Sivan Keider Halevi Counselling Psychotherapy Bounds Green

About Me - Counselling Finchley & Hendon

I am a qualified Gestalt Psychotherapist, hold an MA in counselling and have 14 years experience of  working therapeutically. I am passionate about my work and get a lot of satisfaction from watching the progress people make through our work. I love the fact that every individual brings to the therapeutic work  their  different experiences and their unique ways of coping with the difficulties and opportunities they faced in their life.  Every meeting with a client is singular and unlike others.

I have a varied and expansive experience:

I have worked for many years in a women's centre, offering individual counselling and facilitating a support group. Some of the common difficulties my clients faced were: childhood sexual abuse, low self esteem, eating disorders and parenting concerns. In my private practice I have worked with individuals and couples. I supported couples in resolving conflicts,  intimacy issues and sexual difficulties. I also work as a school counsellor with primary school children.

How therapy works:

 As children we all develop patterns of behaving that are crucial to our emotional survival  but may not serve us so well at our present life. Many of us had to push some of our feelings (like anger or vulnerability) out of awareness as these were not acceptable to our environment. Therapy can help us increase awareness of our feelings so that we can make choices based on our real needs,  and recognise our old patterns and beliefs. In the safe and non judgemental therapeutic environment clients can experiment with new ways of thinking and behaving.

E.g.: A person that  has grown up to be self reliant can learn to ask for support when it's needed, and a person that never expressed anger can start by telling me when they disagree with me.

Therapy can help in developing a less harsh, more supportive way of relating to oneself. Once people are able to feel compassion towards themselves, they become more compassionate  as partners and parents.

Couples Counselling & Psychotherapy Finchley:

When Partners have many unresolved conflicts both tend to feel painfully rejected and criticised. Understandably they find it difficult to listen to the other's point of view without feeling attacked. Therapy offers a safe space where both sides will be listened to with empathy. Partners will face the challenge of accepting the fact that both of them  hold different and valid views and feelings. We would look at destructive patterns of relating, and learn to communicate more effectively. Often relational difficulties express themselves in the sexual and intimacy sphere. I am aware of how exposing and sensitive these areas are for most people. Some of my interventions would be validating the partners' differing needs and longings and identifying beliefs and personal experiences that may inhibit them.

     What to Expect:

      When you call we will have a short chat on the phone and then arrange an introductory session. In this session you will have an opportunity to talk about what brought you to therapy and get an idea about my way of working, and a sense of whether I would be suitable for you.  In case we both feel I can be of assistance to you, we will agree to meet for a short term 6-8 sessions, or for an open ended work. Therapy sessions  last 50 minutes, and I would allocate a regular weekly time for our sessions.

     

My Prices:
My standard price is £50 a session.  I also offer limited amount of concessions.