INDIVIDUAL THERAPY — Therapy with Monica

What is individual therapy?

Individual therapy is a confidential space, just for you, to think, feel, and be heard without needing to perform, explain yourself, or have things figured out in advance. There's no fixed script — some weeks we might explore something specific and current, other weeks something older and harder to name. I work integratively, which means the process is shaped around you, not around a fixed programme.

You don't need a crisis to start, and you don't need to know exactly what's "wrong." Many people begin simply because something doesn't feel right, or because they'd like to understand themselves a little more honestly.

Who I work with:

I work with adults (18+) from all backgrounds and walks of life. My practice is inclusive of, and experienced in working with:

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People of all genders, sexual orientations, and relationship structures, including LGBTQI+ clients

People navigating cultural identity, migration, or intergenerational experience

People at any life stage — from early adulthood through to later life

People bringing faith, or an absence of faith, as part of who they are

Anyone who has felt unsure whether therapy is "for people like them" — it is

Therapy works best in a relationship where you feel genuinely met, not just tolerated. If any part of your identity or experience feels important for me to understand well, I'd rather know early — and I'll always be honest if something sits outside what I can offer, rather than guess.

What therapy can help with:

People bring all kinds of things to individual therapy — some clear and current, others longer-standing or harder to put into words. This isn't an exhaustive list, but common areas include:

Emotional wellbeing

Anxiety and stress — [e.g. persistent worry, overwhelm, panic, pressure that's become hard to carry alone]
Low mood and depression — [e.g. flatness, loss of motivation, difficulty finding meaning or enjoyment]
Self-esteem and self-worth — [e.g. self-criticism, perfectionism, feeling "not enough"]
Grief and loss — [e.g. bereavement, or non-death losses like identity, health, or a relationship ending]
Trauma and difficult past experiences — [e.g. how earlier experiences continue to shape the present]
Work and life pressure — [e.g. burnout, big decisions, feeling stuck]

Identity and life stage

Identity — [e.g. sexuality, gender, culture, or simply "who am I becoming"]
Sexuality and orientation — exploring, questioning, or coming to terms with a part of yourself
Life transitions — [e.g. breakups, becoming a parent, career change, retirement, relocation]
Cultural and intergenerational experience — [e.g. migration, belonging, family expectation, navigating more than one culture at once]

Sex, intimacy and desire

Desire concerns — low desire, loss of interest, or desire that's changed over time
Sexual difficulties — erectile difficulties, difficulty with arousal or orgasm, premature or delayed ejaculation
Painful sex — including vaginismus, vulvodynia, and pain without a clear medical cause
Sexual anxiety — performance anxiety, fear of intimacy, avoidance of sex
Body image and sexual confidence — shame, inhibition, or a difficult relationship with your own body
Impact of life changes — illness, medication, menopause, pregnancy, ageing, or disability
Sexual trauma — its ongoing impact on intimacy and closeness
Making sense of sexual interests — kink, fantasy, or anything you've never felt able to say out loud

Compulsive sexual behaviour and addiction

Porn use that feels out of control — escalation, secrecy, or difficulty stopping
Compulsive sexual behaviour — patterns that continue despite the cost to you or others
Infidelity and secret sexual behaviour — including the shame and isolation that follows
The impact on partners and relationships — betrayal, disclosure, and rebuilding trust
Managing urges and triggers — alongside understanding what sits underneath them

A note on language: this area is sometimes called "sex addiction" and described clinically as Compulsive Sexual Behaviour Disorder (CSBD).

"Your mental health is a priority. Your happiness is an essential. Your self-care is a necessity."

What to expect

We'll start with a short initial conversation, then an initial session to get a fuller picture of what's brought you here and how we might work together. From there, sessions continue at a pace and frequency that suits you, reviewed collaboratively as we go — never on a fixed timeline, and never with a predetermined idea of where you "should" end up.

Session length: 50 minutes Fee: £65.00 Format: In person at my central Leeds practice, and/or online

Before we start

I'm a qualified counsellor and registered member of BACP and student COSRT, working within the BACP and COSRT Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions. I hold professional indemnity insurance and work under regular clinical supervision throughout.

I work with these concerns as something to understand, not to shame. Many people arrive convinced they're the only one — they very rarely are.

If what's bringing you here isn't listed above, that doesn't mean it doesn't belong in this room. If you're unsure, get in touch and we can talk it through before you commit to anything.

Monica Chiorascu MBACP

Integrative Psychotherapist | Psychosexual & Relationship Therapy | Sex & Porn Addiction

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