Dr Rina is a Counselling Psychologist and completed her Doctorate from City University, London in 2008. She has been working within the field of mental health and wellbeing since 2004 and has varied experience with children, adolescents and adults. She offers one to one therapy, couples therapy and corporate training, as well as being a regular contributor in the media. Rina is passionate about supporting people on their individual journeys and offers a tailor made approach, following an initial assessment. Rina believes in fitting the therapy to the person, rather than the other way around, so that therapy is accessible to people from all walks of life.
What’s the best thing about your job?
I love being alongside people on their journeys and seeing them gain the confidence to make the empowered changes that feel right for them. This often comes from understanding their feelings, challenging negative thoughts and beliefs and creating a different perception of themselves and their circumstances.
What has been the most inspirational moment of your career?
The people that I work with inspire me on a daily basis! On a personal note, it has been when I set up my own business as this was a concept that I had been working on for a while.
What things do you wish you’d known before starting your career?
Once you turn your self awareness on it can’t be turned off! This has been a positive thing as it’s allowed me to make changes in my life, but it can also highlight the struggles as sometimes others are not so willing to be self reflective or make changes.
If you were stranded on a desert island, what 3 things would you want to have with you?
A journal to jot down my thoughts, music and some books to keep me inspired
What’s your favourite quotation or mantra?
“I am good enough. Anything I can conceive, I can achieve”
What’s your morning routine to motivate you for the day? OR What’s your evening routine to wind down for the evening?
I use both my morning and evenings to shift my mindset. In the morning, I will spend a moment in mindful meditation and then write down 10 things that I am grateful for. I will also reflect on my goals and write down any actions that I want to take in the day. At night time I, once again, spend some time meditating or breathing and write down 10 things that I am grateful for or that went well that day.
What piece of advice would you give to someone just starting out in your field?
It’s really important that you have the right structures in place to support your ongoing development. I would recommend investing in a great supervisor and focussing on developing a network of like minded professionals to encourage continual reflection. There will always be things to learn and you will never know everything, so be self compassionate and take things one step at a time.
As a therapist which area of therapy do you find the most challenging and why? e.g. children, adolescents, couples.
Although each area can bring its own challenges, couples therapy presents a unique set. The main reason is that with the relationship as the “client” you are navigating multiple people and perspectives. It is important to spend time clarifying the purpose of therapy and your role as a therapist as each party may come with their own perspectives, beliefs, expectations and resistance.
What do you see as the key issues for mental health in the aftermath of the pandemic?
One of the key issues remains access to services. The waiting list for statutory and voluntary services has increased, coupled with a reduction in funding for many services or the termination of services in some instances. This means that timely and preventative support becomes more challenging for many people. There is also an overall increase in anxiety, loneliness and depression. Therefore, there is a growing gap between need and support.
You offer corporate training – in your opinion what responsibility should businesses have to employee mental health?
Supporting mental health and wellbeing is everyone’s business, including employers as they remain an important system around their employees. Whilst it’s also important that individuals reflect on their needs, investing in mental health as an organisation also has benefits. This can include reduced absenteeism, increased presenteeism, improved staff morale, more focus at work and better communication. Therefore, supporting staff wellbeing is not only ethical but also makes good business sense.
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