Shula Tajima

I have flexibility from Monday to Thursday and can be available in the evening if that is more convenient for you.  I will be taking time off over the Christmas period, for up to two weeks.  I try to make appointments that fit round both our schedules.  Usually staying with the same day and time, but if it is easier to move around the week that is fine.

I began my training as a person centred counsellor over 30 years ago.  In that time I have worked within the voluntary sector, schools and also within the probation service.  My last role was as the director of a community based service.  This has meant that I have a diverse range of experience and I hope am able to sit with whatever a person wishes to bring.  Within my person centred ethos I want to offer you a relationship, in which you can be authentically yourself and that together we can explore whatever has brought you to enter a therapeutic relationship.  I recognise that trusting a stranger can be really hard, especially when I am asking you to be the real you, so I hope to create a space where you can feel safe.  I work predominantly remotely as I am discovering that people appreciate the convenience of this.  However, we can work face to face if you prefer.  I can also offer walk and talk therapy and together we can explore a suitable area for this.

I am not a great believer in specialisms, for me the specialist is you - you know your life - you know what life has thrown at you.  I am interested to hear what you need and want to say.  However, over the years I have developed an awareness of the complexities of the challenges that people face.  Back in the 1990s when I wrote my dissertation I researched and wrote up on working with Sexual Abuse and this continues to be an area that I feel connected to,  I am deeply aware of the impact of this and other trauma and believe that the person centred approach can be extremely respectful for people who have suffered trauma.  I have also worked with people who feel suicidal, who self-harm, loneliness or have been diagnosed with mental health conditions.  I am also interested in women's issues around menopause or fertility.  For me being person centred is a way of meeting you, wherever you are and hearing your story.

I usually offer an initial session of 30 minutes, which is free.  In this session we can go through our contract together, you can get a sense of me and you can decide if you think we can work together.  If you decide you want to continue working with me at that point we will put more dates in the diary for my usual 50 minute sessions.

I am available Monday to Thursday and am available for evenings as well as day time.

I trained in the person centred approach over 30 years ago.  I definitely bring this approach into my supervision work.  For me supervision is two professionals working together in the hope of one getting support, insight and gaining clarity.  For over 20 years I lead a counselling service, holding clinical responsibility and safeguarding.  I believe this means I have a wealth of experience in a diverse range of client issues.

I think it is really important that when you come for supervision, you first and foremost feel safe to bring everything - including and especially - yourself.  Supervision I believe is a place where you can explore what was going on for you in the session, as much as what the client brought.  I do recognise though that there is an expectation that I will have experiences that I can tap into to support and encourage your practice.  I believe I can do this with over 30 years experience with clients.

I prefer to have an introductory session of 30 minutes, this first session is free.  After that if you believe we can have a good working relationship I offer sessions of 60/90 or 120 minutes.