Miriam Christie

I am an integrative psychotherapist (MA, MBACP Accred., NCPS Senior Accredited), providing heartfelt therapy in private practice in South Norwood and online.

The aims of therapy are always client-led and my emphasis is on creating an empathic, safe space for you to nurture self-awareness, explore, resolve or reconcile with troubling or distressing feelings and experiences.

My therapeutic approach is underpinned by attachment theory, which provides insight into and understanding of a person’s relational development and world view. Humanistic approaches create the conditions in which healing, growth and change may occur, and Rogers’ core conditions of empathy, congruence and unconditional positive regard are at the heart of my work.

I work in a holistic way to honour mind and body connection. I am a qualified yoga teacher and, where appropriate, I integrate techniques, including breathwork and guided meditation, to help clients manage symptoms, such as heightened anxiety or panic attacks, and create a space where clients feel they can explore their body’s cues safely. These techniques can also help to provide people with the space and mind-body connection that helps catalyse deeper self-exploration and discovery in talking therapy.

I have particular expertise in working with people experiencing perinatal mental health issues, fertility issues, depression, anxiety and somatic distress. However, where I feel I can have positive impact, I am open to working with anyone who is experiencing difficulties.

I have a Masters in Integrative Counselling from Leeds Beckett University. I hold an Advanced Diploma in Humanistic Integrative Counselling from CPPD, one of the leading Humanistic Integrative counselling training schools in the UK. I have a Certificate in Integrative Humanistic Counselling from the Gestalt Centre, London's leading institute for counselling and psychotherapy based on Gestalt principles. I hold a level three diploma in yoga and in pre- and postnatal fitness. I have undertaken numerous CPD trainings, including a certificate in Ecotherapy, and in PTSD and Trauma.

I am a Senior Accredited Registrant of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society and an Accredited Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, and I abide by their ethics, standards and practices. I am a member of the Birth Trauma Association.

I am a qualified journalist and worked in journalism and communications prior to retraining. I now write, provide talks and workshops on mental health related subjects.

“The curious paradox is when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.”
Carl Rogers

Why Therapy?

Talking therapy is a deep and long-lasting way to work through life’s challenges. In fact, studies now show that effective therapy works better and is more enduring than medication. Counselling provides a safe space in which you can explore issues that are affecting you and nurture your self-awareness. For some of us, the experience of therapy may be the first time we feel listened to and fully understood. This in itself can lead to powerful self-growth.

The relationship that is formed with a counsellor may feel very different to other relationships. It is a confidential environment, held for you, in which there is no right or wrong and where no judgments are made.

You may decide to come to counselling for a number of reasons. Below is a list of issues that many of us experience and come to counselling for. Each of us is unique, however, and have our own subjective experiences of life, which affect and influence our wellbeing. Counselling may help you to heal and deal with:

Anxiety
Bereavement
Birth trauma
Compulsive disorders
Depression or low mood
Difficulty coping with health problems
Eating disorders
Feeling isolated
Fertility issues

Identity issues
Lack of motivation/direction
Life transitions
Prenatal depression
Postnatal depression
Relationship difficulties or breakdowns
Self-doubt and low self-confidence
Self-harm
Work-related stress

Counselling

Counselling sessions take place weekly and last for 50 minutes. I tend to work within an open-ended model of therapy, which enables clients to go at their own pace and reach a deeper level of healing and self-growth. I also offer a short-term counselling model of twelve sessions, which may be more suitable if you are facing or have recently experienced a specific life event or transition.

An initial assessment meeting will help us to determine together which type of therapy is in your best interests. This will give us the chance to establish whether we will be a good fit for each other and gives you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about our sessions or counselling in general.

Workshops and Talks

I currently provide workshops and/or talks on:

Counselling for new mothers
Introducing therapeutic writing for therapists and other practitioners
Yoga for anxiety
Yoga interventions for therapy
Yoga for depression
Yoga for birth trauma
RAIN process groups

Please feel free to contact me to discuss any workshop or talks in further detail.

Writing

I write about mental health issues and, most recently, have written for media, including the Metro, Etre Vous, Issues and Welldoing.org. Below you will find links to some of my articles.

I have recently completed a thesis on the topic of the impact of the pregnant therapist upon the client, which I am preparing for publication with my MA supervisor.

I have limited capacity currently. However, I always welcome and seriously consider any relevant commissions and will have additional capacity from October 2023. Please feel free to get in touch.

My recent articles:

What is Integrative Therapy?
When IVF Doesn't Work: Processing Feelings of Grief
Meet The Therapist: Miriam Christie
From PR To Mental Health
Do you have Tokophobia? We investigate the extreme fear of pregnancy and birth

Fees

£75 per 50 minute session.

I offer a limited number of concession spaces for students and people on low income. Please feel free to contact me for further information about this.

There is a 48 hour cancellation policy, after which all missed and cancelled sessions are chargeable in full. Fees are subject to review. In some circumstances, temporary or extended concessions are possible.

Contact Me

I practice in South Norwood, SE25, and online using Google Meet, Google Teams, WhatsApp and FaceTime.

Please feel free to email me on ms.miriam.christie@gmail.com or via the form below.

Counselling & Therapy