Kim Gooding

I currently have evening and day time availability

 I offer a safe, non-judgemental and confidential space for you to talk about the things that are troubling you. I believe that the therapeutic space and relationship can enable transformation in relationships and life. It will help you to: understand yourself; express feelings; process unresolved issues and experiences; identify patterns of behaviour or relating, so that you are able to live in a more satisfying way.

I try to see each person in the context of family (historical and current), culture, faith and society, respecting and valuing each individual’s experience.

I have particular interests in: the links between body and emotion, especially in the context of trauma; the experience of those who feel marginalised; people’s spiritual journeys and the care of clergy and their families. However, I work with a wide range of issues which are listed below, but include: relationship issues, anxiety, depression, issues related to childhood experiences such as abuse etc.

I have 30 years’ experience, working with a wide range of individuals from many different backgrounds. I have worked in NHS primary care, charities and privately. My training includes a Diploma in Pastoral counselling and a MA in counselling and psychotherapy. I am committed to ongoing learning and supervision.

I offer early morning (pre work), evening and day time appointments. I have a sliding scale of charges which is dependent on income and is reflective of my desire to make counselling accessible and affordable. A session is normally 50 minutes long and on a weekly basis.

I see clients in person in East London and on zoom, working both on a short and a long-term basis.

The first session can be in person or one zoom. It tends to last a bit longer than the usual 50 min weekly session; its purpose is to enable both of us to begin to get to know each other and assess whether we can work together.

I will ask you to tell me about yourself and what’s brought you to counselling. Depending on your reason for coming, I may ask questions about your: history; family relationships; physical and mental health; cultural, faith and situational background, so that I can get a picture of you in the context of your daily life in order to understand what your therapeutic needs are and assess whether I think sessions with me would be helpful to you.

If we agree to work together, I will take you through my contract, which outlines my expectations and addresses practical arrangements between us. I will send you this prior to the first session, so that you have had a chance to read it and will then answer any questions that you have. I will also send you my sliding scale and we can discuss what you can afford to pay, this discussion is based on trust, I will not ask for any proof of income.

I will also answer any questions that you may have about my training or the therapeutic process.