Monika Smolar

Counselling Psychotherapy

Individuals Couples EMDR Parental Consultations

About Me:

I have worked as a psychotherapist and counsellor for over 25 years and remain passionate about my work and the transformation it can bring to peoples' lives. 

I am a qualified, experienced and UKCP registered psychotherapist. I work with a variety of psychological and mental health issues; trauma, abuse, depression, anxiety, relationship, couple and family issues. I also work using EMDR (see below for more details). 

I work with individuals, couples, adolescents, young and older adults and see parents for parental consultations. 

I  have over twenty years' experience facilitating a number of therapeutic and psycho-educational groups and workshops. I ran a Bereavement Group for ten years,  Stress and Anxiety Management Groups, Raising Self-Esteem and  Living the Good Life Groups, groups regarding Perfectionism and Procrastination and many more.

I have had a private practice since 1996 and work both online, using Zoom, and in-person, out of my premises in Chiswick, West London.

I have worked at a university; the LSE, for over 20 years. There I provided therapy to students and staff and facilitated groups and workshops. 

I currently work at Jewish Womens' Aid where I provide therapy to women who have experienced coercive control, domestic abuse and sexual violence.

My Experience (continued):

I work with younger and older adults, couples, students, adolescents and parents. I offer parental consultations to parents and carers. 

I also offer a fast and effective type of therapy called EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Therapy. This works very effectively by  lowering the distress levels of most psychological and mental health issues and conditions; from anxiety and depression to trauma and abuse. See my Psychotherapeutic Services page for more details.

I have worked at The Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre, The Richmond Fellowship (a therapeutic community for those with severe mental health problems), for MIND, at Turning Point, in primary and  secondary schools (Twyford Church of England School) with adolescents and for a specialist eating disorder service. 

I have worked for a number of Employee Assistance Programmes, including counselling employees of the Dept of Health and Dept of Social Security.

At the university (the LSE) I provided individual therapy and counselling to staff and students.

I work and have worked in the private sector, the charity sector, in the public and the state sector in the UK.

I have lived and worked in several different countries and experienced a variety of cultures, languages and religions. I speak different languages; I am partially fluent in Polish and have a basic knowledge of Swedish, Hebrew and French.

Live Your Best Life:

1/ Self-Compassion. Be kind towards yourself.

You have a relationship with yourself just like you have a relationship with everyone else in your life. So how are you speaking to yourself, how are you treating yourself; every hour of every day, every day? Are you kind, compassionate and caring towards yourself or are you harsh, critical and impatient?


2/ Practice good self-care. Look after yourself. What do you need?

Get into a routine which supports and nurtures you. Include connection with others, relaxation, enjoyment and exercise. Regularly check-in with yourself and ask: 'How am I doing? What do I need right now?'


3/ Think about your strengths, goals and dreams. Feel more connected, less isolated.

Connect with yourself and those around you. Devote time, energy  and effort to fulfilling your goals, desires and dreams. Focus on them. Visualize and affirm what you need and would like in your life, what is important and meaningful for you.