My name is Nina Dearden. I am a BACP accredited psychotherapist with an MA in Psychotherapy and Counselling.

My therapeutic training was integrative - drawing on psychodynamic, existential and humanistic approaches to therapy. My MA dissertation explored issues of race, politics, and cultural difference in therapy.

My counselling experience has primarily involved working with marginalised groups that tend to be excluded or sidelined in mainstream therapy. I’m passionate about creative, culturally aware and inclusive therapy that tries to understand and meet the individual within the context of their family, community and society.

My previous work includes trauma-informed individual and group therapeutic work with refugees at the Refugee Council, and support work with LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum at Rainbow Migration (then the Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group). I also worked for several years with the East London Out Project, offering short and long-term LGBTQI+ affirmative therapy.

I am committed to working in a way that includes and respects a diversity of sexual orientations and gender identities. I am committed to offering a deeply non-judgmental therapeutic space for people who are engaged in sex work or kink, or are navigating polyamory or ethical non-monogamy.

Since qualifying I have completed training in working with complex trauma with an emphasis on stabilisation, grounding, body-awareness, and self-soothing. A body-centred and body-compassionate understanding of stress and trauma informs the way I approach therapy.

I have also completed training in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) which is more structured mindfulness-based approach to therapy that is focused on developing self-acceptance and identifying personal values and direction.

In my current practice, I draw heavily on the training I have recieved in Internal Family Systems (IFS). IFS is inspired by the methodology of family therapy and the insights of trauma-informed approaches. It assumes that the mind is not unitary – but an interplay of different parts that make up an internal system. In my experience, this way of working is particurlarly useful for early complex trauma, which can leave people feeling deeply fragmented and conflicted – alienated from or at odds with themselves. IFS is non-pathologising, and helps build a more accepting, compassionate, and curious relationship with every part of who you are.

Im my work, I also draw on a deep personal interest in existential issues. My undergraduate background is in Philosophy, Politics and Economics where I developed a love for existential philosophy.