Dr Beverley Mears is a Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist and is registered to practice by the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy(UKCP)and holds to their ethical standards. Beverley set up a consortium of psychotherapists and clinical psychologists who work together at Whitstable Bay Psychotherapy Service to deliver a high standard of psychological treatment to their clients.

Beverley has a broad experience of mental health spanning over 25yrs including addictions treatment, family and couples interventions and individual psychotherapy. Beverley was the Clinical Lead in the set-up and development of Primary Care IAPT Services across Kent and Surrey when the government initiative was first launched in 2009. Most recently Beverley worked as a Consultant Psychotherapist and Clinical Lead for a Secondary Care Psychological Therapy Service in the NHS, working with patients with severe and enduring mental health difficulties.

In private practice Beverley works with clients in short and long term psychoanalytic psychotherapy either in face-to-face or on the couch work. She has significant experience in supervision and training within the field supervising psychotherapists, counsellors and psychiatrists. Beverley completed her post graduate diploma in supervision at The Guild of Psychotherapists and is registered as a clinical supervisor with UKCP and the British Association of Psychodynamic and Psychoanalytic Supervision (BAPPS).

Specialist Interest

Beverley has a specialist interest in OCD and completed her Doctoral Thesis in researching the connection between object relations (from a Kleinian position), problems with sexual intimacy and OCD symptoms. Beverley also has a keen interest in Dissociative Identity Disorder and has experience of working with this complex presentation and helping the individual to understand their symptoms and lead a more fulfilling, whole life.

Beverley has over a decade of experience of working with couples and is listed with British Society for Couples Psychotherapist and Counsellors (BSCPC) as accredited as a Couple Therapy for Depression Practitioner and Supervisor. Couple Therapy for Depression is a model recommended by the NICE Guidelines for couples where depression is a feature of the relationship or where one of the partners is depressed. Beverley is a guest trainer with Tavistock Relationships teaching on their Couple Therapy for Depression Practitioner and Supervisor level trainings. As a couples therapist Beverley focusses on understanding the couple dynamic and behaviour system. Once this is identified, Beverley focuses on improving communication, problem solving and the development of caring behaviours within the couple system.

Beverley is also trained in NICE Guideline recommended treatment interventions including EMDR which is an evidenced based treatment for trauma and PTSD, Mentalised Based Treatment (MBT) and DBT skills which are recommended treatments for Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder. MBT is useful for anyone who is having difficulties with emotional regulation and angry outbursts.

As a psychotherapist Beverley treats:

Anxiety Disorders
Abuse (emotional, physical or sexual)
Attachment Issues
Depression
Dissociative Identity Disorder
Eating Disorders
Gender Identity Issues
Loss / Bereavement
OCD (exploring the origins, not behaviours)
Personality Disorder
Trauma

Louise Knott is a qualified Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist. She trained at The Institute of Psychotherapy and Social Studies in London. She is an accredited Psychoanalytic Supervisor, who trained at The Guild of Psychotherapy. She is registered with the U.K.C.P. and abides by their code of ethics.

Louise has had over fourteen years experience of working in the NHS in various settings, G.P. surgeries and hospitals, working with patients and staff, providing Brief Dynamic Therapy and Clinical Supervision. She has also worked onsite, in prisons, with Prison Officers. She currently works at the South London at Maudsley Hospital in a specialist service providing Time Limited Therapy to Mental Health professionals. Alongside this, Louise has a private practice, offering open-ended Therapy and Brief Psychotherapy to adults. She also practices as a Supervisor, both with individuals and groups. Louise also currently holds the post of a Consultant Psychotherapist for NHS Staff at the Royal Brompton and Harefield Trust offering Brief Dynamic Psychotherapy.


Louise considers the relationship between client and therapist, to be at the core of the therapeutic work, looking at what is happening in your current life, with an understanding of how your past experiences may inform your present relationships and predicaments.

As a psychotherapist Louise treats:

Anxiety Disorders
Abuse (emotional, physical or sexual)
Attachment Issues
Depression
Loss / Bereavement
Personality Disorder
Trauma
Workplace Change and Difficulties

DR Sonia Shah DclinSCI

Sonia is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist who holds a Doctorate in Clinical Science in Psychotherapy studies. Her thesis title relates to 'British Indian Women's Views on Accessing Mental Health Services'. Sonia is registered to practice with the United Kingdom of Psychotherapists (UKCP) and holds to their ethical standards.

Sonia divides her time between working as a Principle Psychotherapist in Secondary Care Mental Health Team in the NHS and Private Practice. She is experienced in working with a wide range of mental health problems including: psychosis, personality disorders, clinical depression and severe anxiety. Sonia has extensive training and experience in working with victims of domestic abuse and serious sexual assault as well as experience in Primary and Secondary Care interventions, include CBT and Trauma Focused interventions.

As a Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist Sonia is trained to work with long term, twice weekly  psychotherapy, face to face or on the couch as well as short term interventions.

