I am from Milan, Italy, and I have been living in London for over 18 years. I lived in different countries and I have experienced what it means adapting to and integrating into new cultures. It has been a fascinating and enriching journey but at times a hard one.

After completing a degree in Modern History and working in publishing and education, my interest in working in the voluntary sector, in particular in health and social care settings and community development, came into focus. I have extensive experience in supporting people with a life-limiting or terminal illness and their families, from the point of diagnosis to end-of-life, and family bereavement. I also worked with migrants and refugees with complex needs. One of my areas of expertise is working with people affected by dementia. I worked as a Dementia Adviser at the Alzheimer’s Society supporting people affected by dementia and their carers with the challenges of this experience. My training encompasses both Tom Kitwood’s person-centred approach to dementia care and Naomi Feil’s Validation® method.

I trained and qualified as integrative therapist at CPPD (Centre for Personal and Professional Development) in North London.

As part of my training I worked at ELMS (East London Mental Health Support), seeing clients from a variety of backgrounds and dealing with a broad range of issues and situations including: abuse, anxiety and panic attacks, depression, effects of migration and displacement, end of life and death, intrusive thoughts and compulsion, loss and bereavement, low self-esteem, managing illness or disability, relationship difficulties, sexual identity, trauma.

I am a qualified practitioner of the Validation® method for communicating with people with dementia (Level 1 and Level 2) and I currently run groups for people with dementia based on the Validation group model.

Qualifications and training

• Level 2 Validation® group leader (Agape AVO, Milan)
• Level 1 Validation® practitioner for individual sessions (Agape AVO, Milan)
• Advanced Diploma in Humanistic Integrative Counselling (BACP accredited, CPPD, London)
• Diploma in Humanistic Integrative Counselling (BACP accredited, CPPD, London)
• Foundation Course in Intercultural Psychodynamic Approaches (UKCP accredited, Refugee Therapy Centre, London)
• MA, History of Political and Juridical Institutions (Università Statale degli Studi, Milan; Universidad Autónoma, Madrid)
• BA (Hons.), Modern History (Università Statale degli Studi, Milan)

Good practice

I am a registered member of BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) and I abide by its Code of Ethics. You can view the BACP Ethical Framework here.

In order to offer my clients high-quality therapy I remain in ongoing professional training and personal development. I have regular individual supervision with a BACP accredited supervisor as well as group supervision.

I hold professional indemnity insurance.