If you need to talk, I’m here to listen.
Hello, I'm Tarek — a therapist based in London.
I offer a safe, warm, and non-judgemental space where you can explore whatever is weighing on you, at your own pace.
I'm a qualified Humanistic Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, registered with both UKCP and BACP, and currently completing my Masters in Humanistic Psychotherapy at the Metanoia Institute in West London.
How I work
As a humanistic practitioner, I believe therapy works best when it’s a genuine, collaborative process. I’m alongside you in whatever you’re bringing, creating a space where you feel safe to explore.
The heart of my work is the relationship we build together. Feeling truly seen, heard, and understood — without judgement — can be deeply healing. I see each person as an individual. Just as we all respond differently to music or films, we each react in our own unique way to life’s events.
I am mindful of how our identities, life experiences, and the systems we live within can intersect to shape those responses. I work with a commitment to inclusivity and anti-oppressive practice, respecting and valuing difference in all its forms.
I work creatively, sometimes using methods that help you safely try out new ways of being so you can see what they feel like. In our sessions, you set the pace. We’ll explore both your difficulties and your strengths, values, and capacity for growth. Together, we’ll work towards deeper self-understanding, greater self-acceptance, and the possibility of meaningful change.
If you'd like to know more about the specific approaches I draw on, you can read more below…
I draw from three main approaches in my work — Gestalt, Transactional Analysis, and the Person-Centred Approach. Together, they give me the flexibility to respond to what you need in each session, with every choice rooted in a thoughtful, well-founded approach.
Gestalt brings energy and creativity to the process. It pays close attention to how your body responds to emotions and life events, seeing mind and body as one. We might use simple, creative experiments or focus on the “here and now” to help you become more aware of what’s happening for you in the present moment.
Transactional Analysis looks at the patterns and beliefs we often carry from childhood — the “scripts” that can quietly shape how we see ourselves and relate to others. By recognising these patterns, you can create more choice and freedom in how you live today.
The Person-Centred Approach places you at the heart of the work. It’s about creating a space where you feel safe, valued, and truly listened to, so that your natural ability to grow and heal can come forward.
Who I work with
I work with people 18+ from many different backgrounds and life experiences, on a wide range of concerns, including:
Anxiety and worry
Sadness, low mood, and depression
Self-esteem and self-worth
Trauma, including war-related trauma, PTSD, Complex PTSD, sexual abuse, and sexual assault
Feeling emotionally numb or disconnected
Shame and self-criticism
Sexual orientation
Gender identity
Intimacy and relationships
I have particular experience supporting clients from LGBTQ+ communities and work with a commitment to inclusivity, anti-oppressive practice, and respect for the intersections of identity, culture, and life experience.
About me
What first drew me to therapy was experiencing its impact in my own life. When I felt low, overwhelmed, or needed support, therapy helped me make sense of what I was going through. Over time, I realised I wanted to create that same kind of space for others.
Before training as a therapist, I spent 17 years running my own business — working with people from all walks of life, mentoring colleagues, and navigating the full range of what it means to be human in a professional context. Those years taught me things no training course could, and they shape how I show up in the room.
I grew up as a third culture kid — born in Lebanon, raised in the UK, educated at The American School in London, and later studying at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Moving between cultures gave me a genuine curiosity about identity, belonging, and the different worlds people navigate — often simultaneously.
My training and accreditation
I am a Humanistic Psychotherapeutic Counsellor with a diploma from The Metanoia Institute in Ealing, and I’m currently completing my Masters in Humanistic Psychotherapy there, which I expect to achieve in Autumn 2027.
I’m registered with the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) as a Trainee Psychotherapist (membership number: 2011187226) and with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) as a Registered Member MBACP (register number: 416185)
Alongside my private practice, I have worked with clients at MCPS in Ealing, Islington Mind Outcome, and I currently see clients at elop — London’s largest LGBTQ+ counselling service.
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My fee is £60 per 50‑minute session. Payment is by bank transfer. Once we have an agreed weekly time, I invoice monthly for sessions attended. I currently offer a limited number of sessions at a reduced rate for those who need it. Please get in touch to find out more.
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Before we begin regular therapy, we’ll have a free, 15‑minute phone call to see if we might work well together. If you’d like to continue, we’ll book an introductory session (charged at my normal rate). In this session, you can share more about what’s been troubling you, or simply begin exploring if you’re not sure yet. Afterwards, you can take a few days to decide whether you’d like to continue, and I’ll also consider if I’m the right person to support you. Book your free intro call here.
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Sessions last 50 minutes and take place weekly at the same time. Consistency is important for building trust and making progress, so I hold your regular time slot for you.
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That varies from person to person. Some people come for a few months to work through a specific issue, while others choose to continue for a year or more as part of a deeper exploration. We’ll review our work together regularly.
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I work mostly in-person but can also offer online sessions or a hybrid. We can discuss what would work best.
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I have experience working with anxiety, low mood, trauma (including war trauma, PTSD, and CPTSD), anger, shame, and self-worth. I also work extensively with clients from LGBTQ+ and other minoritised communities, offering an inclusive and affirming space. I am qualified to work with people who are 18+.
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I draw from Gestalt, Transactional Analysis, and the Person-Centred Approach. This gives me flexibility to respond to your needs while ensuring every choice is grounded in a thoughtful, well-founded approach. In simple terms, Gestalt focuses on the ‘here and now’ and how mind and body connect, TA explores patterns from childhood that shape how you relate to others, and Person‑Centred work puts you at the heart of the process.
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My role is not to give prescriptive advice, but to help you explore your experiences, feelings, and patterns, so you can develop your own insights and make choices that feel right for you.
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I work from quiet, private rooms in central London, close to Bank and Shoreditch.
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Yes — I offer a free, 15‑minute phone call so we can briefly discuss what you’re looking for and see if we might be a good fit.
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You can take up to five planned cancellations per year without charge if you give at least 48 hours’ notice. After that, or for missed or late‑cancelled sessions (under 48 hours’ notice) these are charged in full.
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Yes — what you share in sessions is kept confidential, with a few important exceptions: if there’s a serious risk of harm to yourself or others, if required by law, or in rare safeguarding situations. I always aim to discuss this with you before taking any action, unless the law requires otherwise.
Check out my Confidentiality Policy for full details. Also see my Privacy Notice to learn more about how I use your information. I’ve also written about how we maintain boundaries in our work.
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I am a qualified Humanistic Psychotherapeutic Counsellor in the final stages of my MSc in Humanistic Psychotherapy. I am a registered member of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and work to their ethical guidelines. You can find more information about my training and accreditation.
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You can book a free, 15‑minute phone call. From there, we can book an introductory session and decide together whether to continue.
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Not at all. Some people come with a clear goal, while others just know that something feels difficult or stuck. Part of our work can be figuring out what you want from therapy.
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Yes. Although I encourage talking about it first so we can bring our work to a thoughtful close. Planned endings often help consolidate what you’ve gained from therapy.
FAQs
Get in touch
Taking the first step…
We'll start with a free 15-minute phone call to briefly discuss what you're looking for and how we might work together.
If you'd like to go further, we'll book an introductory session at my standard rate of £60, where you can share more about what's been troubling you — or simply begin exploring if you're not yet sure.
After that first session, you'll have a few days to decide whether you'd like to continue. There's no pressure either way.
If you’d like to know how I’ll use this personal info, please check out my Privacy Notice.