Low Cost Counselling & Psychotherapy


For women and men on benefit or very limited income, lower cost counselling and psychotherapy is available with therapists at Spiral. Some of the therapists are experienced trainees, and some are qualified. The therapists offer shorter and longer term counselling and psychotherapy on a regular weekly basis at a specific time

Each therapist has regular meetings with one of Spiral's experienced supervisors, in order to monitor the progress of the sessions and to ensure the highest professional standards. Both the therapist and the supervisor are bound by the professional ethics of confidentiality. Within this confidential context, several of our therapists in training are required to tape record some or all of their sessions. No one will be required to have sessions recorded if they object, but it may mean a longer wait to see someone

Fees are between £10 and £30 per 50 minute session, depending on your circumstances. These fees are subject to occasional small increases. In order to keep the fees as low as possible, payment is weekly, even if sessions are missed, except on bank holidays or when the therapist is unavailable


Applying for Low Cost Counselling & Psychotherapy
Please telephone us for a brief discussion of your issues and circumstances. If we have a suitable vacancy we will arrange an assessment interview, after which we will let you know as quickly as possible whether we can give you a place. The charge for the assessment interview will be agreed in advance and will be similar to the regular fee. The assessment fee is payable if the appointment is cancelled with less than 48 hours' notice. For initial enquiries about low cost therapy, please telephone Spiral, not the individual therapists

Biographies of individual therapists


Nina Janjuah

I am currently studying for an Expert Practitioners MSc at Kings College University, London, and my present practice involves Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as the main model. Prior to this, in 2007 I completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Psychosynthesis Counselling and Therapy at the Psychosynthesis and Education Trust. I am a member of BACP. I have been with Spiral since June 2005

CBT offers a direct, common sense approach. By gently picking apart the various ‘strands’ - using feelings, behaviours, bodily sensations and thoughts - we look at how your current issues are maintained. We come to understand why automatic responses sometimes take over and why certain situations trigger difficult feelings and behaviours

Collaborative team work is central to good CBT practice. Together we will endeavour to learn how you might make alternative and better choices when faced with such difficulties next time. Your personal progress is supported through assignments, experiments and self-monitoring which you would undertake between sessions

The cornerstone of my practice is a commitment to honouring difference and personal identity, and my particular areas of interest and expertise are culture and diversity. My previous training informs my current work with a depth of understanding which enables me to hold an integrative frame and to work with the uniqueness of each individual

I am at Spiral on Wednesday mornings



Sasha Kaplin

I am a student with the Sherwood Psychotherapy Institute, working towards their MA in Integrative Psychotherapy, and towards UKCP registration. I am a student member of BACP

I blend approaches creatively, and hold a belief in people’s potential to reflect on themselves and make choices. Within sessions, my intention is to invite an atmosphere of trust and understanding. I will support and encourage you to safely find the range of your emotions and to develop an accepting relationship with yourself. We might explore the effect that early or past relationships have had on your experience of being you, including how you cope and react. While respecting the way in which you learned to protect yourself, I will also help you explore your different options in the here and now

My particular areas of experience include working with trauma and abuse, issues of identity and difference, and self-harming behaviours. I am mindful of the contexts of power, oppression, vulnerability and responsibility. My background includes work in a senior role at an NHS women’s crisis project, and offering social support to homeless people in emotional distress. I have been a Samaritans phone volunteer, have co-led groups for the Eating Disorders Association, and have facilitated a community group focused around sexuality, at London Friend. I have previous training in systemic therapy

I work at Spiral on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons



Catherine Huckle

I am in the second year of a counselling diploma training in Integrative Psychosynthesis at Re.Vision. I am a student member of BACP. In addition I have a post graduate diploma in Addictions Psychology and Addictions Counselling (London South Bank University, 2007)

As well as practising at Spiral, I am currently working as an Addictions Counsellor focusing on alcohol issues. Previously I supported employees and their families when transferring to live and work abroad, on repatriation to the UK, and at times of crisis. I have also been a volunteer for several organisations, both in the UK and abroad, including the Samaritans, Drinkline (National Alcohol Helpline), a Women’s Crisis line and an HIV Helpline

I see therapy as a way of giving time to ourselves, our wellbeing, our future choices and our potential. It is not often that we can step back and talk with another in non-judgemental, non-critical space. I aim to work in a way that develops trust and encourages self-awareness and self-nurturing. As we work on developing a healthy relationship with ourselves and our inner world so we find our relationships towards others transform. Through my work with addictions I am aware that it is not enough to stop old self-destructive beliefs and behaviours, but that we also need to find purpose and meaning in our lives

I work at Spiral on Monday mornings


Mems Hassan

I am currently training at Re-vision, for their Diploma in Integrative Psychosynthesis Counselling. In addition, in 2002 I gained a BSc Hons in Psychology (University of East London) that integrated well with my extensive work in therapeutic settings. I am a student member of BACP

I have worked with vulnerable people from all age groups and from varied & different backgrounds for over 14 years. I have worked as a case advisor both on a one to one basis, and with families. As well as this, as manager of a Women’s Centre between 1995 and 2001, I gave support to many vulnerable women experiencing, for example domestic violence, relationship problems, physical, sexual and mental abuse, lack of confidence and low esteem, addictions, depression and mental health struggles. I also supported a number of women exploring issues around sexuality. In other therapeutic settings I have worked collaboratively with vulnerable young people and their families seeking solutions to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour. My work has been diverse and very full and rich in experience and meaning

