About Claudio Mendes
Psychotherapist in Banstead
Hello, I am Claudio.
I am an accredited psychotherapist and supervisor with over 18 years’ experience across NHS services, bereavement support, probation and multicultural counselling organisations.
Alongside my clinical work, I provide supervision to therapists, supporting their professional development and clinical practice.
I am accredited by the BABCP, BACP and IPT UK.
I offer therapy in person in Banstead and online across the UK, including sessions in Portuguese.
People often come to therapy when something in life feels difficult to carry alone, or when familiar ways of coping no longer seem to be working. They may have been managing for a long time before deciding to speak to someone.
You do not need to arrive with a clear story or the right words.
We can begin wherever you are. I aim to provide a calm, thoughtful space where you can talk openly about what is happening and begin to understand what may be behind it.
My way of working is calm, collaborative and structured. Some sessions may involve taking time to understand your experiences and emotional patterns; at other times, the focus may be more practical, such as making decisions, communicating with others or managing difficult situations in everyday life.
Professional Accreditation
Psychology Today
View my Psychology Today profile
My Therapeutic Approach
My therapeutic approach is collaborative and guided by your goals for therapy.
It is also informed by the theoretical principles of the therapeutic modalities I practise, which provide a framework for understanding your difficulties and deciding how we might work together.
Within this framework, I am guided by what you wish to explore during sessions, while keeping in mind the focus of the work we have agreed together.
I am trained in Psychodynamic Counselling, Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
I also draw on principles from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), where these are appropriate to the work.
These therapeutic modalities offer different ways of understanding and working with difficulties we may sometimes experience in our lives.
This may include exploring relationship patterns that have developed over time, how earlier experiences can influence the way we understand ourselves and relate to others, and how our thoughts, feelings and behaviours can affect how we respond to situations in the present.
They can also help us develop different ways of responding to difficult thoughts and emotions, including developing greater flexibility and a more compassionate attitude toward yourself.
Following an initial assessment, we can consider which therapeutic modality is most suited to your needs.
The work may involve developing a deeper understanding of recurring patterns, working through difficulties in relationships, or finding more helpful ways of responding to thoughts, emotions and situations between sessions.
My approach remains collaborative throughout the work. I bring the knowledge and theoretical framework of the modalities
I practise, while you remain actively involved in what we explore and work towards.
During sessions, I am guided by what you wish to explore while keeping in mind the agreed focus of the work. This allows us to maintain a clear sense of direction while making space for what feels important to you as therapy develops.
What I Can Help With
People come to therapy for many different reasons. Sometimes there is a clear problem; at other times,
something simply no longer feels manageable or familiar ways of coping have stopped working.
I work with adults experiencing a wide range of emotional and relational difficulties.
Anxiety & Stress
Chronic worry, panic, social anxiety, feeling overwhelmed or finding it difficult to switch off.
Life Changes & Transitions
Difficult periods of change, uncertainty, loss of direction, retirement, changes in work or circumstances, or adjusting to a new stage of life.
Relationship Difficulties & Disputes
Conflict, recurring disagreements, withdrawal, insecurity, difficulties expressing needs, or feeling stuck in patterns that are hard to change.
If you would like to discuss whether therapy could be helpful, get in touch to arrange an initial consultation.
Identity, Sexuality & Shame
Questions around identity, belonging, intimacy and self-esteem, including experiences of shame or internal conflict.
Trauma & Relational Trauma
The effects of distressing or overwhelming experiences, including longer-term experiences that continue to affect emotional wellbeing and relationships.
Grief & Loss
Bereavement, the end of a relationship, changes in health, or other significant losses and transitions.
Self-Esteem & Self-Criticism
Harsh self-judgement, persistent feelings of adequacy, shame, insecurity or patterns of avoidance.
Fees & Insurance
Fees
£85 per 50-minute session.
If the standard fee would be difficult for you, please feel free to ask about reduced-fee availability.
A limited number of spaces are available.
Insurance
I accept Bupa and other insurance referrals.
Please provide your pre-authorisation number before your first session.
Any policy excess must be paid at least 24 hours in advance.
Getting Started
Looking for a therapist can feel daunting, particularly when you are already dealing with something that feels difficult or stressful.
You do not need to know which therapeutic approach or modality is right for you before we meet. In my experience, people can feel overwhelmed or uncertain about the root causes of their current struggles, or what might be most helpful.
The first step is to arrange an initial consultation.
This gives us an opportunity to talk about what has brought you to therapy, what you are experiencing and what you would like to change or understand through therapy.
Part of the initial assessment is to understand what you are experiencing and what may be contributing to your difficulties. From this, I can make recommendations about the approach and type of therapy that may be most appropriate for you.
During the initial session, I will invite you to share some details about your current situation, significant life events, relationships and the changes you would like to make through therapy.
We can begin to understand what may be contributing to your difficulties and outline what you would like to work towards.
My recommendations may include psychodynamic psychotherapy, interpersonal therapy or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), depending on what you are experiencing and what may be most helpful. We can discuss this together and agree how we would like to proceed.
The initial session is also an opportunity for you to ask questions and get a sense of what it would be like to work with me.
You may want to ask about how therapy works, my approach, the frequency of sessions, fees and payment, cancellations, or anything else that would help you feel informed.
Finding the right therapist is a personal choice. It is important to me that you feel comfortable talking to me and clear about what we agree to work on together.
Considering therapy?
If you are considering therapy and would like to discuss whether it might be helpful, please feel free to contact me here.
