LONDON AND CLAPHAM COUNSELLING

Business Description

Hello, my name is Mehmet Altan. I am a qualified counsellor and therapist, running my private practice in London Bridge SE1, Clapham SW4 and Beckenham BR3. I am a member of the British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) and comply with its ethical guidelines at all times.

I trained as an Integrative Counsellor on a BACP-accredited course at CPPD. I fully comply with BACP ethical guidelines as a member of that association.

My ‘integrative’ background allows me to use different theories and approaches to combine the various types of counselling I have trained in. In sessions with clients I use the Humanistic Person Centred approach, but will also use the Psychodynamic approach, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Gestalt and Brief Solution Focused Therapy.

Business Services
If you would like to explore how (or if) I could help you, please call me for a short chat about how we could work together. If I am not the counsellor for you, I can help arrange a referral to another colleague.​
â—¾Abuse (sexual, physical, emotional and neglect)
â—¾Addiction (alcohol, co-dependency, drugs, gambling, love, sex and other forms of compulsive behaviour)
â—¾Adoption
â—¾Anger
â—¾Anxiety (all forms, incl. Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD))
◾Asperger’s Syndrome and autism
â—¾Bereavement, grief and loss
â—¾Couples counselling
â—¾Depression
â—¾Divorce
â—¾Domestic violence (towards women or men; including straight or same- sex relationships)
â—¾Eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, over-eating)
â—¾Guilt and shame
â—¾HIV/AIDS
â—¾Identity issues
â—¾Illness
â—¾Intimacy and trust
â—¾Loneliness and social isolation
â—¾Low self-confidence
â—¾Obsessive behaviour
â—¾OCD
â—¾Panic Attacks
â—¾Performance Anxiety
â—¾Personal Development
â—¾Phobias
â—¾Post-natal depression
â—¾Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
â—¾Relationship issues
â—¾Sex and sexual issues
â—¾Sexuality, Sexual Identity, and Gender Identity
â—¾Self-esteem
â—¾Self-harm
â—¾Shyness
â—¾Social anxiety
â—¾Spirituality and Religion
â—¾Stress
â—¾Suicidal thoughts
â—¾Trauma

I can be contacted at any time by phone or email if you have anything you would like to ask. An informal chat about what you could get out of counselling is a good way to start.

Tel: 07788 595 902

e: [email protected]

Business Products
Individual Counselling/Psychotherapy

Couples Counselling

Business Qualifications
Qualifications:

Level 2 Certificate in Introduction to Counselling Skills
Level 2 Intermediate Certificate in Counselling Skills
Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies
Diploma in Humanistic Integrative Counselling
Advanced Diploma ( Professional training) in Humanistic Integrative Counselling ( BACP Accredited course)

Training:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Imago Relationship Therapy
Thinking about Gender and Sexual Diversity
Chronic Trauma and Neglect
Time Limited Counselling
Psychiatry, Psychopathology and Psychodynamics
Hearing Voices
We are all the same but different
Black Issues and Racism in the Therapeutic Process

Business Staff & Management
Hello, my name is Mehmet. I offer short term and open ended counselling in Clapham, London Bridge, Greenwich and Beckenham.

My practice is based on the belief that sometimes, unhelpful past experiences can play out in our current lives in negative ways. It can affect our relationships with others, creating dynamics that may provoke things like anxiety, or low self confidence; at home, in social situations or in the work place. Compounded by outside influences, a person may suddenly feel stuck, or depressed, and feel unable to work through their struggles. Past deep-rooted experience often plays a part in the manifestation and persistence of such issues.

I acknowledge the difficulty we all have as humans to move beyond past influence. However, strongly believe that by making the big decision to come and see a counsellor, you are already, taking the first steps to your individual authenticity in the here and now.

I think there are lots of stereotypes about counselling and the types of people who go. The truth is though, that people come to counselling these days for many different reasons. Acknowledging that you might need some help can only ever be a positive step. In fact, considering the ever growing demands of the modern world; where many people constantly juggle family and work commitments (often without the benefit of traditionalsupport networks of previous generations), I believe counselling can in fact be seen as a necessity. We are all people of experience, and the more we can understand ourselves – in a safe space away from the pressures of everyday life – the more we can learn to accept who we are, and our functioning place in the world of today.

I recognise that specific circumstances can occur in one’s life at any time, which may make the need for counselling or therapy even more paramount. Ranging from a relationship break-up, to bereavement, or to redundancy or money worries (to name but a few), life can at times, be extremely challenging. I am fully aware of the strong feelings that can arise from such events can make life incredibly difficult for a person. It can extend beyond the emotional to the physical, leading to symptoms such as sleep disturbance, panic attacks, headaches, other aches and pains, or, a general lack of energy. In my practice, I work on the client’s full experience, and seek to help the client on as many different levels as possible within the counselling space.

In addition, I also work with unhelpful coping strategies such as avoidance and/or denial of difficult feelings. I believe that suppressing real, powerful emotions can manifest in unhealthy behaviours such as addiction, and/or destructive relationships (including abuse and co-dependency).

I strongly believe in the importance of working through difficulty in relationships resulting from a dysfunctional childhood. Considering this to be a speciality area of work. I frequently work with survivors of abuse.

First and foremost I believe that counselling and psychotherapy can help you to accept yourself as you are. I feel passionate about facilitating clients to work through issues to improve their lives, and to find the confidence to make the changes that will help them reach their full potential

An ‘Integrative’ approach means that I can employ several theoretical approaches, and trained in a number of different forms of Psychotherapy and Counselling. Within the therapeutic relationship, I draw from the Humanistic Person Centred Approach, but also combine this with Psychodynamic, Brief Solution Focused Therapy, Gestalt, Transactional Analysis & Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). My style has evolved from the understanding that each person is unique, and one approach does not suite all.

I continually expand on therapeutic training, and most recently have completed courses on working with abuse, couples, and trauma.

Work

More recently I worked at the Awareness Centre as Clinical Practice Manager. Previous to this, I worked for Greenwich Mind. Here, I worked as an individual counsellor, and also as a group facilitator. In addition to my personal life experiences, my recent work and training at Mind has developed my interest in the area of ‘culture’, and the influence one’s wider culture can have on an individual.

I believe ‘culture’ is the characteristics, beliefs, values and social behaviour of a particular group of people. This can include cultural heritage, nationality, religion, language, sexuality...to name a few. I have explored and researched deeply the impact some of these can have, both within, and outside, of the counselling room.

I specialise in working with potential cultural conflict. Recently, I have been working a lot with the interplay between culture and sexual identity. I am interested in the role of shame in sexuality, and the connection this can have on areas of development such as self-esteem and intimacy.

Business Clients
Face to face counselling
Online counselling
Telephone counselling
Skype Video

Business Memberships
British Association of Counselling & Psycotherapy (BACP)