Rate Ivana Sharp

I am an integrative therapist, accredited and based in the UK, with 10 years of experience offering one-to-one sessions in private practice. My style is empathic and sensitive, responsive to what each person brings to the session. It could be a particular problem such as anxiety or depression, or you could be looking for help with a more vague sense of something being wrong. I would like to help you to not only find unique solutions to your difficulties, but to support you towards feeling more fully alive, centred and empowered.

My integrative training, combining humanistic and psychodynamic modalities, CBT and mindfulness allows me to adapt my approach to the unique needs of each individual. I have a special interest in working with neurodiversity, in the body and mind connection, and in issues related to climate and ecological concerns.

Therapy with me is:

Collaborative - We are equal partners with a common goal but different roles. I bring my knowledge, experience and skills which enable me to have some insight and intuition about the nature of your concerns, but I won’t offer ready made answers or advice of what you should do. This is for us to discover together. You use your own knowledge of yourself and your circumstances, and a sense of what feels right for you. Therapy works best if you also bring your curiosity and openness to finding out something new, willingness to engage with therapy and to tolerate not knowing, some patience with and trust in the process.

Relational - The encounter between us will be an important source of information and material for our work. I aim to connect with you with authenticity and integrity, balancing personal engagement with a more observing stance.

Transparent - I welcome your curiosity about what, how and why of therapy, and am happy to discuss what we are doing at any point.

Containing - I hold a strong therapeutic frame with clear boundaries for both of us which we agree on at the beginning. While this can feel restrictive and unnecessary in good times, it offers a solid container within which we can feel safe enough to go deep into our experience.

Integrative - Therapy happens on different levels from holding a safe space to be heard and to reflect; to getting in touch with less familiar aspects of yourself; to finding a sense of meaning and purpose in your life. My training allows me to combine humanistic and psychodynamic approaches, while also using aspects of CBT, mindfulness, body psychotherapy and transpersonal thought.

Staying with experience - In my view this is the most powerful tool for change and healing, and underpins everything that happens in therapy. I maintain ongoing regular mindfulness practice and bring this into sessions as a reliable way of reconnecting with our source of aliveness and deep knowing. My approach to therapy is based on the assumption that body and mind are fully interconnected.

For a life fully lived it requires that we redeem unwanted and rejected parts of ourselves. I offer safe and containing space in which to slow down, reflect and connect with deeper layers of your life and being. We do so with compassion and respect for your reality and your preferences; whilst placing the quality of our relationship at the heart of the process.

Training, qualifications & experience

Advanced Diploma in Humanistic Integrative Counselling 2015

In addition to my private practice, I have several years of experience working with a wide range of issues in both long-term and time limited therapy. I have worked as a bereavement counsellor for Brent Bereavement Service and as an integrative therapist for the short-term counselling service at a leading mental health charity.

My further professional development is mainly experiential, including workshops, peer support group, regular mindfulness practice, personal therapy and supervision.

My background is in teaching, working with children with special educational needs and also in holistic complementary therapies.