If you need to talk, I’m here to listen.

Hello, I'm Tarek — offering one-to-one Humanistic counselling online for adults and young people (18+).

I know from my own life what it means to feel different, othered, or caught between worlds. 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.

Get in touch

How I work

What shapes my work

I know what it feels like to carry things the world doesn't always make room for.

I grew up between cultures. I was born in Lebanon and left when I was two years old, my family displaced by war. I grew up in London, but with an American education that set me apart even there. I spent my childhood navigating difference: between cultures, between languages, between versions of myself that felt acceptable in different rooms. I know what it is to feel othered, to internalise shame that was never yours to carry, and to slowly — painstakingly — begin to understand that the pain came from the outside in, not from something broken within.

That experience shapes how I work. Not because my story is your story — it isn't. But because I understand from the inside what it costs to adapt yourself to survive, and what it feels like when you begin to put that weight down.

The approaches I draw on

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.

How we work together

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 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.

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

  • Feeling emotionally numb or disconnected

  • Shame and self-criticism

  • Self-esteem and self-worth

  • Trauma, including war-related trauma, PTSD, Complex PTSD, sexual abuse, and sexual assault

  • Neurodivergence, including ADHD — particularly the exhaustion of masking and the cost of hiding who you are

  • Sexual orientation

  • Gender identity

  • Sex, intimacy and relationships — I am sex-positive and kink-positive, and work without judgement across the full range of human sexuality and desire

  • Distress arising from racism, discrimination, or the cumulative impact of marginalisation and oppression

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 qualified 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 British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) as a Registered Member MBACP (register number: 416185) and the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) as a Trainee Psychotherapist (membership number: 2011187226).

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.

  • 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.

  • We start with a free 15-minute call to see if we might work well together. If it feels right, we'll book a first session at my standard rate of £60 — you can take a few days afterwards to decide if you'd like to continue.

  • 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.

  • That varies from person to person. Some people come for a focused piece of work over a few months, while others continue for a year or more. I usually suggest starting with six weekly sessions as an initial commitment — enough time for the work to begin finding its shape — and we review from there. You can stop whenever you like.

  • I currently offer online sessions only, with limited availability. If you'd like to work together, get in touch and we can discuss whether my current availability works for you.

  • 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+.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • I'm based in London and currently work online only, which means I can see clients throughout the UK.

  • 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.

  • I understand that life happens. You're welcome to cancel or reschedule up to five sessions per year without charge, as long as you give at least 48 hours' notice. Beyond that, late cancellations and missed sessions are charged in full, as your time slot is held exclusively for you.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Email me to discuss arranging a 15-minute introductory call, or with any other questions you have regarding how we might work together.

  • 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.

  • Yes. Though if you'd like to talk it through first, I'm always happy to do that.

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.

To arrange a free, 15-minute consultation, please fill out the short form to the right, or send me an email: tarek@tarekmalouf.com.

If you’d like to know how I’ll use this personal info, please check out my Privacy Notice.