a safe space to be heard, understood & to
find a path through confusion, hurt and trauma
I am a qualified Psychotherapist and Counsellor (registered and accredited with BACP) and a registered Social Worker with over 25 years experience of supporting people with a wide range of difficulties and life problems. I work in a warm, empathic way to help people with whatever difficulties they may bring.
I can work with you to help you explore areas of your life where you feel stuck and to identify what you need to move forward. I work collaboratively to create a sense of safety together, so that you can express what is really going on inside of you - your thoughts, feelings and experiences, especially those that are complicated or hard to put into words.
I consider clients to be the experts in their own lives and my job is to get to know and understand you so that together we can find a pathway through what is happening in your life. Through careful listening and noticing I try to ensure you feel really heard and 'seen'.
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I have trained as an Integrative therapist which means that I pay a lot of attention to what is happening moment by moment in the therapy process and relationship, ensuring that I adapt what I do to your unique situation and the goals you want from therapy. I will use a range of approaches to help me do this including: exploring the impact of the past and early attachments on the present; using creative verbal (writing) and non-verbal ways of expressing; using approaches that incorporate an understanding of nervous system / body-based responses to stress and trauma; using mindfulness, self-compassion and grounding techniques for coping with difficult feelings and anxiety. My work is trauma-informed which means I do not view people as having things 'wrong' with them but rather as having normal, understandable survival reactions to cope with overwhelming life events and circumstances. I am a trained 'Safe and Sound Protocol' provider developed by Dr Stephen Porges, which is a listening based intervention that supports calming the nervous system, based on 'Polyvagal Theory'. I put safety, openness, collaboration and empowerment at the centre of my practice. I engage in continuous professional development and regular supervision to ensure I am up to date and accountable for my work and I have an up to date DBS check.
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In addition to my psychotherapy and counselling practice, I am an artist and the co-founder of an organisation for people who have experienced trauma and abuse, through which I have helped facilitate many support groups over the last 18 years. I am certified to teach mindfulness and have an MSc in Mental Health Studies with a research thesis on the assessment and treatment of trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). I have also worked on the NAPAC national helpline and am experienced in supporting people who have lived through various forms of trauma, childhood abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault.
I am fully insured and abide by the British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy Code of Ethics. I am registered with the Information Commissioners Office and ensure all information I hold is held securely according to GDPR. Any concerns about data handling / privacy can be raised by emailing concetta.perot@gmail.com where they will be responded to within 30 days, after which, if the outcome is not felt to be satisfactory, can be referred directly to the Information Commissioners Office. You can read my Privacy Notice here.