing different types and degrees of difficulties, which can often be referred to as : Depression Anxiety Relationship difficulties Stress Loss/Grief Trauma Experiences of abuse Loss of direction in life Low self-steem Difficulties regulating emotions

Perhaps you're down or anxious - maybe you're unsure about the future of a relationship, or you find yourself repeating the same patterns in life, and you find it difficult to carry on. Making the first step to seek help is often the hardest one, and if you are reading this, it may well mean that you have started to consider that this may be the right time for you to engage in therapy. Therapy is a process of growth and self-discovery, and in my sessions I aim to create a safe and non-judgement space, where we could build a therapeutic relationship so you could feel comfortable to talk freely, at your own pace, about what matters to you. I believe that this is a fundamental aspect of therapy, so I will be working collaboratively with you to help you think and understand your past, present and future, attending to your thoughts, behaviours and feelings. My goal is to empower you to feel and cope better, so you can make conscious choices about how you want to live your life in a way that is meaningful to you. ​ON OUR FIRST SESSION: The initial consultation is an opportunity for both of us to think about how we could work together. I would want to find out more about your difficulties and the kind of help you might need, and you can ask me any questions you may have, so we could make a decision together.