Student mental health and wellbeing service

CPsychol HCPC Reg 
Deputy Head of SAaW & Clinical Lead for Mental Health and Wellbeing

Shima is a chartered Counselling Psychologist and has enjoyed working in the area of student mental health since 2014. She has worked in the area of mental health within various settings over the years, with much of her initial experience being within NHS psychology services.

Shima has a strong interest in the mind-body (and spirit) connection and has over recent years been exploring the impact of yoga on mental health and well being, which is also becoming a prominent aspect of her clinical work alongside the evidence based psychological approaches that she is trained in. 

MBACP
Senior Psychotherapist 

I am a senior psychotherapist and part of the safeguarding team. I specialised in trauma. Being a student can be very challenging and sometimes overwhelming. I use Eye Movement Desensitisation (EMDR)  and Comprehensive Resource Model (CRM) to promote fast improvement.  

I came to the UK from France 30 years ago to study English. Around that time I had various jobs including bartender, waiter, and dispatch rider. I even had a go at becoming a stand up comedian. I did all my studies in London and I became a teacher before training as a therapist. I have been fortunate to work in a variety of environments with people from all walks of life. I am very passionate about my job and I enjoy working with young people.

Stella is experienced in working with a wide range of mental health presentations and her main therapeutic modalities are CBT and EMDR.

Stella has worked in a variety of mental health settings and also has a background in nursing. She is highly skilled in working with trauma and adopts a trauma informed approach to working with her students where necessary.

Stella is warm and  empathetic in her approach and brings a wealth of clinical experience to her role here at SOAS as one of our senior therapists.

MBACP
Psychotherapist 

I've trained as an Integrative therapist and have been with SOAS since 2018. Alongside this I work in a hospital setting with patients living with long term illnesses and also within the charity sector focusing on relationship therapy.

In counselling sessions we can explore events, patterns of behaviour and relationships that have troubled you. Most importantly I am here to be beside you when it gets confusing and lonely, as it can be for all of us at times.

When I am not in the counselling room, I am often walking the streets, on a bus or even a plane in search of food that tells stories and makes memories.

MBACP 
Psychotherapist

After nearly a couple of decades working in the corporate sector, I re-trained as an integrative counsellor and psychotherapist and qualified in 2018.

Before joining SOAS, I worked for London Metropolitan University as well as for a number of third-sector organisations including Mind.

As a former international student in London (admittedly that was a long time ago!) I am passionate about helping young people and students in all their diversity to fulfil their potential and enjoy their studies along the way.

MBACP
Integrative Counsellor 

Georgia Powell is an Integrative Counsellor and uses a variety of different therapeutic modalities such as psychodynamic, art therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to meet each person’s specific needs. Also a yoga teacher, she likes to integrate her learnings about the mind body connection to offer mindfulness and somatic practices where appropriate.

Practitioner Psychologist: Mental Health and Wellbeing team

CPsychol HCPC and BPS registered

Jonathan is a Chartered Counselling Psychologist with over 5 years of supervised clinical experience working in adult mental health within a range of clinical settings including the NHS, higher education and private practice. 

Jonathan has worked with a wide range of emotional, psychological and relationship difficulties including depression, anxiety, trauma and interpersonal difficulties. Jonathan is trained in therapeutic approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, (CBT) Psychodynamic, Person-Centered Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT). Jonathan believes in tailoring the therapy to meet the needs of each individual person.

Jonathan offers an empathic and non-judgmental space and is passionate about helping people build emotional resilience and raise self-awareness to allow them to reconnect to their values and sense of purpose.

International Student Counsellor 

Yasmin has been working as an intercultural psychotherapist since 2011 in various settings. As a former SOAS international student she has had personal insight into some of the challenges and concerns this may raise.

She gained a diploma in integrative counselling, an MSc in Attachment Studies and is a senior accredited member of the BACP.

Yasmin works in a client-focused way, considering individual as well as the wider context of students’ lived experiences and the impact this has in a holistic way.

Bsc Psychology (Birmingham), MA Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy (Roehampton) MBACP
Professional Mentor

A qualified integrative psychotherapist with 6 years of experience. Toni has worked in a variety of settings including the NHS Iapt service, Mind, supported housing and private practice.

She trained in psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy and person centred  therapy at the University of Roehampton as well as other additional post graduate training.

Toni says: "I genuinely care about student mental health. I want to support SOAS students with the tools and resources, to get through higher education and the many other curveballs that life may unexpectedly bring along the way."