Ashka Dzierzek

Whether you are currently experiencing a hard time and need help to develop coping strategies; or you are feeling lost and need to see things from a different perspective; or simply want to know yourself better, Ashka can support you to come closer to finding your answers. Humanistic Counselling, in which Ashka has trained, considers a person as a whole and provides a safe environment of trust, empathy and unconditional positive regard for the client. The ultimate purpose of Humanistic approach is to bring an individual to the state of wholeness and self-actualisation. It states that we are all inherently good, all have potential for growth and self-realisation and embraces uniqueness of the experiences of each individual. Many people who undertake therapy gain more self-awareness, improve their self- esteem and have greater self-acceptance. It can also help to have better relationships with others and to overcome challenges, help with depression, anxiety and stress. By exploring their inner experience the clients can gain more control and better understanding of their needs. Sometimes it can be difficult to find words to verbalise experiences and feelings, however the bodies which are an incredible resource of information are able to express the emotions non verbally, not just in the way of the body language, but also by the felt somatic sense. Ashka brings to her work with clients Body Centred approach, which means that in the session Ashka may include some gentle somatic (mindful) movement, or simple body and breath awareness practices, which can integrate both Body and Mind and can create more wholesome healing process through practicing being in a present moment and connecting to interoceptive experience. Our body keeps the score of our experiences and stores them in our physiology and it is not always possible to simply talk them out. While working solely cognitively is beneficial, we recognise that it might be not sufficient for the healing to occur. A deeper delving into the physical and also spiritual layer of our being is needed to uncover inner truths. Improving self- and body-awareness, connecting to the physical sensations and how we experience ourselves in our bodies can be helpful in finding answers, enhancing safety and perception of the environment and relate more authentically to others. In therapy the collaborative relationship between client and the therapist is an essential foundation for positive outcome of the therapy. In the first sessions the client and the therapist will be working on creating a working alliance built on trust, empathy and communication. Ashka is particularly interested interested in working with anxiety, low self-esteem, self-worth issues and women experiencing challenges of menopausal transformation. Ashka is offering face to face therapy. The length of the therapy will be defined the client’s needs and requirements. Ashka offers sliding scale of £55 - £65 per session.

I have always had an interest in how humans work and why we are the way we are. While seeking answers to my questions I went to study Counselling, Yoga, Meditation, Reiki, foundation of End of Life Doula and Western Esoterism including some Alchemy, Astrology and Tarot. Unsurprisingly I didn’t find any definite answers regarding humanity, however in the process I uncovered some inner personal truths, which took me on a life long journey of self-knowledge. I am a strong believer in the inner work, which can bring us closer to the centre of who we truly are. There can be no transformation or healing without shining awareness onto our inner landscapes. There are many means of doing the inner work that can bring us closer to our True Nature, one of them can be talking therapy but I am a strong believer that other layers of our being need to be included in the work, so physical body, spiritual, emotional etc. I consider myself a compassionate therapist with an ability to skilfully and tenderly hold space for clients to fully meet themselves and explore layers of their being through deep connection to their centre. ​ I have interest in various traditions: Western esoterism, mysticism, Yogic tradition, Buddhism. I have trained as a Meditation Teacher and in various Yoga styles. My personal and therapeutic practices are informed by these disciplines. My practice is trauma informed. ​