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Trauma Focused Approach
Empowerment
Regain Control

Based in Sunderland, Serene Psychology is here to provide you with individually tailored therapy to help and support you during and after the most turbulent times of your life.

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Dr Sonia Ahmed – Counselling Psychologist & EMDR Therapist

Hello and welcome to my page. I am Dr Sonia Ahmed, a counselling psychologist with over 10 years of clinical experience, who is registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC).

I appreciate that searching for a trauma informed therapist and accepting that you need help is a difficult step to take and will come with a mixture of emotions. You may be feeling apprehensive, scared, or even overwhelmed. On the other hand, you may be feeling a sense of relief and hope that you are getting the help you need. Whatever you are feeling, the fact that you are here indicates that you are ready to take the necessary steps to make positive changes in your life, and I am here to support you with this through online trauma therapy and face-to-face therapy that works with your unique needs.

I believe that each person’s experience is individual and unique, and that there is not a ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to therapy for trauma. Therefore my therapeutic approach takes on an integrative stance, in which I will often draw upon a number of therapeutic models and techniques, tailored to each individuals needs. Regardless of your treatment plan, developing a strong therapeutic relationship, will be the core of trauma therapy. This means that face to face and EMDR therapy sessions will be based on empathy, trust, warmth, compassion, whilst being adaptive to each of your needs.

To learn more about my services in Sunderland and surrounding areas, such as Newcastle, please click on the ‘find out more’ tab below. Alternatively, if you are happy with what you have read, you can click directly onto the ‘contact us’ tab and reach out to me directly.

Mission

Our Mission for Therapy:

Our mission is to help empower our clients so that they feel in control and can flourish into becoming who they want to be and become the best version of themselves.

Our Goals:

Supporting you to:

Regain Control

Feel Empowered

To Gain Inner Strength

Visualise a positive future for yourself

Have hope for the future

What our therapists work with

Here at Serene Psychology, we work with various mental health issues and all types of psychological traumas.

These include (but are not limited to):

Trauma & PTSD- Including Childhood Trauma & Domestic Abuse, Honour Based Abuse, Sexual Abuse/Assault (amongst others)

Depression & Low Mood

Anxiety & Worry

Loss, Bereavement & Grief

Stress & Burnout

Low Self Esteem & Confidence Issues

For further information on the issues we work with, please click on the ‘issues treated’ section under ‘our services’

Therapist in Sunderland

Seeking therapy is an essential step in prioritizing and enhancing your mental health. As a dedicated therapist in Sunderland, I am committed to providing a confidential and reliable service that offers specialised therapeutic approaches tailored to your individual needs. With a focus on promoting mental well-being, my private therapy in Sunderland is here to support you on your journey to emotional health and resilience.

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Understanding the Importance of Seeking Therapy

The decision to seek therapy is a courageous and proactive choice that can have a profound impact on your overall well-being. Therapy provides a safe and non-judgmental space for individuals to explore their thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. It offers an opportunity to gain insight into personal challenges, develop coping strategies, and work towards positive change. Whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, or life transitions, therapy can provide the guidance and support needed to navigate these challenges effectively.

How Therapy Can Positively Impact Mental Health

Therapy offers a range of benefits that can positively impact mental health. By engaging in therapy, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of themselves, identify and modify negative thought patterns, and improve their emotional regulation skills. Additionally, therapy can enhance interpersonal relationships, boost self-esteem, and foster a greater sense of empowerment and resilience. Through evidence-based therapeutic techniques, individuals can experience meaningful and lasting changes that improve their overall quality of life.

Private therapy Sunderland – Why Choose a Local Therapist?

When seeking therapy, choosing a local therapist offers several advantages. As a therapist in Sunderland, I have a deep understanding of the local community and its unique challenges. This allows me to provide culturally sensitive and contextually relevant support that resonates with the experiences of my clients. Additionally, working with a local therapist offers the convenience of easy accessibility and the opportunity to engage in face-to-face sessions, fostering a more personal and connected therapeutic relationship.

