EXPERT PSYCHOTHERAPY LONDON
Build resilience to life’s adversities
I am an experienced, determined and conscientious therapist. I will help you get back on track, using research-proven treatment, tailored to your individual needs.
Your mental health is your wealth
It has a profound impact on how you see yourself, others, and your future.
Hi and welcome. My name is Fjolla.
I began working for a leading PTSD Service in the heart of London in 2014 and I fell in love with therapy; its ability to give people their lives back, even after years (and sometimes decades) of mental barriers and pain, and feelings of fear and hopelessness.
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I am an experienced, determined and conscientious therapist. I will help you get back on track, using research-proven treatment, tailored to your individual needs. I uphold excellent standards set by the British Psychology Society (BPS), to ensure that you receive the highest level of treatment and the professionalism that you deserve.
I will work alongside you, offering a listening ear to assess your problem, build an understanding of its root causes and maintenance factors, and will provide you with suitable strategies.
When your therapy sessions come to an end following a course of treatment, together we will have equipped you with the skills and tools required for you to build resilience to life’s adversities, for you to live a more fulfilling life.
A little more about me
I am a culturally competent practitioner, sensitive to the role that ethnic origin, culture, religion, tradition and more, may have on my clients’ wellbeing.
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Born in Kosovo to Albanian-speaking parents, and raised in central London, I am a bilingual therapist, who can provide treatment in English and Albanian.
For the last 10 years I have had the privilege of working with diverse communities across several London boroughs such as Camden & Islington, Newham, Kensington & Chelsea and Wandsworth.
I will provide a confidential, non-judgmental and safe space, to facilitate conversations about your background and the values you may hold, with respect and compassion, for a deeper understanding of the situation.
Professional qualifications
Registered and accredited by the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP): babcp.com/CBTRegister/Search
BSc (Hons) in Psychology at Queen Mary University of London
PGCert in Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Interventions at UCL
PGDip in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) at Royal Holloway University of London
NHS-trained Narrative Exposure Therapist (NET)
Trainee Dynamic Interpersonal Therapist (DIT) at the Anna Freud Centre
Discover a treatment that's right for you
I am an integrative psychotherapist, trained in different modalities of therapy including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET).
I am also currently training with the Anna Freud Centre in Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT). This means I can work holistically, to provide a wide-range of evidence-based methods for a variety of anxiety disorders, depression and other common mental health difficulties. For an extensive list of presenting problems I treat, please see the Issues I Treat section below.
I am also a supervisor to other therapists working within the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK, and those who work privately.
As well as offering one-to-one tailored assessments and treatment sessions for my clients, I offer group therapy, workshops and outreach in community settings and for businesses.
What to expect
If this is your first time seeking therapy or you have felt unsure about whether the therapy you have had was the right approach for you, you are not alone in feeling confused or overwhelmed, especially given the number of different therapy options available out there.
I have provided some description of what to expect from your therapy sessions with me, a list of the types of issues I treat, as well as exclusion criteria and signposting to crisis teams, to help you navigate the world of therapy and help you find something that can support your therapeutic goals.
Following your assessment session(s), we will agree on the main problem that you want to work on in treatment by setting goals for therapy, to steer us in the right direction.
I may offer you a provisional diagnosis, depending on what your problem is, and whether you find this helpful.
Talking therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) typically aim to make the client their own therapist over a set period. Therefore, you will be provided with neuroscience-informed explanations of the brain and body, to consider the biochemical and evolutionary mechanisms at play in anxiety and mood disorders. This ‘psychoeducation’ is often a validating experience, and helps people approach their problems with more acceptance and understanding.
When we are struggling with our mental health, we naturally tune into unhelpful thinking patterns, which negatively impact how we feel and behave. Over time we enter a vicious cycle. I will provide you with a safe environment, for you to unpick this cycle, to restructure some of these thoughts and respond better to the triggers. Over time, you will begin to habituate to the things you fear, and your comfort zone will start to grow.
In line with empowering my clients with knowledge and tried-and-tested tools, I will offer reading and other materials for you to take away with you, to consolidate the learning and refer to later.
As a trauma-informed practitioner, I can offer trauma-focused CBT (tfCBT) and Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET), to help you to process the traumatic events, that have had a debilitating impact on you to this day.
I understand that processing trauma can feel daunting for some, and I will support you to keep one foot in the present moment through grounding, for you to feel as safe as possible, whilst we explore the past.
The evidence base for tfCBT and NET shows that people report a reduction in their PTSD symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, hypervigilance and strong emotions such as anger, horror, guilt, fear and shame. This means people can reclaim their lives following trauma treatment.
Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT) is a psychodynamic psychotherapy. One of the main ideas in psychodynamic therapy is that, when something is very painful, we may try to ignore it. Most of the time we know when we are doing this, but sometimes we can bury something so successfully that we lose sight of it completely. This is why difficult experiences in the past can continue to affect the way we feel and behave in the present.
