Welcome to Adva Rodogovsky - Specialist Trauma and Loss Therapist
Trauma and Loss Therapy in a Safe and Private Setting
My name is Adva Rodogovsky and I am a specialist trauma and loss therapist providing short-term and long-term therapy to adults in South West London.
As a level 2 certified clinical trauma practitioner and a certified EMDR practitioner, I specialize in two deeply challenging aspects of the human experience: trauma and end-of-life.
A Safe Place to Explore, Trauma, Complex Trauma and End of Life
In my counselling practice in Wimbledon and Clapham I support adults who have experienced Trauma or Complex Trauma (relational/ prolonged ) and grappling with the enduring impact of these events on their overall well-being.
I also support adults who navigate the complexities of terminal illness and/ or their soon departure from the world , clients who care for a loved one in their end-of-life stages as well as clients who struggle to cope with the aftermath of grief and bereavement. I extend counselling support to people who have loved and lost a pet.
These challenging experiences tend to have an overwhelming impact on the overall wellbeing and can result in anxiety, depression or relationship challenges. Fundamental existential concerns, such as the nature of life and death, freedom, isolation, and meaning, frequently come to the forefront during these trying times.
About Me
I am a compassionate and dedicated therapist with a profound commitment to helping individuals navigate life's challenges. I provide a safe and non-judgmental space where clients who face difficulties can explore their thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
Throughout my career, I have been a successful frontline humanitarian aid worker, a hospital chaplain and a meditation teacher. I worked across diverse clinical settings, including hospitals, hospice care facilities, and private practice.
With an advance diploma in trauma, complex trauma and dissociation, my experience covers a wide spectrum of traumatic experiences, covering single and secondary traumatic exposures, complex trauma, Dissociation, PTSD, grief and loss, critical illness, palliative care and complex bereavement. This enables me to offer expert guidance to individuals and families navigating these deeply challenging personal and emotional journeys.
Meeting individuals, families and communities in their darkest hours I know, from experience, that everyone has the capacity for healing and recovery. I love supporting clients on their unique journey towards self discovery and well-being. It is my experience that it is never too late for transformation.
A registered member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy), I trained in and drew from evidence-based modalities including psychodynamic, person-centred therapy, somatic practices, EMDR, IFS, and Mindfulness. I tailor my approach to meet the individual needs and goals of each client.
I offer counselling from my clinics in Clapham and Wimbledon in South West London.
What issues can counselling help with?
People come to me for help on a wide range of issues. Here are a few of the more common difficulties that can be supported through counselling:
Trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.
Clients who experience PTSD may report feeling tense, intrusive memories, hypervigilance, being on guard, emotional numbness or avoidance of trauma. Many report difficulty concentrating; struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep; They may feel irritable or angry, or find themselves experiencing aggressive outbursts. Others engage in risky, reckless, or destructive behaviour or struggle to be in relationships.
If you find yourself in these description counselling can be exceptionally helpful in finding inner strength and in rebuilding our lives and learning to live with the traumatic events.
Complex Trauma and Complex PTSD
Complex trauma refers to repeated, prolonged exposure to traumatic events—often relational in nature, such as abuse or neglect—typically occurring during childhood or adolescent.
Clients who experience complex PTSD (C-PTSD) may report similar difficulties as those with PTSD but they often accompanied with emotional dysregulation, negative self-concept, self -harm, difficulty maintaining relationships, and persistent feelings of shame or fear.
However, complex trauma is not a "life sentence." With will, intentionality and support, it is possible to heal, rebuild our lives, and thrive despite and in spite of early traumatic experiences.
Dissociation
Dissociation is a mental process where a person disconnects from their thoughts, feelings, memories, or sense of identity, often as a protective response to overwhelming stress or trauma. It can range from mild experiences, such as daydreaming or losing track of time, to more severe forms like feeling detached from reality or experiencing memory gaps.
While dissociation helps protect against emotional pain, chronic or severe dissociation can interfere with daily life and relationships.
