Xhilda Kola

Xhilda Kola is a Trainee Integrative Counsellor and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). She works within The Awareness Centre’s short-term talking therapies service for NHS Lambeth, as well as supporting young people as a Transition Specialist within a drug and alcohol service. In these roles, Xhilda supports people with a range of concerns, including mental health difficulties, relationship issues, substance misuse and the transition into adult life. She works from an integrative approach, recognising that every person is different and that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to counselling. Xhilda believes that change does not need to be rushed and offers a space where clients can pause, reflect and come as they are, without needing to have all the answers.

Xhilda’s approach is guided by each client’s individual needs and is grounded in psychodynamic and person-centred perspectives. She recognises that every person’s journey is different and that the focus of therapy may naturally shift depending on what feels most meaningful and helpful at any given moment. At times, this may involve gently exploring the past and the experiences that have shaped us; at other times, it may mean bringing awareness to what is happening in the present or looking towards the future and the possibilities for change. Xhilda is fascinated by the complexity of the human mind – our thoughts, emotions, hidden patterns and the ways we make sense of the world around us. She is curious about the stories we carry, the ones we tell ourselves and those we may have forgotten. She is particularly interested in the many ways we experience being human: in joy and pain, uncertainty and hope, connection and loss, and all the feelings in between.

Xhilda has a background in mental health and specialist experience supporting people with neurodiversity, social anxiety, depression, BPD, sexual assault and addiction, including drug and alcohol misuse. She understands that reaching out for support is not always easy and that it can take courage to sit with someone and share the parts of our lives that may feel difficult, painful, confusing or deeply personal. For Xhilda, being trusted with someone’s story is something she holds with genuine gratitude and care. Her previous experience continues to shape the compassionate and non-judgemental way in which she works with clients, while respecting each person’s individual experiences, strengths and pace. Outside of her work, Xhilda is a lover of cats, nature and dancing, and a lifelong student of life itself.