Get to know us - Dr Soha Daru

Dr Soha Daru is a highly experienced HCPC registered Psychologist with over 15 years’ work experience counselling online and face-to-face in mental health centres and the NHS. Her specialisms are counselling for low mood/depression, anxiety/generalised anxiety/social anxiety, attachment issues, work-related problems, anger management, PTSD, trauma, abuse, work-related problems, grief/bereavement, relationship issues, self-esteem, cultural issues, chronic health problems, self criticism, self esteem, sexuality, suicidal thoughts, personal growth and development. Dr. Soha has worked at various mental health centres, charities and the NHS over the last 16 years. She also works as a Lecturer in Counselling and Psychotherapy at the University of Leeds, training Masters students to become qualified counsellors.
Qualifications

Dr. Soha has a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology from the University of Manchester. In addition, she has completed a Bachelors and Masters degree in Psychology, a Post graduate diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy and Post graduate certificate in CBT. She has more specific training in the therapeutic approaches outlined below.
Approach

Dr. Soha is trained in Cognitive Behaviour therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Compassion focused therapy (CFT), Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), body work/somatic therapy, relational therapy, Person centred therapy, Gestalt therapy, Transactional analysis, Psychodynamic therapy and Mindfulness. Dr. Soha offers both structured and exploratory therapeutic approaches. Her approach is based on in-depth research and concrete evidence from clinical practice. She helps people get to a place where they feel less stuck, more content and empowered in their lives. Sessions with her won’t involve “just talking about the problem” but more specific ways to help you move towards your goals by offering new perspectives and at times, gentle challenges.

Dr. Soha has an in-depth understanding of how early childhood experiences impact us and how we subconsciously create unhelpful patterns in the present. She is described by her clients as a warm, empathic and highly effective therapist. Dr. Soha believes in working alongside people to help them achieve their full potential, as the answers are already within us. She offers a collaborative approach and recognises that we are all unique in our experiences, cultural backgrounds and upbringing. We might be influenced by past experiences, but we have a choice in how we respond to the present and the challenges life might bring. Her approach is tailor-made to suit individuals’ current needs; she aims to empower people and support them with where they want to get to at the end of therapy.

Soha has experience working and offering help with a wide range of psychological difficulties including the following:

• Depression and mood issues
• Anxiety
• Panic Disorder
• Social Anxiety
• OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)
• Health Anxiety
• GAD (Generalised Anxiety Disorder)
• Anger
• Sexuality and Sexual Issues
• Physical Health Problems
• Chronic Pain
• Chronic Fatigue (M.E.)
• PTSD/Trauma
• Relationship Difficulties
• Work Stress
• Stress
• Low Confidence/Esteem
• Bereavement
• Post-natal depression
• Assertiveness Issues
• Sleep Therapy/Insomnia

Insurances I work with: AXA, Aviva, Cigna, Simply Health, WPA and others.