Varsha Vashisthaw - Person Centred + Existentialist & BAME Psychotherapist. Multilingual (English + Spanish & Hindi) Therapist
Bio
What do I love the most of this career as a private Therapist:
The relationship that you develop with another human being which is honest, respectful and maybe the best one that you and I have ever experienced.
What inspired me to start working for myself, was the fact that I realised that agencies that offer the jobs in counselling are not following the same ethos that I believe. For example, 1) I feel that there is too much pressure in meeting targets for some companies, instead of then thinking about the needs and well-being of the clients.
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The number of sessions (which is normally six to eight) are not tailored for every person, some need six sessions, while others need more.
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Another factor that gets forgotten is that agencies provide the next available counsellor, without letting the client have a choice to find out what therapist he/she feels comfortable to share with.
As I believe that we all are different and to get the benefit of the healing process, both parties need to feel comfortable.
What makes me different
I can speak four languages: Spanish, English, Hindi, Sindhi. Because of my cultural background (being raised with Indian values) in a western world, in this case, Spain. when I was old enough, I followed the tradition of getting married in an arranging method. I came to live in the UK with my husband (now very happily, divorced!) And I have been in the UK for the past 24 years.
I have the first-hand experience of breaking those rules that did not favor me as a person but by being a "Rebel", it allowed me to start living on my own terms.
I would like to say that I am down to earth and I know how difficult life can be sometimes. Having my own life experience,(not just the theory) has made me learn.
I had been a client myself in a therapy room and I found it really hard to overcome my own demons and clear the skeletons from the wardrobe. Trust me, it was really scary and I needed to be brave. So when you and I decide to work together I will be able to empathize with you, as a client not as someone above you, because I am human like you
Experience
I started to work as self-employed therapist since 2016 & I have more than 2000+ hours of client work.
I specialise in Domestic Abuse (for adults only) and I work as a Black Asian Minority Ethnic Therapist. What I noticed was that when I was studying or accessing therapy, my therapist was not able to speak in other languages and as someone that was born in one country, lived in another country and moved to another one, because of my marital status, my Identity was more complex to express myself as an Indian woman, with a Spanish education and English was another culture. I felt like I had to "educate" and explain the other factors of me, instead of focusing in the issue that needed exploring in the session. This is why I really focussed on a inclusive therapy for a "changing world" that travels more, not just for luxury, but for economic, educational or professional reasons.
Qualifications
-CPCAB Diploma Level 4 in Person Centred and Existentialism Approach (European Qualification Level 5) -MBACP member since 2017 CPD: -Working with Clients from Outside your class/ upbringing -What therapists need to know about Male Therapy Clients -The emotional legacy of childhood abuse and the enduring impacts for survivors of abuse -Forced Marriage and FGM -Trafficking, Exploitation and Modern Slavery -Child Counselling Diploma -Trauma, the Brain and Recovery -CBT Level 3