Hello! I am Monica

Integrative counsellor | Psychosexual and Relationship Trainee Therapist

I'm a qualified integrative counsellor, and psychosexual and relationship trainee therapist.

Much of my working life has involved working closely with people in hospitality and retail, meeting people from very different backgrounds, cultures and circumstances. These experiences have taught me to listen carefully, remain curious and, importantly, not to make assumptions about someone’s story.

I have a particular interest in the ways that relationships, sexuality, culture, identity and life experiences intersect. As someone who has experienced immigration and cultural adaptation myself, I understand that moving between cultures can influence our sense of belonging, identity, relationships and expectations of ourselves and others. I recognise, however, that everyone’s experience is different.

I also have experience working therapeutically with bereavement and understand how loss can affect not only how we feel, but our relationships, identity and sense of what life looks like afterwards.

Alongside my counselling qualification, I am undertaking specialist training in psychosexual and relationship therapy. I am particularly interested in creating space for conversations about sex, sexuality, intimacy and relationships without judgement or assumptions about what someone’s experience should look like.

I see my role as supporting you to make sense of what is happening in your life, find greater clarity and, where possible, some relief from carrying things on your own. You do not need to arrive with all the answers. Sometimes simply having the opportunity to explore what is happening with someone who will listen carefully can be the beginning of something changing.

For me, therapy is not about telling you who you should be. It is about helping you hear yourself more clearly.

  • I’m an integrative counsellor, which means I draw on more than one therapeutic model to meet you as an individual—rather than asking you to fit a one-size approach. The way I work is relational, trauma-informed, and practical: we make sense of what’s happening, explore the patterns underneath it, and develop changes that feel realistic in day-to-day life.

    A relational lens (because most of life happens with other humans)

    Many of our struggles don’t appear out of nowhere. They’re often shaped by attachment, family dynamics, culture, and the roles we learn to play to feel safe, loved, or accepted. Together, we’ll look at how your history and relationships have influenced the present—without blame, and without reducing you to a label.

    You can expect a style that’s approachable and engaged, while staying professional and ethically grounded. We’ll work collaboratively: you set the pace and priorities; I bring structure, psychological understanding, and carefully chosen interventions. I’ll explain what I’m noticing and why it may matter.

    I take a whole-person view: mind, body, relationships, identity, and everyday pressures all influence how you feel and cope. Where helpful, we’ll include practical tools alongside deeper exploration. And yes—humour is welcome. Not to minimise what’s painful, but because it can create breathing space and help you feel more like yourself in the room.

  • NAOS Advanced Diploma in Psychosexual and Relationship Psychotherapy - Ongoing

    MA Integrative Counselling - Leeds Beckett University

    Certificate in Counselling Skills - York College

    BSc Psychology with Counselling - The Open University

Ethics and practice

I'm a registered member of BACP and work within their Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions. My work in psychosexual and relationship therapy is additionally guided by COSRT's ethical standards. I hold professional indemnity insurance, work under regular clinical supervision, and treat confidentiality as central to everything I do — we can discuss more about how that works when we first meet.

If you have any questions about my training, approach, or whether I'm the right fit for what you're bringing, I'm always happy to talk it through before you commit to anything.

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