Pretish Raja-Helm
My journey into counselling and psychotherapy started back in 2007 while teaching secondary science in an inner city school. This challenging environment provided me with valuable skills for working with both children and adults from different backgrounds and it widened my curiosity of how we as beings exist and relate.
During my time as a teacher and education consultant I found myself struggling personally, feeling unsatisfied in many elements of my life and made the choice to seek support from a psychotherapist. I had personally witnessed the immense healing power of therapy and so began my training at The Minster Centre (London). Since then, I have had the pleasure of working with enriching clients from various organisations, such as Terrence Higgins Trust, Place2be and The Minster Centre Low Cost Therapy Service.
I have also been a Tutor at CONEL and Terapia (London) on their foundation level Psychotherapy trainings as well as delivering further training on issues of Intersectionality, Race, culture, ethnicity and power within the therapeutic field.
Aashna Counselling & Psychotherapy (Co-Founder)
‘Embracing difference and diversity in all its forms’
My rich difference and intersectionality means I haven’t always felt seen or understood within the therapy field, both as client, trainee and therapist, an experience for many who come from marginalised backgrounds. With that in mind, Shammi Kohli and I founded Aashna, a therapeutic space dedicated to inclusivity and embracing difference & diversity in all its forms.
In line with our ethos we also began a pioneering series of encounters named Let’s Get Uncomfortable (2019) to challenge racism within the therapy field. Aashna and our creative team have also set up a social justice project named Aashna + (2019 - current), a service for individuals who often struggle to access long term sensitive psychotherapy in mainstream settings. I am one of the founders and supervisors for this service.
My Therapeutic Approach
I have trained as an Integrative Psychotherapist (Minster Centre, London). This means I work with different modalities based on our relationship and your needs. In my work I honour the relational and cultural dimensions of the living world. This includes the physical, emotional, psychological, social, ecological and spiritual aspects of life.
I welcome what ever issue(s) you may bring to therapy, with this in mind I offer both long and short-term work.
I am able to offer culturally sensitive psychotherapy in both English and Gujarati.
Qualifications & Training
Certificate in Supervision ( Minster Center, 2021)
MA in Integrative Psychotherapy ( The Minster Centre, 2018)
Gestalt Intensive training in Group Work (Gestalt Centre, 2017)
Diploma in Integrative Counselling (The Minster Centre 2016)
I further develop my skills and knowledge through Continued Professional Development events as required by the UKCP.
Other Qualifications
P.G.C.E Secondary Science (Goldsmiths University)
Bsc (Hons) Applied Biology (Kingston University)
I am an accredited member of UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and work in accordance to the UKCP ethical framework.