Therapy can help with dissociation by increasing awareness of triggers, developing grounding techniques, and fostering a stronger connection to the present, promoting emotional integration and healing.
EMDR
EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing or as the title of my favourite EMDR book Every Memory Deserves Respect * is a scientifically proven therapeutic technique that involves guided bi lateral stimulation.
EMDR is a demanding process that intentionally asks clients to face their trauma. It requires preparations, trust and a sense of safety. If done in a careful manner it can assist in reprocessing distressing memories, reducing their emotional charge, and promoting psychological healing, resilience and emotional regulations
Repeated studies show that much like the body can recover from a physical trauma EMDR can help the brain heal from emotional trauma by rewiring the neurological pathways.
*Deborah Korn and Michael Baldwin coined the phrase every memory deserves respect and authored a great book on EMDR by the same name
Palliative Care and End of Life
Facing our end of life or the imminent loss of a dear is an exceptionally trying time. Often it leaves many of us contemplating transpersonal and fundamental existential questions on the nature of life and death, the meaning of our lives. grief, connection, isolation, love, regrets and burden.
Counselling provides a compassionate space to explore difficult end-of-life decisions, cope with terminal illnesses, and find comfort and meaning during this challenging time guiding clients them towards healing and acceptance.
Complex Bereavement
Loss and complex bereavement involve prolonged, intense grief that disrupts daily life.
Symptoms associated with complex bereavement may include intense longing or preoccupation with the deceased, difficulty accepting the loss, emotional numbness or bitterness, identity disruption, avoidance of reminders of the loss, social withdrawal, and a persistent sense of purposelessness or hopelessness.
Therapy can help by providing a safe space to process emotions, navigate unresolved feelings, and find pathways to healing and meaning.
Critical Illness
A diagnosis of critical illness affect different people in different ways. Many report to feel shock, anger, guilt, frustration, loss or lack of identity and direction in life, lack of confidence or feeling useless, hopelessness, sadness, isolation, anxiety, emptiness or feeling mentally weak and fatigued
Sometimes, feelings and experiences of living with critical illness can develop into mental health problems including anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, PTSD, isolation or dissociation
Therapy can support clients from diagnosis through treatment, or after treatment has finished. It provides a safe space to explore, allow and validate all experiences and help clients navigate through these exceptionally trying times.
Pet Loss
Some of us who loved and lost a beloved pet experience profound grief. This grief can sometimes be complicated by the fact that we may have had to take difficult decision including euthanising our pet which can result with intense guilt and shame. Many times the bereavement over a pet is not widely understood or accepted, leaving clients feeling isolated, misunderstood and unsupported. I know, from experience, the pain associated with losing a beloved pet who was a family member and keen to support clients who face similar expressions.
Hopelessness
Border Line Personality
Self Harm
Complex PTSD
Dissociation
Pet illness and Pet Bereavement
Suicidal Thoughts
Anger
Isolation
Complex Trauma
End-of-Life
EMDR
low Self Esteem
Trauma and PTSD
Grief, loss or bereavement
Depression
Palliative Care
Relationship Issues
Fees & availability
Counselling sessions for individuals last 50 minutes, usually taking place on a weekly basis and cost £80 per session.
EMDR sessions cost £90-£120.
I currently have very limited availability in Clapham Junction on Thursdays 19:00-20:00
Note that if you want to cancel an appointment I require 48 hours notice; otherwise, you will still need to pay for any sessions missed. I accept payment in cash or by bank transfer.
My Location
I can provide my sessions from 2 locations in South West London, Wimbledon and Clapham. These locations are easily accessible from the surrounding areas such as Mitcham, Twickenham; Streatham, Brixton; Chelsea, and Mayfair.
Wimbledon
Clapham
Get in touch
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how counselling works, or to arrange an initial assessment appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to counselling, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.
You can also call me on 07386897236 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first. I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have before arranging an initial appointment.
All enquiries are usually answered within 48 hours, and all contact is strictly confidential and uses secure phone and email services.
© Adva Rodogovsky Counselling
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