U.K.
BASED VIRTUAL THERAPY
U.K. | INTERNATIONAL
Hello!
I’m Chris, a qualified and experienced psychotherapist and counsellor and, Registered Member of the BACP. The decision to seek therapy often comes at a point in your life when you’re wanting to create change on some level. I understand how daunting it can be to reach out and make contact, which is why I offer a space that is non-judgemental, interactive, and confidential. It’s a space for you to discuss freely whatever is on you mind.
CHRIS LOW
(MSc, Dip, MBACP)
-
MSc in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy
-
Diploma in Psychology
-
MBACP - Registered member of the BACP
My clinical training took place at Birkbeck College, University of London, where I graduated with an MSc in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy. I have also completed a Diploma in Psychology from The Open University.
I have experience of working in higher education within student services at University College London and King’s College London as a Student Counsellor. I have also worked as a Bereavement Support Counsellor at the North London Hospice. I have worked with people from different cultural, racial, and religious heritages, as well as the LGBTQ+ community, neuro-diverse community, and a range of ages from 18-82.
I am a registered member of the BACP and I adhere to their code of ethics.
STARTING THERAPY
HOW I WORK
I am trained in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, which underpins my theoretical framework, but I also draw on some techniques from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and the Dual Process Model, which is a way of working with bereavement.
Together, we would explorer your thoughts and feelings, looking at behaviour patterns, and creating links between your present difficulties and past experiences. It’s a reflective space for you to think openly and honestly about your internal world.
Working in a psychodynamic way means looking at your life with a deeper lens. Often, it will mean taking a closer look at your early relationships and experiences as these serve as a blueprint for your adult life. It’s about finding the hidden meaning behind your present difficulties and making connections where you might not have looked before because they were too difficult to think about at the time. Often, these thoughts and feelings will show up in different ways that might leave you feeling anxious or depressed, angry, or missing direction in your life; your relationships might feel tense or difficult to manage, which might leave you feeling lonely and isolated.
I’m not a traditional, silent psychotherapist. I am interactive and will offer up interpretations that are designed to give you some insight and space to think about yourself on a deeper level. I believe the therapeutic relationship is important to the outcome of therapy, so finding the right “click” or fit is paramount.
To get the most out of therapy, it can be beneficial to lean into it. The benefits of therapy are different for each person, but generally, an outcome might be feeling like you’re in a better positon mentally, or it might be gaining insight and growth on a deeper level, or learning how to have better relationships. Whatever it might be, there’s something for everyone.
The benefits of virtual therapy is it’s, generally, easier to fit into your day, saves on travel expenses, and it bridges the gap for anyone who might struggle with in-person social interaction; it’s also ideal for those of you who travel around a lot.
GETTING STARTED
You can contact me via this site, or you can email or text. Please leave your name, mobile number, email address, and a brief description of how I can help. If you choose to call, be aware that I might be unavailable to answer. I aim to respond by email or text within 12 hours. Feel free to request a free, short phone call to discuss your needs in more detail.
I will schedule an initial consultation, which will last about 1 hour. This will go into more depth about your difficulties. It’s a chance for me to see how I can help you and for you to see if you want to work with me.
If you decide to continue, we will begin weekly 50-minute sessions. I will also email a short Client Registration Form for you to complete and read, which also contains confidentiality and data protection policies, as well as my cancellation policy.
I work with long-term, open-ended, short-term, and time-limited clients. Often, short-term involves working on a specific issue, while long-term / open-ended work is designed to focus on creating change on a deeper, broader level.
If you are unsure about how you want to proceed, I usually recommend starting with a minimum of 6 sessions - there’s always room to extend further if you wish.
AREAS OF INTEREST
While I work with most presenting difficulties, there are a few areas that I have more experience in, and therefore, might be of interest to you.
BEREAVEMENT / LOSS
The death of a loved one can often leave us feeling discombobulated, out of sorts, lost, and lonely. Everyone grieves in their own way and in their own time. You might want space to talk about your thoughts and feelings, or you might want some support while you go through this difficult time.
My experience of working with bereaved clients from my years at the North London Hospice, as well as working with students in a university setting, has given me valuable experience and insights into the myriad of ways death can leave us feeling. You might be grieving the loss of a partner, family member, friend, or family pet. I realise loss is not just about bereavement, it might be the loss of a relationship, or job, which can enact the grieving process.
I utilise the Duel Process Model when working with bereavement, as it gives equal focus to both the grief and the process of rediscovering yourself. I take my cue from the client, so I’m open to adapting to what works best for the individual.
IDENTITY
I have a keen interest in working with people who are interested in learning about themselves from the perspective of identity.
You might be wondering who you are as a person outside of your job, your family or relationship. Or maybe you’re wanting to explore facets of your identity, like: gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, class, faith, spirituality, masculinity or femininity…
Maybe you have reached a transition stage in life and you’re struggling with adapting to the new challenges and changes this brings.
MEN’S HEALTH
While I work with all genders, I do have an interest in working with men on issues relating to mental health.
It can be tough for men to seek help when struggling with mental health, and as such, many men feel more comfortable working with a male therapist.
You might be struggling with anxiety or depression, or low self-esteem. You might have thoughts and feelings relating to your identity, family, or relationship. Or maybe you’re looking to better connect to yourself.
YOUNG ADULTS / STUDENTS
I’ve gained experience of working with young adults and students of varying ages and backgrounds from my time at UCL and King’s College.
I’m aware that being a student can be stressful no matter your age, but particularly for young adults, the transition from school to entering the wider world can be challenging.
You might be struggling with exam pressure, the life of being a PhD student, or you might want to talk about difficulties with a relationship, family, anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem / confidence.
ANXIETY & DEPRESSION
Anxiety and depression can often be felt together, usually with one dominating your life more than the other. These are the most common reasons that leads many people to seek therapy.
Anxiety can invade our lives in a variety of ways, sometimes it might be an underlying feeling and other times it might be felt acutely. Anxiety can present as generalised, in social situations, as obsessive behaviours and unwanted thoughts, as panic attacks and fear - it can, literally, keep you awake at night.
Depression can leave you feeling sad and miserable, or feeling like life is without hope. You might find yourself “living in the past”, or feeling like the outside world is overly negative and bad. You might be feeling angry or tired more often, or struggling with negative thoughts.
CONTACT DETAILS
Please contact me using this form or you can email or text me, leaving your name, mobile number, email, and a brief description of how I can help.
If you decide to call me, please be aware that I might be unable to take your call.
+44 07926230851