Ellie Katayoun

Ellie Katayoun is a Doctoral Trainee Counselling Psychologist at The Private Therapy Clinic. She has extensive experience working with individuals facing complex mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, personality disorders and complex eating disorders.

Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychology from Queen Mary University of London, a respected institution within the Russell Group, where she gained a strong foundation in psychology and evidence-based practice. She later went on to earn an Master of Sciences in Psychotherapy Studies from the New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling, in collaboration with Middlesex University, an institution known for its focus on Existential Psychotherapy.

Ellie has completed various therapeutic skills courses, including training at the Metanoia Institute and the Anna Freud Centre, where she gained expertise in working with different psychiatric presentations in adolescents and adults.

Experience

Ellie Katayoun has several years of experience working with individuals facing complex mental health disorders across a range of settings. Her background includes several years working in psychiatric in-patient hospitals, outpatient services, and various community-based mental health services throughout London, including Mind and The Listening Place.

In her current role, Ellie works the Lead Crisis Worker for Mind, a Crisis Prevention Service, supporting those in acute mental distress.

Her extensive clinical training has been invaluable, equipping her with the expertise to offer well-informed, compassionate, and effective support tailored to the unique needs of each service user she encounters.

Therapeutic Approach

Ellie’s therapeutic approach is warm and empathetic. Seeking therapy can feel like a daunting and scary experience, and its often hard to know where to start or what to expect in therapy. Ellie strives to provide a supportive, welcoming environment for her clients, working at a pace that feels manageable for each individual and tailors her approach to meet their specific needs.

She draws on several therapeutic methods, including Person-Centred Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Psychodynamic techniques. Her use of Person-Centred Therapy emphasizes empathy, active listening, and unconditional positive regard, which she believes are essential in creating a safe and nonjudgmental space for clients. This approach encourages clients to explore their thoughts and feelings freely, fostering a supportive environment where they feel respected and truly heard. By focusing on each client’s unique perspective, Person-Centred Therapy aims to help individuals develop greater self-awareness and self-acceptance, empowering them to find their own solutions and paths to growth. Rather than directing the client, she acts as a facilitator, trusting that each person has an innate potential for self-healing and personal development. Her empathetic and genuine approach seeks to validate clients’ experiences and emotions, reinforcing a sense of worth and encouraging them to move toward fulfilling their own potential. Through this client-centred framework, she creates a collaborative therapeutic alliance that is essential for fostering growth, helping clients become more confident, autonomous, and aligned with their values and aspirations.

Ellie Katayoun holds particular interest in working with low self-esteem, anxiety disorders, and Borderline Personality Disorder. Her academic research explores the lives experiences of people holding a diagnosis of BPD. She is a member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and abides by their standards.