About me
I am a Chartered Counselling Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC). Prior to my doctoral training, I was already a fully qualified and BABCP Accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist and a registered counsellor with the BACP.
With over 20 years of experience, I have worked across primary care, secondary care, forensic, and acute settings, treating a wide range of complex psychological, behavioural, and emotional difficulties. My experience spans private practice, NHS services, forensic settings, and digital mental health platforms.
I am originally from Venezuela and offer therapy in Spanish for those who prefer sessions in their native language.
Specialist Experience in Addiction, Trauma and Neurodiversity
A significant part of my career has been dedicated to addiction treatment and trauma recovery. From 2003 to 2009, I worked solely in addiction services, helping individuals overcome substance use disorders, underlying trauma, and co-occurring mental health issues.
Between 2003 and 2005, I worked in HMP Highpoint, a prison setting where I ran CBT-based drug rehabilitation groups and provided one-to-one counselling for individuals facing severe substance dependency, PTSD, and complex trauma. At the time, I had recently completed my BSc in Psychology, and this role marked the beginning of my practical therapeutic training. While working in forensic addiction services, I pursued my first professional counselling qualification in Integrative Counselling (2002-2004) to enhance my ability to support this population effectively.
Between 2005 and 2009, I continued my work in community addiction services, in Shared care, developing CBT-based treatment programs and offering counselling to individuals struggling with opioid, stimulant, and alcohol addiction.
After over a decade of working in various mental health settings, I returned to addiction services between December 2019 and June 2021, working with Change, Grow, Live (CGL) providing therapy to individuals with dual-diagnosis presentations, developing their counselling service and supporting staff.
Areas of Expertise
My primary interests include:
Addictions (alcohol, drugs, behavioural addictions, relapse prevention)
Anxiety disorders (panic disorder, PTSD, OCD, phobias, social anxiety, health anxiety)
Depression & low self-esteem
Childhood abuse & trauma recovery
Relationship difficulties
I take a collaborative and humanistic approach to therapy—while I bring expertise in therapy, I believe that clients are the experts in themselves, as they are the ones who experience their own lives and create their own meaning. My approach is rooted in evidence-based treatments, emphasizing empathy (and compassion), active listening, and the therapeutic relationship as essential for meaningful change.”
I adhere to the professional and ethical standards set by the BPS, HCPC, BABCP, and BACP, and I hold full DBS clearance.
My Qualifications & Training
Doctorate in Counselling Psychology – HCPC-accredited, leading to Chartered Psychologist statusPostgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Therapy (IAPT program, NHS) – Specializing in anxiety & depression
MSc in Evolutionary Psychology – Understanding the biological and evolutionary roots of psychological issues
BSc (Hons) in Psychology
Diploma in Integrative Counselling – Completed while working in addiction rehabilitation services
EMDR Accredited Therapist
Supervision & Leadership in Therapy
I have held specialist roles in both the NHS and private sector, including leading psychological services for dual-diagnosis clients (individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders). I have and continue supervising trainee psychologists, counsellors, and therapists, offering guidance on clinical cases, ethical considerations, and skill development.
I have also contributed to developing service pathways for complex presentations, particularly in addiction and trauma-informed care.
Research & Publications
My research interests include self-medication theory in addiction, evolutionary psychology, and behavioural analysis. My doctoral research focused on understanding the functions of behaviours that cause daily life problems, and my MSc research explored self-perceived fitness in relation to substance use and life history theory.
I have also conducted naturalistic behavioural studies on Capuchin monkeys and aggressive encounters in seabirds (1999-2001) during my undergraduate years.
Research & Innovation
My research spans self-medication theory, evolutionary psychology, behavioural analysis, and consciousness studies. My doctoral work explored how behaviours that cause daily-life difficulties often serve adaptive purposes and how awareness, integration, and values guide transformation.
Flores Ardila, F. J. (2025a). Mentalisation, levels of intentionality, life history theory and emotion regulation: Insights from a doctoral research. Journal of Clinical Psychology & Psychiatry, 9(1), 3–13. https://cppsgib.blogspot.com/
Flores Ardila, F. J. (2025b). Attachment informed (AI) EMDR for OCD: An integrative approach. Journal of Clinical Psychology & Psychiatry, 9(1), 14–24. https://cppsgib.blogspot.com/
Flores Ardila, F. J. (2026a). Shame vs guilt. Journal of Clinical Psychology & Psychiatry, 10(1), 3–15. https://cppsgib.blogspot.com/
Flores Ardila, F. J. (2026b). Language and emotion in bilingual clients. Journal of Clinical Psychology & Psychiatry, 10(1), 16–22. https://cppsgib.blogspot.com/
Flores, F. J. (under review). The Spiral of Connection and Disconnection: Archetypes, values, and the reflexive journey toward wholeness in counselling psychology practice. Counselling Psychology Review. Revised and resubmitted following first-round reviewer feedback; decision awaited. The article presents the framework of this book to a peer-reviewed counselling psychology audience.
Flores, F. J. (2019). What sense do people make of the functions of behaviours that may be causing them problems in their daily life? Doctoral thesis, University of East London. Available at the British Library.
I also conducted naturalistic behavioural studies on Capuchin monkeys and aggressive encounters in seabirds (1998-2002) during my undergraduate years.
I am the co-founder of PsyConnect, a platform that connects clients with therapists and empowers therapists to manage referrals and develop professionally.
I have also developed the Archetypal Spiral Model, integrating evolutionary psychology, attachment theory, IFS, and contemplative traditions. I am currently in the process of publishing a book on the Spiral Model and have created a companion web app: Mindful Flow. This tool supports therapeutic reflection, integration, and personal growth through interactive engagement with the Spiral framework.