Confidential and Reliable Service

At Serene Psychology in Sunderland, confidentiality and privacy are foundational principles that guide my therapeutic practice. You can trust that our sessions are conducted in a secure and private setting, and that your personal information is handled with the utmost care and discretion. Confidentiality is of the utmost importance in therapy, and I am committed to providing a secure and trustworthy environment for my clients. Your privacy is respected at every stage of the therapeutic process, and you can feel confident that our sessions are conducted with the strictest adherence to confidentiality standards. You can trust that our work together remains private (unless there is a disclosure of risk), allowing you the freedom to explore your concerns openly and honestly.

Specialised Therapeutic Approaches & Individualised Therapy Plans

My private therapy in Sunderland offers specialised therapeutic approaches that are tailored to address a diverse range of mental health concerns. Whether you are seeking cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness-based approaches, or EMDR, I provide a comprehensive range of evidence-based interventions to meet your specific needs. By integrating these approaches, I strive to create a customised treatment plan that aligns with your unique goals and requirements.

Recognising that everyone is unique, I am dedicated to developing individualised therapy plans that are tailored to your distinct needs and circumstances. Through a collaborative and client-centered approach, we will work together to identify your strengths, challenges, and aspirations, allowing us to create a personalised roadmap for your therapeutic journey. By addressing your specific concerns and goals, we can maximize the effectiveness of our work together and promote sustainable growth and healing.

Trauma informed

Therapy Using a Trauma-Focused Approach both face to face and online.

Here at Serene Psychology, we take a trauma-informed therapeutic approach to your psychological care. A trauma-informed approach to therapy is a set of guiding principles that identifies that trauma has substantial effects on individuals and tends not be recognised or reported as often as it should. It shifts from asking ‘what’s wrong with you?’ to ‘what happened to you? This means that we take into account all of your traumas (past and present) in order to get a complete picture of your life situation, thus, allowing us to be able to provide you with the most effective support. The specialist therapy for trauma that we provide includes face to face talking therapies, online trauma therapy sessions and EMDR therapy, which is tailored to the needs of each individual.

We have all experienced psychological trauma of some sort in our lives. Whether it be something that we are aware of (or have consciously thought about), or not. For example, witnessing or being a part of some form of abuse, accidents, assaults, natural disasters, cultural traumas such as forced marriage.  Often these traumatic experiences can be the underlying cause (or at least a contributing factor), to various mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and addiction, amongst others. Sometimes we can be oblivious to how past traumas can be affecting our current lives, but by processing and resolving these past issues through treatments such as online trauma therapy, face to face and EMDR therapy; deep and long lasting change is possible.

Testimonials

Read the stories of clients from across the UK who have benefitted from online trauma therapy and face to face psychological therapy and EMDR therapy for trauma and other mental health issues with Dr Sonia Ahmed below:

Vicky

11 Jul 2023

5 Stars

I felt very comfortable with dr Sonia & felt like I could let my guard down almost straight away

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Relentless Pressure

10 Nov 2023

5 Stars

She really does help – you’ve just got to realise that you could possibly need to talk to her first

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Joe

21 Sep 2023

5 Stars

I found Sonia to be incredibly helpful, empathetic and professional.

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Fricka

27 Apr 2024

5 Stars

Firstly, I cannot recommend Serene Psychology enough but mostly Dr Sonia Ahmed

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Ju W

30 May 2024

5 Stars

I recently completed EMDR therapy with Sonia, I found this really effective for processing trauma

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Therapy sessions are available online via video call or face to face. Face to face sessions are available in Sunderland, North East.

Individuals

One to one therapy

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On your terms

Therapy sessions are tailored to meet your needs

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Serene Psychology is registered with the following healthcare providers:

AXA Insurance
Aviva Insurance
Vitality Health Insurance
BUPA Private Medical Insurance accepted
WPA Private Medical Insurance Accepted

Frequently Asked Questions

Get in touch using the Contact Page for further details!

Of course! We are able to work with your needs, whether that is physically in person, or online via video call. Online sessions are conducted via a software called clinix. You would get emailed a link over for each of your sessions.

I work with anyone over the age of 16. There is no age limit above this!