Often people come to counselling because they seek answers and change. Our behaviours, feelings, and coping strategies can sometimes hold us back, preventing us from moving forward to embrace our full potential. My approach will involve working with you collaboratively, empathetically and intuitively. I believe the relationship between counsellor and client is the most important aspect of the therapeutic process. Together we can explore your feelings, behaviours and thoughts, and we may look at dreams and spirituality. This may help you discover answers but more importantly it will invite you to reach knowledge & acceptance of who you are

I work at Spiral on Friday mornings


Valentina Hamilton

I qualified in 2004 with a Diploma in Counselling from Birkbeck College. This was a psychodynamic training with a loose grounding in a range of different theories including systemic and person centred theory. This consolidated 22 years experience of work in the caring professions, providing counselling for over 12 of these. Whilst my training and my understanding of people is rooted in the psychodynamic and systemic approaches, as well as drawing on these insights I work with each individual flexibly according to what emerges with each different person. I am a member of BACP

I have worked with many individuals and families from diverse social, ethnic, religious and economic backgrounds. I have offered counselling to people with a range of difficulties, including abuse, bereavement, loss, disability, addiction, depression and anxiety. I work short term with people who are faced with recent troubles and with difficulties around decisions in their current lives, as well as longer term with people whose struggles arise from unhappy experiences in earlier life

Our relationship would be at the heart of the counseling. I aim to provide a safe and supportive space for you to feel comfortable to talk about yourself. I am interested to understand you and to hear about things that are important in the present and from your past. This includes things that cause distress as well as things that bring happiness and give you hope for the future. It would also allow for a lively and challenging exchange which could help you to re-think old ways of managing and being, and to begin to make more fulfilling and constructive choices for the future

I work at Spiral on Thursday evenings


Jenny Van Stroud

I am currently undertaking a diploma in Integrative Psychosynthesis Counselling at Re.Vision Centre for Integrative Psychosynthesis. I am in the second year of my training and will qualify in 2011. I am a student member of BACP. I have a degree in history and philosophy and have previously completed a year’s course in psychotherapy at the London Centre for Psychotherapy (1994), as well as having worked on a counselling helpline as a Samaritan

I believe therapy to be a place where you can bring any issue you wish. People come to counselling for a wide variety of reasons. You may have a specific issue or set of issues where you feel stuck and in need some help. You might feel dissatisfied with life and with your relationships or be weighed down by events from your past. On the other hand, it may not be clear what the particular reason is; instead you may simply have a vague sense that something is wrong or lacking in your life

As your counsellor I will provide a safe space where you can explore and express whatever you need to in order to find your way towards a deeper sense of yourself. I work with an integrative approach and with a transpersonal perspective, and this means that I look for your potential and uniqueness as well as addressing the issues that you bring. As you explore your life in counselling you can feel an increased connection to yourself as well as an increased self-acceptance. I encourage your feedback throughout the process and see counselling very much as a mutual journey of discovery

I work at Spiral on Friday mornings


Nicole Verity

I am a Senior Student in my fourth year of the MA in Core Process Psychotherapy training at the Karuna Institute. I am a student member of ACPP, which is affiliated to UKCP, and I abide by Karuna’s Ethical Code of Practice

I hold a perspective which combines Eastern and Western approaches to psychology, seeing body, mind and spirit as one interconnected whole. My belief is that we, in essence, are whole and that our life is a journey - a journey that is about change, movement, learning to see clearly and deeply and about listening to our intuition. We are all on our paths and yet there are times when we need to seek out safe companionship and support to heal pain and move forward

I offer a safe, confidential and compassionate space where you can feel at ease to explore the nature your distress. By bringing awareness into the present moment you can begin to understand your difficulties, offering you the chance to reconnect with your potential, to feel less detached and separate, and to live life more fully. In reconnecting to this part of ourselves we invite back into our daily life the creativity and love that is always longing to express itself

I am offering low cost therapy at Spiral until at least March 2011, as I work towards graduation and accreditation

I work at Spiral on Wednesdays


Emily Powell

I am in training at Re.Vision Centre for Integrative Psychosynthesis, where I am working towards a Diploma in Counselling. I am in the 3rd year of this training and am due to qualify in 2011. I hold student membership of BACP

I feel that emotional, physical, spiritual, and environmental factors all play a part in defining us. In our sessions I will invite you to experience and reflect on the role each of these might play in your life. I have particular experience and understanding of addictions in the family setting, and the effects of physical disabilities and chronic pain

I will encourage you to work at depth within our therapeutic relationship, in order to support you in establishing rich and deep relationships within your life. I believe that this is a central part of the healing process

I understand that the therapeutic process can be painful and difficult, as well as rich and rewarding, and I strive to work with compassion, empathy and humour to create a safe, holding environment for our work together

I work at Spiral on Friday mornings


Kate Atkinson

I am in the 3rd year of my training at Re-Vision, working towards their Diploma in Integrative Psychosynthesis Counselling. I am a student member of the BACP

In seeking therapy you are making a choice to give attention to yourself. As your therapist I will work alongside you to explore what troubles, concerns or hampers you. You may have a specific difficulty, or maybe a number of concerns that remain unresolved, or you may have an unexplainable feeling of unease. I will support you in exploring your issues in a safe, confidential setting where you will not be judged

I work intuitively, and if this resonates with you, I will invite visualisation, artwork, the imagination and dreams, to enable you to look at your life story and your longings. By connecting to your inner world, you can gain a greater sense of yourself and come to an acceptance of who you are

My previous experience includes running a self-help support group, and prior to this I worked within a training environment

I work at Spiral on Monday afternoons