Elena Carrera

Elena Carrera is a bilingual trainee psychotherapist and counsellor on placement with The Awareness Centre’s NHS Talking Therapy in Lambeth. She is a member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP), and is currently working towards the Advanced Diploma in Contemporary Psychotherapy. Elena takes a holistic, integrative approach rooted in Contemporary Psychotherapy, drawing on her experience of body-centred approaches to understanding emotions. She provides therapy in both English and Spanish and is developing her clinical experience supporting clients as they explore their thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and life experiences.

Elena is warm, empathetic, and offers a safe, non-judgemental, and collaborative environment where clients can explore both helpful and unhelpful patterns at their own pace. She believes that therapy can support clients in reconnecting with their intuition, identifying the changes they wish to make, and letting go of what no longer serves them. In her psychotherapeutic work, Elena encourages clients to listen to their own bodies and explore both verbal and non-verbal communication as meaningful sources of information. She supports clients in developing awareness of their emotions, unmet needs, and different parts of their experiences, including those that may feel conflicting. Through this process, clients can begin to acknowledge, validate, and understand themselves more deeply, while developing more compassionate ways of relating to themselves and others. Elena’s approach supports clients in observing their experiences with curiosity and empathy, helping them navigate challenges and move towards greater self-awareness and emotional wellbeing.

Elena brings a wealth of life and professional experience to her therapeutic practice. She has worked with young people in Higher Education for almost four decades, an experience that has deepened her understanding of human development, transitions, and personal challenges. She is particularly interested in supporting clients experiencing bodily changes and life transitions, including pregnancy, menopause, and other changes that can affect emotional wellbeing and the way people experience themselves. Elena also brings personal experience of navigating challenges related to chronic illness, fatigue, pain, anxiety, and stress, which informs the compassion and understanding she brings to her work. Through her holistic and integrative approach, Elena aims to offer clients a space where they feel heard, supported, and empowered to explore their experiences and create meaningful change.