Specialist Interest

Sonia's experience includes working in an Early Intervention for Psychosis Service, and within an in-patient mental health setting. Sonia has group experience and has worked using the medium of Art to aid the therapy process. She is trained to Level 2 in DBT as well as Mentalisation Based Treatment (MBT) interventions which are NICE Guidelines recommended interventions to use with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder, although they are useful interventions for anyone who is struggling with emotional regulation. Sonia also is trained in EMDR which is an evidenced based treatment for trauma and anxiety.

As a psychotherapist Sonia treats:

Abuse (emotional, physical or sexual)
Attachment Issues
Depression
Eating Disorders
Gender Identity Issues
Loss / Bereavement
OCD (exploring the origins, not behaviours)
Personality Disorder
Psychosis
Trauma

Claire is a professionally qualified, BABCP accredited, Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (CBT). Claire works primarily with CBT but she has completed post graduate level training in Counselling and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and combine this approach with CBT.
Claire has over 20 years extensive experience working within various settings, including adult mental health, substance misuse and adolescent services along with experience in early childhood sexual/physical abuse and within substance misuse services and addiction related problems. Claire now divides her time between her own private work alongside working in primary care mental health.
Claire describes herself as having a warm, compassionate, accepting approach in order to help you move forward. Cognitive behavioural therapy focuses on challenging and changing unhelpful thinking and behaviours, improves mood and functioning. Working together to help you achieve the goal youset out for yourself by developing personal coping strategies that target solving your individual
problem. Claire subscribes to and works within the BABCP Code of Ethics and undertake regular professional
development, as well as having professional indemnity insurance.

Claire can help with a wide range problems including:Anxiety Disorders

Shannon is a Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist and is registered to practice by the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)and holds to their ethical standards. Shannon has a broad experience in the field of mental health including individual psychotherapy, group psychotherapy and Mentalisation Based Treatments (MBT).
Shannon currently divides her time between working in Private Practice and the NHS as a Principle Psychotherapist within the Specialist Personality Disorder Service, offering specialist treatment and support for patients with severe and enduring mental health difficulties.

In Private practice Shannon works with short and long term psychoanalytic psychotherapy either face to face or on the couch, offering twice weekly psychotherapy when appropriate.

Specialist Interest
Shannon has completed training in the treatment of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and has experience of helping patients to better understand their symptoms and works with them to towards integration of their parts.

Shannon is accredited with the Anna Freud Centre to treat patients using Mentalisation Based therapy which is a specific approach to improve the capacity to think when experiencing difficult feelings. This approach helps to challenge unhelpful and repetitive relational patterns and thought processes.

Shannon has also worked for 10 years within the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in inpatient settings and has extensive experience in understanding the developing adolescent mind and how to approach young people in thinking about their difficulties.

As a psychotherapist Shannon is able to work with:

Anxiety Disorders
Abuse
Attachment difficulties
Bereavement
Depression
Eating Disorders
Emotional Dysregulation and other personality disorders
Loss
Trauma
Sexual abuse

Pavlina is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist who is trained to work with patients up to three times a week on the couch (or face to face) and with brief face to face psychotherapy. Pavlina is also trained in working with groups using psychoanalytic psychotherapy.

Pavlina's clinical experience as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist includes working at the Fairbridge Clinic (London), the Woman’s Service ‘Oxleas’ (an NHS service providing psychotherapy for victims of childhood sexual abuse), and in private practice.
She holds an MA in Psychology of Religion, and foundation certificates in existential psychotherapy and analytical (Jungian) psychotherapy. She is a training member of the Association for Group and Individual Psychotherapy (AGIP) and of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and abides by their code of ethics.

Pavlina’s special interests include working with cumulative trauma and trauma and bereavement-related to the loss of a child and with adults who experienced childhood sexual abuse.

Her long-term academic and practical interest is in the relationship between Zen spirituality, Christian contemplative spirituality and psychoanalysis.

As a psychotherapist Pavlina treats:

Abuse (emotional, physical, sexual)
Anxiety disorders
Attachment and relational issues
Depression
Eating disorders
Loss and bereavement
Low self-esteem
Personality disorders
Trauma

Karen is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist working towards the final stages of her clinical training. She is trained to work with patients up to three times a week on the couch (or face to face) and with brief face to face work.

With eight years teaching experience & seventeen years within the charity sector, Karen currently divides her time between her psychoanalytic training in private practice and working for an online emotional wellbeing & mental health service. Throughout her time in the charity sector, she spent nine years in a residential housing project for homeless young people & as a project worker with Barnardo’s where she delivered a psycho-education programme on a one to one basis with people at risk of abusive or exploitative relationships.

Alongside her current clinical training, Karen also holds a foundation certificate in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. She is a training member of the Association for Group and Individual Psychotherapy (AGIP) and of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and abides by their code of ethics.

