Therapist Sonia Dugay Photo

Sonia Dugay, BACP

Stress, Anxiety Relationships Family conflicts Depression Coping with life changes
Video Phone Live Chat Messaging

About me

Hi, I am a registered Counsellor in the South of UK. I have worked with many different clients having spent some time in a support centre for survivors of rape and sexual abuse. Survivors of such a trauma can bring many different issues to the Counselling space such as Anxiety, Anger management issues, Low Self Esteem, Intimacy Difficulties, Eating Disorders, Self Harm, Relationship problems and these are some of the issues that I have worked with predominantly.
I have been working in Private Practice more recently and during the lockdown which brought different types of mental health problems to people. Some of whom were young adults, with issues such as Loneliness, Anxiety and Career changes. Others were in a mid life crisis, struggling with relationship issues or low confidence difficulties.

I have also counselled people with issues surrounding DNA surprises.

Some of these problems are very difficult to talk about and taking the first step is often hard to do. However, talking about your troubles and finding yourself listened to by someone who is not going to judge is a wonderful feeling. I can offer you a space to offload your troubles and together we can try to find a solution so that you can make your way into the future with a bit more hope. My approach is to listen to the client and hear what you need instead of telling you what you should do; a Person Centred Theory which believes that the client has the answer. The way forward is to draw the answers from you by listening carefully to the 'inner you' .
I also use a psycohdynamic theory which goes a bit deeper into your life in order to explain why some of your issues may exist because inside every adult is a child who had experiences that may still need addressing.

On a personal note I believe strongly that any form of exercise helps enormously with mental health and for me a brisk walk or dance class helps put me back on my feet if life gets tough.
My up bringing was basically Christian but not very deep at all and I don't consider myself to be of any particular religion now. However, I am interested in all religions and believe myself to be open to understanding other cultures. I respect the fact that religion is very important to many people in all sorts of different ways --good and bad.
I am friendly, warm and interested in others. I look forward to meeting you.

Professional experience

7yrs in practice
Stress, Anxiety Relationships Family conflicts Depression Coping with life changes

Additional areas of focus: LGBT, Trauma and abuse, Intimacy-related issues, Eating disorders, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Compassion fatigue, Abandonment, Attachment issues, Blended family issues, Body image, Caregiver issues and stress, Commitment issues, Control issues, Divorce and separation, Domestic violence, Eating and food-related issues, Emptiness, Family of origin issues, Family problems, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Mood disorders, Pregnancy and childbirth, Self-love, Sexual assault and abuse, Sexuality, Women's issues, Workplace issues

Clinical approaches: Client-Centered Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy

Services offered

Video
Phone
Live Chat
Messaging

Credentials information

BACP Counsellor #386067

BACP Therapist - Registered Member MBACP #386067

Reviews

These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Sonia Dugay. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.

Listening, empathetic...very professional

Written on Jan 06, 2025 after therapy with Sonia for 3 weeks on issues concerning depression, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, and coping with life changes

Very empathetic, experienced counsellor. After 2 sessions, I feel more confident about how to move forward and deal with my issues.

Written on Jan 03, 2025 after therapy with Sonia for 2 weeks on issues concerning addictions, relationship issues, family conflicts, and adhd

Sonia has been supporting me over the last few months as I process separation and grief. She is an excellent listener and really empathetic. She has a caring nature and accurately reflects back to help me process my feelings and emotions.

Written on Oct 28, 2024 after therapy with Sonia for 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, self esteem, and coping with life changes

Sonia is extremely warm and kind, and I feel I can talk to her about anything that is worrying me without judgement. She creates a space where I feel at ease enough to unravel all my thoughts and talk it all out. She asks questions which prompt me to think about things differently, and find the solutions within myself. I could not recommend her more - I look forward to my therapy sessions with her so much and it always feels like there has been a weight lifted after each one. Therapy with Sonia has meant I am starting to feel more like myself than I have in a long time.

Written on Sep 08, 2024 after therapy with Sonia for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, family conflicts, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, and coping with life changes

Good listener, reliable therapist.

Written on Aug 22, 2024 after therapy with Sonia for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, and coping with life changes

Sonia is a very good listener as well as being observant empathetic/sympathic guide to a more insightful introspection of oneself. Having not been for therapy previously I've been pleasantly surprised by how easy the sessions are once started. Commiting and starting was the hurdle..just start and it's downhill from there.
Thank you Sonia.

Written on Aug 20, 2024 after therapy with Sonia for 2 weeks on issues concerning parenting issues, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue