About Me

Carolina May - Psychotherapist | Talking Therapy

Hi, my name is Carolina. A very warm welcome to Talking Therapy.

I work in private practice in the Surrey Hills, Central London, in-person and online worldwide. I have considerable experience as an Integrative psychotherapist, counsellor, consultant, and coach, conducting sessions both in-person and online worldwide. 

With a compassionate and caring demeanour, I bring a unique blend of clinical expertise and a nuanced understanding of human behaviour and its complexities, trauma, attachment, childhood and adulthood development, drawing from a wealth of extensive experience and training, advanced therapeutic and neurobiological techniques, and a rich professional background including mental health, psychology and wellbeing, corporate, law, finance, academia, education, creative arts, and many high-performing industries.

I work with women’s health, men’s health, adults, students, couples, and private healthcare insurance referrals.

I am an anxiety, depression, grief, relational, attachment, and trauma specialist. I work with clients who may be struggling with overwhelming emotions and loss of connection to yourself, or distress related to your relationships, family, work, or life.

I provide empathic, nonjudgemental and insightful support for you to explore and navigate your emotions and thoughts at your pace. My Integrative approach allows me to work with your presenting issues in the way that is most helpful to you and your understanding of your relational world. Together, we will work on strategies that allow you to address and overcome any symptoms of adversity you’re experiencing and the root causes of your difficulties, helping you feel more empowered to live a more fulfilled and happier life.

I believe in the transformative power of self-exploration and communication, coupled with a supportive therapist-client relationship and understanding working alliance, marked by trust, care, stability and confidentiality, and Yalom’s (1989) insightful words, “It’s the relationship that heals.” Consequently, I actively collaborate with you to set goals, enhance self-awareness and promote healing. Through a tailored and Integrative therapeutic approach, I empower you to build stronger foundations for your mental well-being and develop the skills you need to thrive in both personal and professional spheres.

I treat a wide range of presenting symptoms, ranging from acute anxiety, depression, anger, stress, low self-esteem, relationship conflicts, pre-operative and post-operative support, and grief and loss to complex trauma, PTSD, ADHD, mood disorders, personality disorders, addictions, identity issues, health conditions, and work-related concerns. I facilitate the way forward for you to make different choices that will empower you in a positive way to achieve optimal mental health, resilience, physical well-being, and personal growth, where your well-being is my highest priority.

I invite you to embark on a journey of self-discovery and growth, where the challenges you face become opportunities for transformation.

To make an appointment please use the contact me page.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

I have more than 25 years experience empowering people to overcome symptoms of adversity. I am registered and accredited as a psychotherapist and counsellor with the MBACP, Counselling Directory, and the UKCP. I trained at Metanoia Institute, the highly regarded leading London training school, and hold a Post Graduate Clinical Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counselling. I have a First Class BA Honours in Business, and a PGCE in Secondary Education and other qualifications listed below. I am a highly experienced and qualified International Coach Federation (ICF) executive coach, leadership coach, careers coach, existential coach and mindfulness coach.

I run my own private clinical therapy practice and have also provided therapy at Metanoia Counselling and Psychotherapy Services in Ealing, Sutton Women’s Abuse Centre, University of Surrey Centre of Well-being, The Counselling Partnership, and Catalyst depression support groups. I regularly attend Continual Professional Development seminars and workshops on current issues including interpersonal neurobiology, trauma-informed neurobiological approaches, attachment, DBT, mentalisation, EMDR, and contemporary clinical therapy techniques.

I am professionally insured and clinically supervised fortnightly and adhere to the principles and ethical guidelines of the BACP ethical framework (British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists) and UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapists).

ARTICLES

Counselling Directory Authored Articles

MEMBERSHIPS

  • Registered Member of British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (MBACP)

  • Accredited Member of the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS)

  • Counselling Directory

  • UK Council for Psychotherapists (UKCP)

  • Psychology Today

  • European Mentor and Coaching Council (EMCC)

  • The UK Psychological Trauma Society (UKPTS)

  • The European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS)

  • Life Coach Directory

TRAINING, QUALIFICATIONS, AND CPD

  • Post Graduate Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counselling (BACP accredited)

  • MSc Integrative Psychotherapy

  • Accredited Diploma in Transformational Coaching (ICF)

  • BA (Hons) in Business, 1st Class

  • Clinical Application of the Polyvagal Theory

  • Certificate in Supervision, CTSD London, Centre of Supervision and Team Development

  • MacMillan Cancer Support training for professionals

  • Certificate in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBST)

  • Certificate in Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)

  • Gottman Method Couples Therapy Levels 1&2

  • Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Levels 1, 2 & 3

  • Diploma in Clinical Assessment, Psychometric Testing, and Neurodiversity (incl General Intelligence, IQ, Giftedness and SpLD), British Psychological Society

  • Post Graduate Certificate in Secondary Education (PGCE)

  • Post Graduate Diploma & MSc SpLD and Neurodiversity

  • Supporting women through the menopausal transition

  • Certificate in Existential Coaching

  • Certificate in Somatic Coaching

  • Certificate in Mindfulness Coaching

  • Certificate in Women and Gambling Related Harms

  • Trauma Release Exercises, TRE

  • The Essentials of Psychiatry

  • Keeping university students safe: self-harm and suicidal ideation

  • Ask Me training, domestic abuse

  • Psychiatric diagnoses

  • Safeguarding adults and children

I hold a yearly updated Enhanced DBS - Disclosure and Barring Service checks. I evaluate my work through feedback from my clients and using Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluations (CORE). Independent analysis of my work shows that over 95% of my clients showed reliable and clinically significant improvement during their counselling with me.