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 supervised 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.
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 writing a book on the Spiral Model and have created a companion web app: Syncronize. This tool supports therapeutic reflection, integration, and personal growth through interactive engagement with the Spiral framework.
