About Me
I originally worked in advertising before retraining to do the work I am passionate about – therapy. My first job as a therapist was running art therapy groups in a drug and alcohol programme in London, where I worked for seven years. From there, I continued working with addictions first in a residential offender’s unit and then with the Essex probation service for a number of years. I found that working with art and creative materials was a very effective way of enabling clients to work on underlying issues, which often causes and contributes to difficulties with drug and alcohol use.
I am a person-centred therapist, which means that I work to understand, empathise, empower and offer a non-judgemental space for clients to work through issues at their own pace. Person-Centred Therapy is a radical, well researched and effective approach that is dynamically compassionate and respectful of the autonomy of the client. I have a range of creative materials available for clients to use if they wish.
I have specialised training and experience in counselling children and young people, firstly working as a therapist in school, and also as a therapeutic foster career working with traumatised children and young people.
I have approximately twenty years’ experience of therapeutic work, and have worked in private practice since 2004 with adults, couples, children, and young people working with a wide and varied range of issues.
I began training counsellors in 2007, I qualified as a lecturer in 2008 and have carried out several research projects, including sexual issues in therapy, and the use of digital media in therapy. My current research interest is in digital media and communication, and cyberpsychology.
I continue to study and have an interest in the connection between nutrition, gut health and mental health – an area where research is starting to reveal complex connections that impact mental health and well-being.
I am also an author and have a chapter published in The Handbook of Counselling Children and Young People. I enjoy writing and I am currently a writer for the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists and have contributed to a number of projects such as Counselling MindEd.
Training, qualification and experience
- Accredited Nutritional Therapy Diploma Level 5 – Currently Studying
- Starter Nutrition Course Certificate
- Youth Mental Health First Aider Certificate
- MA Counselling & Psychotherapy – UEL
- CWDC Certificate in Fostering
- Post Graduate Certificate in Education and Learning Anglia Ruskin University
- BA (Hons) Person-Centred Counselling – OUVS
- Advanced Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling
- Certificate in Person-Centred Counselling
- Certificate in Person-Centred Art Therapy Skills
- Access Certificate to Primary Teaching (A levels – Child Psychology, Sociology, Educational Psychology)
Publications
- de la Prida, A. Second Edition (2018) Referrals and Indications for Therapy in Pattison et al (2018) Handbook for Counselling Children and Young People, London : Sage.
- de la Prida, A. (2016) Let Food Be thy Medicine…The Counsellors Café [online] https://www.thecounsellorscafe.co.uk/single-post/2016/09/30/Let-Food-Be-Thy-Medicine [Accessed 1.11.16]
- de la Prida, A. (2014) Referrals and Indications for Therapy in Pattison et al (2014) Handbook for Counselling Children and Young People, London : Sage.
- de la Prida, A. (2014) Entering the Frame of Reference. [online] Available at :< . [Accessed 15.9.2014]
- de la Prida, A.(2014) Communicating Empathy [onlne] Available at : https://www.minded.org.uk//course/view.php?id=126 [Accessed 10.8.14]
- de la Prida, A. & Southall, R. (2014) Establishing a Therapuetic Relationship [online] Available at : https://www.minded.org.uk//course/view.php?id=181 [Accessed 15.9.2014]
