Dr Justina Somal

We may consider therapy due to difficult life events, reviewing our life purpose and when we are challenged by unhelpful thoughts and feelings. I am passionate about supporting and empowering people to live their life in the way they desire. It can be a difficult journey to explore and achieve this on our own, and I apply evidence-based approaches with my clients, working together as a team, to best support personal needs. I believe therapy is reliant on a good therapeutic relationship, and endeavour to build trust, respect and compassion, to collaboratively and sensitively work towards client' personal goals.

I am a Chartered Counselling Psychologist, registered with the BPS and HCPC. I qualified as a Psychologist in 2016 (DPsych). I practiced as an Integrative Psychotherapist for 10 years prior to completing doctoral training. I have extended my training in many evidence-based psychotherapies including EMDR, DBT, ACT and other Trauma-specific approaches ,such as NET and TF-CBT, as well as other mindfulness-based approaches. I have over 20 years of extensive clinical experience working with adults, young people and children, individually and in groups, and worked with couples and families in brief interventions, to enhance the work for the primary client. I have practiced privately, for the NHS, Local Authority, Courts, and National Charities, and helped develop psychotherapy services for some services.

I work with a wide range of presentations, and issues. I have specialism in areas such as Trauma, Relationship and Family issues, Anxiety and Depression Disorders, OCD, Addiction, and Personality Disorders. I work with all developmental ages, though since my practice is currently virtual, this is limited to clients 16 years and above.

My therapeutic modality includes delivering treatments such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, EMDR, Trauma-Focused CBT, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy and Psychoanalytic approaches. Intervention is integrated with suitable evidence-based approaches to support clients' needs and goals, which remains client-led and collaborative. The pace and shape of therapy is guided by the client, as well as readiness and willingness to work towards desired change.