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Counselling Psychology in Holborn, Central London
Collaborative psychological therapy in Holborn for depression, anxiety, relationships, loss and life changes, available in English and Spanish.
Counselling psychology brings psychological theory and research into a collaborative talking therapy. It pays close attention both to the difficulty that brings you and to your individual experience, relationships, background and strengths. At our Holborn clinic, Olga Gallardo offers counselling psychology in English and Spanish, including support for depression and other emotional difficulties.
What is counselling psychology?
Counselling psychology is a form of psychological therapy that combines established therapeutic approaches with psychological assessment, research and an understanding of mental health. Rather than applying one fixed method, a counselling psychologist works collaboratively with you to understand the difficulty in the context of your life and agree a suitable way forward. Sessions at our Holborn clinic are private, one to one conversations and are available in English or Spanish. The work may be short term and focused, or longer term where difficulties are more complex or longstanding.
What Counselling Psychology Helps With
Depression and low mood
A regular space to understand what may be maintaining low mood, notice recurring patterns and work towards manageable changes alongside any support from your GP.
Anxiety and persistent worry
Therapy can explore the situations, thoughts and experiences that keep anxiety going, while helping you develop ways to respond differently.
Relationships and recurring patterns
Looking carefully at current and earlier relationships can make repeated conflicts, withdrawal or difficulty trusting others easier to understand.
Loss and life transitions
Bereavement, separation, migration, becoming a parent, retirement and career change can all unsettle how you see yourself and your future.
Self-esteem and identity
Counselling psychology can help when harsh self-judgement, uncertainty about identity or a sense of not belonging affects everyday life.
Therapy in Spanish
Olga offers sessions to Spanish-speaking clients who would rather discuss personal experiences in the language that feels most natural to them.
How a Session Works
1
Initial consultation50 min
Talk about what has brought you, your current circumstances and relevant history, and consider what you would like therapy to help with.
2
Shared understandingAcross the first sessions
You and your psychologist develop an understanding of the difficulty, what may be maintaining it and which therapeutic approach may suit you.
3
Regular therapyUsually 50 min
Meet at an agreed frequency to explore patterns, try different ways of responding and make sense of changes between appointments.
4
ReviewAt agreed points
Return to the aims you set, discuss what has changed and decide together whether to continue, adjust the focus or plan an ending.
Your Practitioner
Olga Gallardo
Qualified counselling psychologist offering one-to-one sessions in English and Spanish. Olga works with depression and emotional difficulties from the London Natural Health Centre in Holborn.
View full profileWhat Happens in the Room
A first appointment is a conversation rather than a test. Olga will ask what is happening now, how long it has been difficult and what you hope might change. You can also ask about the way she works and decide whether speaking together feels comfortable enough to continue.
Later sessions may explore thoughts, feelings, relationships and earlier experiences, but the work is not limited to the past. Attention also goes to what is happening in daily life now and to practical changes that support the direction you want to take. You do not need a diagnosis or a polished explanation before you begin.
A Collaborative Psychological Approach
The British Psychological Society describes counselling psychologists as working with a tailored psychological formulation. In plain language, that means building a shared explanation of how your difficulty developed, what may be keeping it going and what resources you already have. The explanation is open to discussion rather than delivered as a label.
Counselling psychologists draw on psychological and psychotherapeutic theory instead of assuming that one method fits everyone. The relationship between client and psychologist is part of the work, particularly when the same patterns appear in relationships elsewhere.
Counselling Psychology in English or Spanish
Personal experiences do not always translate neatly. Some people can discuss work comfortably in English but find that family relationships, childhood memories or emotion are easier to express in Spanish. Being able to stay in one language can reduce the effort of translating while speaking about something difficult.
Others prefer to use both languages and move between them. You can discuss your preference with Olga at the first appointment. Language is part of making therapy accessible, but the same questions of personal fit, trust and therapeutic approach still matter.
What the Evidence and UK Standards Say
Counselling psychologists use psychological and psychotherapeutic theory and research, and may work with a wide range of emotional and mental health difficulties. Research across talking therapies consistently shows that the quality of the working relationship and an approach suited to the individual both matter to the outcome.
Counselling psychologist is a protected professional title in the United Kingdom. The Health and Care Professions Council regulates practitioner psychologists, and recognised UK training normally includes doctoral-level study and substantial supervised practice. When choosing a psychologist anywhere, you can ask which professional register they belong to and check that register directly.
Safety, Confidentiality and When to Seek Other Help
Sessions are confidential, with limited exceptions where there is a serious risk to you or someone else, or where disclosure is required by law. These boundaries should be explained at the beginning so you know how information is handled.
Private weekly therapy is not an emergency or crisis service. If you may act on thoughts of harming yourself or someone else, contact emergency services, NHS 111, your GP or a local crisis service rather than waiting for an appointment. A GP or specialist assessment should also come first for severe or rapidly worsening symptoms, and therapy can then work alongside that care where appropriate.
Counselling Psychology, Counselling or Psychotherapy?
- Choose counselling psychology if you want therapy informed by psychological assessment, theory and research, with the approach tailored to your particular circumstances.
- Choose counselling if you want to talk through a current difficulty, often over a defined number of sessions, with a qualified counsellor.
- Choose psychotherapy if you want longer term, in-depth work on patterns that may reach back into earlier relationships and experiences.
- The boundaries overlap considerably. The relationship with the practitioner and their experience with your concern are often more useful deciding factors than the label alone.
What People Come With
- Depression and persistent low mood
- Anxiety, worry and feeling overwhelmed
- Relationship and family difficulties
- Bereavement, separation and loss
- Low self-esteem and self-criticism
- Stress at work and burnout
- Identity, belonging and cultural adjustment
- Major life changes and difficult decisions
Explore Related Therapies
Counselling Psychology FAQs
What Our Clients Say
"Great location in the heart of the city! I would say it's a quiet oasis in a very busy area, a place to relax after a hard day at work."
Robert D.
Enquire About Counselling Psychology in Holborn
Sessions are held at 46 Theobalds Road, a few minutes from Holborn station. Get in touch to arrange a time.
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