An example:
Someone who was repeatedly rejected by their parents may stop themselves thinking about how painful this is. As an adult they might withdraw from relationships, feeling that it is safer to be alone and not having to depend on anyone. Although not getting close to anyone helps them to feel safer, they might also feel lonely and get depressed as a result. By helping them to talk freely about themselves it might become clear that whenever someone tries to get to know them, they fear the worst and push them away, just to make sure that no-one ever gets close enough to hurt or disappoint them again.
I can help you with noticing how you are behaving or responding to others, drawing attention to patterns in your relationships, to understand yourself better and change the way you respond.
I am currently training in DIT therapy at the Anna Freud Centre therefore, whilst I cannot offer purely DIT treatment at this time, this therapy will inform my practice for a more holistic approach to treatment.
Issues I Treat
Below is a list of typical issues that I treat:
- Agoraphobia
- Anger issues
- Attachment issues or relationship difficulties
- Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)
- Bulimia nervosa
- Communication issues such as passive-aggressive communication
- Depression/low mood
- Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Grief and bereavement
- Habit disorders (e.g. Skin picking)
- Health anxiety
- Imposter syndrome
- Low self-esteem
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Perfectionism
- Procrastination and low motivation
- Panic disorder
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Social anxiety disorder
- Sleep-related issues
- Stress
Exclusion Criteria
If you are struggling with the following issues, you may benefit from liaising with your GP to request signposting to appropriate services. Alternatively, you can use a trusted site such as the NHS (www.nhs.uk/mental-health/), to directly reach out to the most appropriate service:
- Severe eating disorder as the primary problem
- Personality disorders
- Alcohol and drug addiction
- Poor impulse control and high level of risk to self
- Psychotic illness
Crisis Numbers
If you are in URGENT need of support and are experiencing a mental health CRISIS, please contact 999, or visit your local A&E department.
You can also liaise with your GP or ask for the GP that is on duty to discuss crisis management.
I also recommend that you contact the Samaritans on 116 123.
How I work
Sessions are mainly remote. On the rare occasion we may meet in person if, for instance, we have pre-arranged an in-person behavioural experiment. Sessions can last 30 minutes, 50 minutes or 90 minutes, depending on your treatment plan.
Sessions are booked in advance, and a break-down of your sessions will be provided for your information. The number of sessions provided will be discussed in advance of the start of your treatment, and we will regularly review this, depending on how you are getting on with treatment.
I will also provide you with information on the cancellations policy, should you need to cancel or reschedule your sessions. An invoice of the cost of your session will be sent to you for a comprehensive understanding of fees.
I am happy to discuss any of the above with you at any time in treatment and will work with transparency and integrity.
Patient testimonials
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I have been suffering from episodes of severe insomnia and generalised anxiety for as far as I can remember. At times these become so debilitating that my work, social life and family relationships are very severely affected. I have tried many therapies and private therapists in the past, and I can honestly say that the twelve sessions of CBT with Fjolla have been life changing.
They offered the perfect mixture of practical therapy tools; knowledge into how the human mind works; and a compassionate listening ear, capable of directing anxious thoughts towards the most appropriate therapy tools.
During the course of my sessions, I have started to drive the car again, I have arranged to go out with friends, I have weaned myself off medications and I have gradually taken the necessary steps to work again. When I now encounter the unavoidable anxiety-inducing situations, I have a range of tools which I can use to steer myself back onto the right track again.
I feel empowered and I am so fortunate to have encountered this Service. I will be forever grateful to Fjolla who with her knowledge, professionalism, kindness and compassion helped me to get my life back.
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In the past 25 years I have seen many therapists - both from the independent and the NHS sector and I have explored a range of techniques to help me with anxiety and insomnia. I can honestly say that these 12 sessions with Fjolla had an immense positive impact on my life. I feel empowered and better equipped to face life's adversities. Fjolla is extremely professional, well-prepared, listening and caring. I couldn't have hoped for anyone better than her. I am very grateful!
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My therapist (Fjolla) made me feel heard and provided a holistic understanding of my problem (anxiety and low mood), which showed me that she went the extra mile. I was provided with my coherent tools, which were complimentary to my problem.
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I had a couple of counsellors through the years. But Fjolla was the best one I had. She listened and gave me the best tips to overcome my problems. When I was so upset and emotional, she gave me the best support I've had…
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I honestly don't know where to start - I am incredibly thankful for this service and for being introduced to my therapist Fjolla - I could not recommend or thank her enough. Having suffered with OCD for over 25 years, making the choice to pick up the phone and seek help was the best thing I could ever have done. Years of doubting, questioning and excessively worrying about confronting my OCD meant that it felt like a constant burden/secret, massively affecting my quality of life, relationships and self-belief.
In the most kind, knowledgeable, professional and approachable manner, Fjolla has guided me through my journey - helping me with techniques to take control of my OCD and fundamentally changing my belief towards anxiety and ritualistic behaviours. I have learnt so much from this experience and I truly believe that I have made progress that will improve my quality of life moving forward. I feel empowered to continue with my journey and will endeavour to be mindful of the CBT process / formulation moving forward.