As a psychotherapist Karen treats:

Anxiety Disorders
Abuse (emotional, physical or sexual)
Attachment Issues
Depression
Loss / Bereavement
Personality Disorder
Psychosis
Relationship difficulties
Trauma

Dr Tim Burns is an integrative and relational psychotherapist and counsellor who is registered to practice with BACP and BPS. His initial training combined psychodynamic, humanistic, existential and cognitive behavioural approaches. Within his practice he also incorporates a number of additional approaches including Gestalt, Narrative Therapy and Mindfulness. As well as his initial training he has completed trainings in Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Couple Therapy and EMDR.

Following careers in academia and government, Tim has for over a decade worked in the field of Mental Health, the majority of which spent in Primary Care Mental Health Services. This work has focused on a range of emotional, psychological and behavioural issues including depression, anxiety, trauma, abuse, addictions, personality disorders and relationship difficulties.

The essence of his approach is the provision of a confidential and safe environment for clients to explore and process aspects of their past and present issues, find acceptance of aspects of their lived experience that cannot be changed and where possible to make meaningful changes to improve their sense of psychological well-being.

As a psychotherapist Tim treats:

Anxiety Disorders
Abuse (emotional, physical or sexual)
Attachment Issues
Compulsions
Depression
Loss / Bereavement
Personality Disorder
Relationship Difficulties
Trauma

We are able to offer training placements and supervision to trainee psychotherapist on Masters and Doctoral level training.
This means that we can also offer a reduced fee treatment to clients who are able to agree to be a training patient for the psychotherapist. Under this scheme we offer brief and long-term psychotherapy. If you choose the long term psychotherapy option, this will involve remaining in long term psychoanalytic psychotherapy for twice a week for the duration of the training contract. This will usually be for 2 years and will involve psychotherapy on the couch.

Other brief treatment interventions are also available with a trainee psychotherapist at a reduced fee. You can explore the options available at the point of referral.

If you are looking for counselling or psychotherapy in the Canterbury, Whitstable or Herne Bay area, call or text us on 07596177669 or get in touch by email to find out more, or to arrange an initial appointment with one of our therapists.

Contact us by email

At Whitstable Bay Psychotherapy Service, we are committed to complying with The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), agreed by the European Parliament and Council in April 2016, which came into force in 2018.
This relates to how we keep your personal information safe and being clear about how we collect your data, how we store it and what we do with it. This Privacy Policy document contains types of information that is collected and recorded by Whitstable Bay Psychotherapy Service and how we use it.

The information we collect about you

Information you give to us directly including:

Your full name, your contact details such as email address, mobile or telephone number.
Brief details of your enquiry.

Information you give to us indirectly:

We may store data about your visits to our website, for example, your location data or IP address when you use our find your nearest search engine. We may store information about how you navigate our website, although this cannot be used to personally identify you.

How we use your personal information

We will only use your personal information for the purposes for which it was obtained in the first place. We will not share it with any third parties and you will not receive any communications from other organisations.

All therapists working in association with Whitstable Bay Psychotherapy Service follow the UK Council for Psychotherapy Code of Ethics.
Your discussions with your therapist and any notes they write, are confidential and will not be disclosed to any other person without your consent. Exceptions to this rule would be if your therapist is required to disclose information by a court of law, or in order to protect you or another person from significant harm.

In addition, therapists are required by their professional registration body to meet regularly with a clinical supervisor, where they may discuss aspects of their work with you. The purpose of supervision is primarily about the therapists work with the client. Your identity will never be revealed during these sessions.

Keeping your personal information safe

We have both digital and operational safeguards to make sure your data is secure at Whitstable Bay Psychotherapy Service. Access to information is limited to those people who actually need to access it, and are assigned permission to do so.
There are, however, inherent risks to passing information over public networks and Whitstable Bay Psychotherapy Service cannot 100% guarantee the security of data handled in this way.

Your rights and managing your own data

You have the right to request access to the personal information that Whitstable Bay Psychotherapy Service stores about you. You can ask for corrections to be made to the information we hold or for your personal information to be deleted.

Yu will not be charged for a copy of your records unless it is deemed to be excessive in nature. We will ask you for proof of identity and upon this being successfully verified, you are entitled to obtain the following information about your personal information:

The purposes of the collection, processing, use and storage of your personal data. The source(s) of the personal information, if it was not obtained from you.

The recipients (or categories of recipients) to whom your personal data has been or may be transmitted, along with the location of those recipients.

The envisaged period of storage for your personal data or the rationale for determining the storage period.

Cookies Policy

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Like any other website Whitstable Bay Psychotherapy Service uses cookies to:

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Collect anonymous data to gain insight into how visitors use our website Whitstable Bay Psychotherapy Service does not use cookies to collect any information that could personally identify you. Neither do we use cookies to pass on any personally identifiable information to third Online Privacy Policy Only 
This privacy policy applies only to our online activities and is valid for visitors to our website with regards to the information that they shared with Whitstable Bay Psychotherapy Service. This policy is not applicable to any information collected offline or via channels other than this website.

You can choose to disable cookies through your individual browser options. To know more detailed information about cookie management with specific web browsers, it can be found at the browsers' respective websites.

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