Chris Elcombe

Psychotherapist and counsellor

(MSc (Psych), CTA)

Chris Elcombe

Psychotherapist and counsellor

(MSc (Psych), CTA)

About me

I am a qualified relational psychotherapist and counsellor. I offer short- and long-term therapy to individuals. My practice is based in south-east London, in Sydenham (SE26).

I know from personal experience how powerful the therapeutic space can be. I also know that coming to therapy can feel like a big step. I welcome people of all identities, cultures, sexualities and faiths, and am committed to holding a confidential and non-judgmental space for you to:

make sense of your life experiences, discovering new perspectives and meanings that allow you to feel more comfortable in your own skin
process painful thoughts and feelings, explore ways in which you feel stuck, and release emotions that have been blocked
look at behaviour that is holding you back, finding new ways to cope with the challenges that life brings, and to relate with those around you
reconnect with parts of yourself that you’ve lost touch with, to help you recognise your values and needs, and live your life accordingly.

Everyone is different and I tailor my approach to you as an individual, but attunement to your experience of the world is at the heart of how I work. I believe that, alongside difficult and challenging events in the present, our early experiences and relationships can have a profound influence on how we feel and behave, what we believe about ourselves and how we relate to others around us.

Therapy can bring about deep and lasting change, through exploring these beliefs and patterns together, and opening up space for new possibilities to emerge.

Please see below for more on the kinds of issues I can work on with you.

I am a member of UKCP and abide by their ethical code.

Contact me at chris.elcombe@outlook.com, and please do read on for more information.

Is therapy for me?

Perhaps you’re going through a time in your life, as many of us do, where you’re having thoughts, feelings or experiences that are hard to bear.

Or maybe you’re noticing the same thing playing out over and over in relationships or at work, but you’re not sure why it’s happening, or how to change things.

When life is challenging, we can feel scattered or lost, stuck in a rut, or in pain. I can sit with you in your experience and work with you to bring about change.

Using labels to define and describe our experiences can be useful, but not for everyone. I have included some below as a way of indicating some of the areas I can work with you, but these are not exhaustive.

- depression

- anxiety and panic attacks

- relationship issues

- sexuality and identity

- troubling thoughts, feelings or behaviours

- lack of self-esteem

- post-traumatic stress (including PTSD)

- abuse

- addictions

- bereavement

- self-harm or suicidal feelings

Alternatively, maybe you have a sense that something is wrong but can't put your finger on what the problem is. This is very common too, and something we can explore together.

How it works

For information about fees, session details and more please scroll down or click on 'find out more'. If you have any other questions about what therapy entails or what I offer, please don't hesitate to contact me: chris.elcombe@outlook.com

Find out more

Further information

Sessions

Confidentiality and safety

Fees and cancellation

I offer both short- and long-term therapy, meeting for 50 minutes, face-to-face, at the same time on a weekly basis.

I don't prescribe the number of sessions - everyone has different needs. It is your choice, and something we can discuss together at the beginning, and review as necessary as the therapy progresses. However, I would suggest (though it is not compulsory) that a minimum of 6 sessions is advisable in order to gain any benefit from the work.

Please contact me if you have any questions about this.

Fees and cancellation

Confidentiality and safety

Fees and cancellation

My standard fee is £65 per session.

I have limited space at a lower rate, for people on reduced income or out of work. Payment by bank transfer is preferred.

Sessions cancelled with 7 days' notice will not be charged.

Confidentiality and safety

Confidentiality and safety are crucial in therapy. I uphold these principles in accordance with the UKCP code of ethics, maintaining complete confidentiality with the following exceptions: I am required to discuss my work (using the client's first name only) with a qualified supervising psychotherapist, which is also a confidential relationship; and where there is a risk of harm to self or others.

Ethics

Data protection

Confidentiality and safety

As a psychotherapist, I am required to be in regular supervision with a qualified UKCP supervising psychotherapist. I abide by the professional and ethical codes of UKCP and Metanoia Institute.

Data protection

I am required by law to adhere to GDPR regulations and be registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office. My reference number is ZA486962.

I can share more details about my digital policy on request.

Contact

Data protection

Email: chris.elcombe@outlook.com

Phone: 07812 543 383

I offer an initial, free, 20-minute phone consultation to discuss what you might be looking for and to see whether we would like to work with each other.

My qualifications

I am a Certified Transactional Analyst and have an MSc (Psych) and a Clinical Diploma in Transactional Analysis Therapy from the Metanoia Institute.

Accessibility

My qualifications

There are a small number of steps (up and down) on the way into my therapy space.

I work in a garden office and there is no access to a toilet at these premises. I am near a high street with several cafes and am happy to advise on alternative local facilities if necessary.

Please let me know if you have any other access needs - I am open to discussing ways in which I can reasonably accommodate these.

Group workshops

I co-facilitate weekend workshops, supporting you to uncover and work through the things you find most challenging about being in relationship with others, and with yourself. Sharing and exploring your thoughts and feelings in a confidential, small-group setting, you will be guided to unpack any repeating struggles in relationships and consider healthier alternatives.

The next available weekend is 12 & 13 November 2022. It will be held in Shoreditch and costs £100. Please contact me for more information.