Thank you, Fjolla, for everything - you have no idea how much you have helped me!
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I have had a fantastic experience with Fjolla as my therapist over the recent weeks. I have been partaking in CBT for years now and have not had such a practical, useful and helpful experience with a therapist before.
I felt that the therapy sessions were always a continuation and building on past sessions (a real skill in itself with busy therapists!) and I had an opportunity to explore some real deep wired thoughts and worries in detail, that I could start to practically address and tackle. I have gone away with an actual toolbox of approaches to tackle some really difficult worries / thoughts that occupy a lot of headspace.
It's been a very challenging few months with a lot of life changes and these therapy sessions with Fjolla have made a difference. I can actually say that I am relieved to have a practical toolbox of approaches to practice over the next few months, thank you!
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I found this service incredibly helpful, and I felt supported and cared for.
I have struggled with an ED for many years, and I understand why and how I 'got here', but my experience with Fjolla was receiving practical, visual tools to help me move away from here.
I respond to visual representations, so the diagrams and charts and tables were very useful. And Fjolla was amazing. Her soft-spoken, nurturing nature made you feel heard, calm and supported at all times. Her knowledge, expertise and guidance were always applicable and guiding and she is wonderful.
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Fjolla has been very supportive and incredible. I feel a lot more comfortable and hopeful about not only dealing with my anxiety and OCD but other issues that may come my way. I struggle with ADHD symptoms and the support and guidance she's given me for OCD has been useful with tacking with my ADHD as well. She taught me to sit with the feeling of discomfort and soon it will go away. This is something that really stuck with me and I use this a lot when dealing with overwhelming situations.
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I was very anxious coming to my therapy sessions as I'd had a really rough time getting any help …but my sessions with Fjolla really saved me. I didn't think I'd be able to be as honest with someone and go through such a difficult course of therapy fully but I trusted Fjolla 100% and was able to make some massive steps forward. I'm a bit anxious how I will go without having our sessions, but I can't speak more highly of Fjolla as a therapist and am leaving with a lot of useful strategies which will I hopefully be able to put in place. Thank you Fjolla.
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I found that Fjolla was non-judgemental from the beginning. And while I don't know if she could relate or understand everything I meant (maybe she did), but either way she helped to validate my experience. I was really at a bad place in my life and had given up all hope. When I think of how my symptoms have changed between when I started and now I am truly shocked. Just one example are my PTSD symptoms eg the visual intrusive thoughts which reduced dramatically. Now I can see how much they would impact my day and how difficult it was at the time.
I have found the methods really helpful and because I felt safe there I really gave medication a re-think and decided to start it. I would say therapy really made an impact because I had a lot of trust issues at the time and I have had many experiences where I have quit therapy because I really didn't feel safe or supported by the therapist.
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Fjolla was attentive and empathetic throughout our sessions. The various tools we discussed and implemented have helped me to reframe my perspective and approach to challenging situations, as well as address unhelpful thoughts and behaviours. I will continue to explore these in my day-to-day life and hopefully build upon the confidence and personal growth gained from these sessions. I want to thank Fjolla for her kindness, support and guidance.
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...Fjolla, a truly great therapist is hard to find, difficult to part with and impossible to forget. I want to say thank you so much for your support and help. You have really helped and enabled me to look at things differently and given me the tools to use myself when I need them.
Thank you for not judging me and listening to me. You really are helping people change their lives and I really do appreciate it.
I was in a bad way when I came into therapy and knowing every week I had a session helped me stay determined and I always left feeling a little lighter.
I wish you the very best in life, thank you for helping me change mine.
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Dear Fjolla, Thank you so much. You have helped me and supported me through very dark moments and guided me towards the lighter. Thank you. I will always remember compassion, compassion, no matter what for the rest of my life. You’ve successfully drummed it into my subconscious, it’s starting to really take effect…
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My experience was that I felt safe in talking to the group... There was never no pressure to talk or made to feel you had to. We all spoke when we felt ready and always given helpful and kind feedback…Being able to see to people just like myself was reassuring and felt like I belonged to something rather than being so isolated with these thoughts. … It may feel daunting at first but …seeing people’s faces when talking really helps as it help me to bond more with the group and open up more.
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Thank you both for being so kind and understanding… The group sessions were great. I didn’t feel alone on Tuesdays. Even though I can feel very alone at times. It was lovely meeting you both and also the group members too. I’m sure they will miss you guys as much as I will.
Taking to a group really does help as you feel more connected and part of something.
Talking to you both felt like I had someone who was hearing me rather than waiting for their turn to talk or offer advice that have no understanding of. It was a safe space and nice group of people that are going through the same thing, so no judgment was passed.
I only hoped it wasn’t the end.
Thank you from me and all the group. You are both such cool and lovely people. Amazing experience that I hope one day I can do again with you as I feel that it’s so important to have someone to talk to.
Have a great day.
