Passionate to help maintain a Healthier Mind

My name is Avraam and in 1998 I embarked on studying for a BA in Psychology and since then I have dedicated my life to psychology, counselling and psychotherapy, having completed two MA degrees amongst other qualifications.  I have been working clinically with clients since 2010, both individuals and couples, and I increasingly see the value of being able to speak to someone without the fear of being judged. It enables clients to explore the issues they are facing in an environment where they feel safe, understood and supported. 

From my own therapy I know too well how it feels to express to a complete stranger your innermost and often deeply buried feelings, thoughts and emotions. I will do my best to make you feel comfortable by offering an environment where you can safely speak about the issues that are worrying you and which are making you feel unwell. 

Issues such as depression, stress and anxiety can affect each one of us in different ways and the impact is often felt by others both at home and at work. 

Previously, I have combined my private practice with part time roles with Cambridge University and I lectured in counselling at Anglia Ruskin University in association with Renew Counselling. I have also worked as a private practitioner in Canary Wharf London and Harley Street. 

Currently I am working full time as a Private Practitioner in Nicosia, Cyprus. In addition I am a qualified Supervisor and an Online and Telephone Counselling Certified Counsellor and a Professional Member of ACTO. I am an Accredited Couples Counsellor.

PRACTICALITIES

Accepting that we need help is the first step in getting better

SAFE DISTANCING and COVID-19

I have taken steps to ensure that safe distancing is in place when working face-to-face.

• In the counselling room we will be sitting at a safe distance from each other.

• The counselling room has a number of windows which will be opened during the session (if the weather allows us to do so). If not, I will open the windows after each client. I will leave a minimum of 30 minutes gap between each client in order to ventilate the room.

• In order to avoid the exchange of money you can pay with a credit card or bank transfer. If you need to pay by cash I would ask that you leave the money on the table.

• All surfaces will be cleaned after each client.

• If either of us have symptoms of Covid-19 we will stop face-to-face work and we will explore the idea of working remotely.

• If either of us have had contact with someone who has, or may have the virus, we will stop face-to-face work and we will explore the idea of working remotely.

Further information on COVID updates on the following sites:

BACP

UK Government

NHS UK

Useful links

If you are in crisis contact the: Samaritans at 116 123

or call your GP

FOR EMERGENCIES

If a life-threatening crisis should occur, you should call 999 or go to a hospital emergency department.

Some other helpful sites

Prevention of young suicide in the UK

Mental Health and Support Service: Sane

                                                                                                MIND helpline

Bullying

Beating Eating Disorder

Adults feeling suicidal

Charlie Waller Trust-for Young People

Help with Suicidal Ideation

If you need to speak with me between sessions please either call, text 07786 852553 or send an email at info@healthiermind.com. Your call will be returned as soon as possible. Messages are checked daily (but never during the night time). Messages are checked less frequently on weekends and holidays.

LOCATION

Nicosia, Cyprus

email: info@healthiermind.com

Telephone: +357 99354665

Fees

Please contact me to discuss my fees.

Individual Psychotherapy (50 minutes) 

Couples counselling (1 hour)

Methods of Payment

You can pay by cash, credit card, online banking transfer, paypal, ApplePay or by cheque.

The main differences between the two approaches:

Counselling is an approach that has a focus on the immediate or pressing problem and is usually short term. This is normally for a period of 6 to 12 weeks but in some cases it can be longer.

Psychotherapy usually involves periods longer than 12 weeks, sometimes years.  It often leads to a deeper, more established relationship between client and therapist in which more profound and deep-seated issues can be explored.

Both Counselling and Psychotherapy require their therapist to have undertaken in-depth training and professional development.  The therapist should be a member of professional organisations such as UKCP or BACP and must have Clinical Supervision for their work.  It is a recommendation that a practicing therapist should continue professional development in order to keep up-to-date with their learning.

What is really important in both Counselling and Psychotherapy is, confidentiality. This allows the therapeutic relationship to develop and for the client to reach a place where deep seated issues (often from childhood) can be explored in a safe environment, 

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is invaluable in a therapeutic relationship as a fundamental part of building trust and I follow the guidelines of the BACP ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy. However, confidentiality is not absolute, and there are exceptions.  

The reasons for breaking confidentiality would be if the therapist considered that you were putting your life at serious risk, if another person’s life was at risk, or if the therapist was liable to civil or criminal court proceedings if information was not disclosed. If at all possible this would be discussed with you beforehand.

Confidentiality contributes greatly to the client’s sense of safety and is one of the things that makes the therapeutic relationship different from any other. Counselling and psychotherapy encourages clients to be as open and honest about themselves as possible, and inevitably, this involves clients discussing personal experiences and sensitive information with their therapist. Therefore, it is of great importance that the client can trust that what they are disclosing about themselves will remain confidential.

Healthier Mind keeps all records securely and will ensure the utmost confidentiality in the treatment of any information held about its clients, in line with the Code of Ethics of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and the Data Protection Act 1998.

Contracts and boundaries

I will agree a Framework with my clients and you will sign a contract covering the limits of confidentiality

Consultation

I consult regularly with my clinical supervisor and occasionally with other professionals regarding my work with clients; however, the client’s full name or other identifying information is not disclosed. The client’s identity remains anonymous and confidentiality is maintained.

SUPERVISION

KEEPING THINGS IN CHECK

"what is the problem and who's problem is it?"

I am a Qualified Supervisor and offer Clinical Supervision to Individuals and groups. In it's 2018 Ethical Framework BACP recommends the following: "Good supervision is much more than case management. It includes working in depth on the relationship between practitioner and client in order to work towards desired outcomes and positive effects. This requires adequate levels of privacy, safety and containment for the supervisee to undertake this work. Therefore a substantial part or preferably all of supervision needs to be independent of line management.". 

I offer the following kinds of supervision.

CORPORATE WELLNESS

MY QUALIFICATIONS

MA Counselling

MA Professional Development

BA Psychology

Postgraduate Certificate Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy

Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching (Higher Education)

Postgraduate Certificate in Health Psychology

Qualified Mediator, Alternative Dispute Resolution

Qualified Assessor for ADOS-2 diagnostic tool for Autism

Certificate in Supervision

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy Senior Accredited

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