Meet the Therapist: Neresia Osbourne
Neresia Osbourne is a therapist in Croydon and online
What attracted you to become a therapist?
My experiences have spanned different fields, including psychology, medicine and law. I have been exposed to different theories and perspectives on thought and behaviour. I have been able to work through, explore and support change for both colleagues’ clients and service users.
These experiences encouraged my ambition to work within the psychological and therapeutic field.
Where did you train?
I completed my degree in Counselling Psychology at the University of Roehampton, a PgDip Integrative Counselling and Coaching at University of East London and I have a Life Coach Certificate in Special Needs Parenting Consultant.
I will shortly be starting PsychD Counselling Psychology and Therapy. I worked in counselling organisations as part of my training and initially worked with mothers who had experienced traumatic childbirth, or have special needs babies and children.
Can you tell us about the type of therapy you practise?
I practice from an integrative approach. My practice approach affirms the inherent value of each individual. I believe no two people are the same.
I consider the client and their circumstances, and use elements of different approaches to help them explore and cope with their challenges. My approach is individualised and holistic, and combines ideas and techniques from different therapeutic schools of thought.
Clients choosing this approach can expect evidence-based treatments. I collaborate and work with clients to understand their personality traits, preferences, needs, spiritual beliefs, openness, and motivation level.
I can also integrate coaching into my therapeutic practice. With this I am able to support further through daily challenges and life transitions where meaningful, applicable goals are created and supported through my work.
How does integrative therapy help with symptoms of depression and anxiety?
My integrative approach when working with depression and anxiety considers the lived experience of each individual client. It is culturally informed and empathetically developed. It therefore offers a systemic context to my client’s experiences.
The client is supported to explore in safety, to bring their whole self to therapy and they are affirmed. We explore their values, beliefs and expectations, identifying their emotions and their relationship with themselves in being in the world.
For example, a client who has experienced traumatic childbirth may disconnected from themselves and their body, and they may have difficulty bonding with the child/children. They often experience depression and anxiety as a result of cultural, racial, or historical, legal, and medical prejudices.
My work seeks not to pathologise a client’s experiences, but to create and find meaning in their existence and act as a witness on their journey to healing and recovery.
What sort of people do you usually see?
I see individuals experiencing challenges including depression anxiety, panic, loss, and grief, trauma and transitions.
I specialise with women/carers who are BAPOC and BIPOC, mothers aged twenty-one plus. The common areas explored are emotions feelings, moods, family, relations, meaning, pre- and post-natal trauma, racialised trauma, womanhood, motherhood, multiple birth parenting, disability and complex needs, the body, and marginalisation.
Have you noticed any recent mental health trends or wider changes in attitude?
The importance of maternal mental health and specifically Black maternal mental health. This is being understood as a crisis and it is being accepted that it is a human rights issue rooted in hostility towards motherhood in general, and the addition of systemic racism.
What do you like about being a therapist?
Being able to develop authentic and transparent relationships. Collaborating with clients to identify and work on that which has the most meaning to their existence. Creating more space and opportunities for clients to be themselves, heal and live in their truth.
What is less pleasant?
Accepting that there will always be parts of the client’s experiences and therefore perspectives that may not be easy to change. The traumas that come through these experiences and specifically the ones that can only be managed.
How long have you been with Welldoing and what you think of us?
I joined Welldoing three months ago, I found it to be a very transparent site with easy to use and accessible features. I also like that it gives opportunities such as Meet the Therapist interviews for clients to see how we work.
What you do for your own mental health?
I go into nature, walking, aqua therapy, yoga, Pilates, reading books, socialising with friends, and eating out.
You are a therapist in Croydon. What can you tell us about seeing clients in this area?
I am a therapist in Croydon, Purley Way, providing both online and face-to-face therapy sessions. This gives flexibility and accessibility in terms of clients using my service.
What is your consultation room like?
My consultation room is modern bright and comfortable.
What do you wish people knew about therapy?
That therapy is the relationship: the collaboration between therapist and client encompasses many different areas and therefore takes time.
What did you learn about yourself in therapy?
A lot – and I am still learning! I learnt to own my own voice to hold my space without apology and to embrace my authenticity.
