knowing yourself

Affordable Counselling and Life Coaching in South East London and online

“I have had the pleasure of knowing Maria for many years now and she is truly amazing to work with, her positive outlook and no nonsense approach has transformed my life through the work we have done together, and she does it all with her happy smile! Maria’s knowledge and expertise knows no bounds and has taught me many important learnings that have benefited me in all aspects of my life spiritually, mentally and physically. I value Maria’s vast experience and her wisdom and her calming, understanding approach to unravelling complex and sensitive issues. I would thoroughly recommend Maria’s expertise to anyone searching to understand themselves for a more fulfilled happier existence.”

“Courage doesn’t happen when you have all the answers. It happens when you are ready to face the questions you have been avoiding your whole life.” Shannon L. Alder

“Maria had a natural ability to understand me and my struggles very early on in my journey with her, this made expressing how I felt much easier, not only because I felt I was understood, but because she was able to fully support me. Maria has helped me immeasurably to not only know and understand myself better but to have better relationships with those around me. Maria’s immense help is a true reflection of her natural passion to help others.”

“Our wounds are often the openings into the best and most beautiful part of us.” David Richo

About me and what i offer

I work integratively, bringing together my training in the Psychodynamic and Person Centred approaches and also Psychosynthesis. As an intuitive, grounded, open minded and also a naturally caring person, I am able to hold or challenge my clients as necessary.

I am originally from Portugal, but have lived in the UK since my 20s, and moved to South East London in 1994.

I graduated with a Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling from Lambeth College in 2008 (I also did an Introduction to Psychosynthesis in 2010). I worked as a counsellor at the Cassel Centre, Lewisham from 2005-2012. And I started my own practice in January 2013 at Bellenden Therapies.

I enjoy listening to my clients and helping them see in themselves what I see: a wonderful, unique, capable, loving and lovable person. Wonderful, no matter what they believe they are, and however horrible, bad, wrong, or strange they have been made to feel. The journey is about helping them, in time, to be able to look at those mirrors they have been avoiding for years, and see the person they really are, accept it, love it, forgive it, be proud of it, and so much more.

No matter what your problem may be, or how you feel, there is a story, an underlying issue, belief or experience that is contributing to your present reality. Knowing yourself, in my experience, is the key to understanding the whys of being who we are. The more of that knowledge we have, the more we are empowered to make choices.

I have worked with a variety of people from all walks of life, ages, race, religion and sexuality (LGBT) as well as with issues like depression, anxiety, self-esteem, panic attacks, body image, addictions, mid-life crises, work, parent, relationships & marriage issues, divorce, sexual & physical abuse, loss, abortion, stillbirth, illnesses and much more...

“Maria has helped me face my demons, where I have been able to explore aspects of my past long buried which I was in denial about. She has given me the impetus and encouragement to move forward by allowing me to reveal my true self that I had hidden. She has really listened to me, not just to what I was saying but what I meant.”

"Thank you so much for all your help, guidance, kindness and professionalism.
I could't have done it without you and I really think you're an incredible and amazing woman."

“Maria has helped me change the way I show up for myself in the world. With her coaching I am able look at my relationships in new ways. She provides a safe space where kindness and compassion fill the room. Sessions with Maria equip me with tools I need to make positive changes in my life. She's ace!”