SINITHA RATNASELVAM
Bsc (Hons) Dip. Counselling (MBACP)
Welcome
My name is Sinitha and I am a fully qualified therapeutic counsellor. I have a BACP-Approved Diploma in Integrative Relational Therapeutic Counselling. As an Integrative therapeutic counsellor, I use a range of theoretical approaches to help you reach your goals of therapy. Whether it is feeling unsure of the future, family-related stress or wanting help with anxiety, help is at hand and we will go at your pace.
I am also an Optometrist working for the NHS and have been qualified for eleven years. This career has honed and refined my communication, empathy, and caring skills through continuous interactions with diverse individuals. Every patient encounter has been an opportunity to cultivate care tailored to each person’s unique needs. The daily practice of empathetic care has ingrained within me a genuine sense of compassion, ensuring that each individual feels heard, valued, and supported.
‘The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction not a destination’
– Carl Rogers (Founder of person-centred psychotherapy)
About Me
My personal journey through counselling became a transformative and deeply impactful experience, shaping the trajectory of my life and why I am here right now. The way I saw myself, others and the world changed and these invaluable insights instilled within me an unwavering belief in the power of counselling to heal, empower, and guide individuals through challenging moments. I believe that through this therapeutic relationship and honest conversation, you too will be able to discover your inner strength, resilience, and potential for growth.
As a second-generation Tamil immigrant born in East London, I have first hand experience with navigating the complexities of identity and a sense of belonging in two cultures. This background equips me with insight into the emotional journey of grappling with questions of identity, cultural integration, and finding a sense of belonging and self acceptance.
The Tamil word நானும் pronounced Nāṉum means ‘I too’. I aimed to blend my cultural heritage with my mission as a counsellor, and this phrase perfectly captures that fusion.
In our daily routines of school, work, family, projects and tasks, how much time do we allow to solely check in on ourselves? Therapy empowers you with the time and space to do that ,reminding you that you too do matter.
My Ethics and Values
I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), demonstrating that I meet high standards of proficiency, professionalism and ethical practice. As a member of BACP, I am bound by their ‘Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions’ and our ‘Professional Conduct Procedure’.
I commit to making clients my primary concern while working together, providing a high standard of service and care. I always endeavour to work within my clinical competence, and to facilitate this I have supervision regularly and keep my knowledge and skills up-to-date through continuing professional development (CPD).
I see you as a unique person, with nuanced experiences and perspectives. Taking this into account, I help to facilitate a sense of self that is meaningful to you, with regards to personal and cultural context. Diversity in cultural and socio-economic backgrounds between you and I will not hinder my capacity to empathise with your circumstance and I am committed to seeking clarification if I find myself with incomplete knowledge.
What Can i help you with?
Abuse
Addictions
Anger management
Anxiety
Bereavement
Body image issues
Cultural issues
Depression
Food-related issues
Identity issues
LGBTQ+ counselling
Redundancy
Relationships
Self esteem
Self-harm
Sex-related issues
Sexual identity
Sexuality
Spirituality
Stress
Substance Dependency
Trauma
Women’s issues
Work related issues
FAQs
How often would you recommend therapy?
Once a week is recommended initially, but as time goes on we can review whether that is still beneficial for you and make changes accordingly e.g. every other week.
How will I know how many sessions I need?
It is difficult to predict how many sessions you will need, as everyone comes to counselling with different goals e.g. longterm and short term. However, we can set time-specific goals and review periodically. Alternatively if you feel you have achieved the goal sooner than expected, we can discuss how best to organically end our therapeutic work.
How do I prepare for sessions?
As we would have talked about your counselling goals in the initial session , I will know whether or not you would like tasks set in between sessions. If you have told me that you would like to have directed exercises or reading in between sessions then you can prepare for sessions in this way. But either way, I have no expectations for you to prepare for sessions. Just bring yourself and see what comes up for you.
Do you do couples/family counselling?
I currently do not offer this, but please get in touch to enquire whether I am able to refer you to another counsellor or counselling agency.
Are you able to do sessions in Tamil?
Although I can understand the language, I am not fluent in speaking Tamil. Therefore, I will not be able to speak in Tamil for the entirety of the session.
What platforms are available?
Online (via Zoom) where a unique link will be sent to you before sessions start, and we will use the same link for all subsequent sessions.
In person is also available in London. Please enquire for details of location.
How do I know if counselling is working?
I will be able to reflect on changes I observe in you, and this can be talked about in review sessions. The benefit of working with a counsellor is that I am able to offer different perspectives that you may not see at first.
What happens after the initial consultation?
The initial consultation (15 mins) is for me to understand your needs in counselling, to assess whether I can help you and answer all questions you have. If you feel that I am someone you could work with then I just ask that you send me an email to confirm you would like to begin counselling so I can send the necessary paperwork to you and arrange when we will start.
Na'num Counselling 