About Me

Dr Orinayo Onabanjo, Counselling Psychologist, BSc, PsychD, CPsychol, HCPC reg.

My Approach

I offer a warm, emotionally attuned, compassionate and non-judgmental approach that offers a relational home for whatever psychological or relational suffering you may be experiencing. I aim to help you:

• By offering you a safe, confidential and containing space within which you can explore your difficulties

• Find the courage to make desired changes

• Discover new and different ways to manage your difficulties

• Move towards fostering the type of relationship you would like to have with yourself and others

• Tell your own emotional truths and reclaim your own voice and sense of who you are

I do so by prioritising the use of theories and therapeutic interventions that resonate with your understanding of your experiences in order to help you live a life that feels more authentic, empowered, guided by deeper self-insight and an increased awareness of your choices in life.

Training, Qualifications, Experience

I am a HCPC registered counselling psychologist and chartered member of the British Psychological Society. I completed my doctorate in counselling psychology at the revered University of Surrey. My doctoral training provided me with extensive training in a variety of evidence-based therapeutic approaches. This enables me to work in an integrative manner which can be designed to mirror whatever psychological, relational or life difficulties you may be experiencing. These approaches include person centred/humanistic therapy, psychodynamic therapy, relational psychotherapy, systemic approaches, CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) and third wave approaches such as compassion focused therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness-based CBT. As such, I am adept at working in a tailored manner that is responsive to you, rather than imposing a prescribed way of working.

Coupled with my doctoral training and pre-doctoral clinical experience, I have over 8 years’ experience in the field of mental health and in providing counselling and psychotherapy for clients with a wide range of emotional, behavioural and interpersonal difficulties. (Please see ‘difficulties I can help with’ section below for a more detailed list). Moreover, my clinical experience so far has served a diverse and multicultural community of individuals across the life span from children to older adults. My areas of specialist interest include working with adults from all backgrounds, BAME communities and women in the perinatal period. I currently work in an NHS community mental health recovery service for adults experiencing complex, severe and enduring mental health difficulties, whilst also running my private practice online. My previous clinical experience includes working in services such as:

• IAPT Talking therapies

• Charities supporting survivors of childhood sexual abuse and sexual trauma in adulthood

• Early intervention in psychosis

• Domestic abuse projects

• Primary and secondary schools

• Women’s community centres

This means I bring a wealth of relevant experience to the process of therapy and that I am well equipped to work in a way that is robust, respectful and emotional attuned to you as a person.

“Shame dies when stories are told in safe places”

Ann Voskamp