Nafsiyat’s Paid-For Therapy Service
To book your first assessment, please contact referrals@nafsiyat.org.uk. For sessions subsequent to this, please choose the therapist you would like to work with and a date and time below. Please keep in mind, after your assessment you may be paired with a different therapist if their experience better matches your needs.
Our Clinicians
Shifaa is a Bilingual therapist of Bangladeshi heritage, fluent in Bengali, Hindi and Urdu. She is an integrative therapist trained in person-centred, psychodynamic and spiritual modalities. A member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and the National Counselling Society (NCS), she is currently pursuing her MA in Advanced Clinical Practice with The Minster Centre.
As a qualified Independent Mental Health Advocate, Shifaa has spent several years working in the secure units with patients detained under the Mental Health Act. This gave her an insight and understanding into severe mental health presentations such as psychosis, depression, bipolar, personality disorders and eating disorders.
Shifaa's experience includes extensively supporting young people in crisis through short-term trauma-informed interventions and managing self-harm and suicidal ideations as a Mental Health Practitioner. Shifaa has worked with a diverse range of clients and issues including, young children, young adults, adults and older adults.
Gizem Köksal holds a BA(Hons) degree in Psychology from Bogaziçi University and MA(Hons) degree in Clinical Psychology from İstanbul Bilgi University. She is a registered member of BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy). She has specialized in adult psychotherapy with a psychodynamic approach. She continues to deepen her knowledge and experience in psychoanalytic theory and techniques with an intercultural aspect through the psychoanalysis formation training at PSIKE Istanbul. She speaks Turkish and English.
Tahirah is a qualified and experienced bilingual integrative counsellor/psychotherapist. She is also an Accredited BACP Therapist, NCPS Clinical Supervisor, and a Trainee Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (BABCP).
Tahirah works in depth with her clients, she holds each client in high regard and aims to create a safe therapeutic space where they can share. She works intuitively, with compassion, understanding and acceptance.
Tahirah is culturally aware and attuned. She uses her lived experience to connect, guide, and support clients from all walks of life. She has worked with individuals, couples, families, children, and wider family networks. She is known for her proven supervisory skills in managing and motivating others to achieve organisational objectives. Her strengths include perseverance and determination. Her speciality is trauma and Neurodiversity. She offers therapy in English, Urdu, and Punjabi.
Ja'far completed his training on the MSc in Intercultural Therapy program at University College London in conjunction with Nafsiyat, leading to UKCP registration as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist. After qualifying, he lived and worked for many years in Saudi Arabia as an English language lecturer and student counsellor.
Now back at Nafsiyat, currently working as a group therapist. Ja’far speaks English.
Pinar Cakir is a BPC (British Psychoanalytic Council)-accredited psychodynamic psychotherapist specialising in adult therapy. She runs a private practice in London and works at Nafsiyat. Pinar holds a Bachelor’s degree in Counselling Psychology from Boğaziçi University and an MSc in Clinical and Health Psychology from Bangor University. She completed an intensive four-year postgraduate diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy at the Enfield Counselling and Psychotherapy Service (ECPS). Pinar speaks English and Turkish.
Assya Bouayad is a multilingual psychotherapist with extensive experience supporting clients from diverse cultural backgrounds. Fluent in French, Arabic, and English, Assya brings a compassionate, trauma-informed approach to her practice, utilising modalities such as psychodynamic, existential, and humanistic therapies. She specialises in helping individuals navigate complex challenges, including PTSD, sexual and domestic abuse, war trauma, female genital cutting (FGC), OCD, low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety.
Assya has worked with several organisations, including Nafsiyat, Nour Domestic Violence Centre, and Sister Circle, providing therapy and assessments for individuals with varied needs. In her private practice, she focuses on building trust and safety in the therapeutic relationship while tailoring her approach to each client.