ABOUT ME

Hello, my name is Dafiny Alves. I am an integrative counsellor, Clinical Supervisor, and Life coach. I am also a certified anxiety—and trauma-informed practitioner and a member of the BACP and NCPS. I specialise in working with neurodivergent young people and young adults.

 

I have been working with a diverse range of people from different cultural backgrounds, including neurodivergent people like me; since 2018, when I first started counselling, I have over two thousand hours of client work experience under my belt. My work experience has been in school settings, private practice, and independent mental health charities, I have worked with Global majority communities providing culturally sensitive therapy, including offering short-term therapy to Portuguese and Italian speakers via the IAPT service in South London, work that resonated with me as I am Brazilian and I lived in Italy for a few years, I believe that it is empowering for people to be able to express themselves in their mother tongue and offering this to our clients can make a positive impact on the therapeutic relationship.

 

I also have experience managing counsellors as a coordinator of a counselling service in a women’s only charity in Harrow, where I recruited and trained counsellor volunteers and assessed clients' suitability for counselling.

As a Clinical 1-to-1 and group Supervisor at Need to Talk, I provide guidance in ethical dilemmas, explore the importance of self-care in the caring profession, and, equally importantly, provide a non-judgmental space for counsellors to talk about their client’s welfare. I also run my private practice, work as a school counsellor at Child in Time, and write and deliver workshops on Anxiety, Bereavement, and Well-being. These workshops are not only for the general public. I also develop workshops for fellow Counsellors. I have run a few sessions in Short-term Counselling. I am developing new workshops on Self-Care for helping professionals and how to work with clients with OCD. Finally, I am also exploring my skills as a blog writer.

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• CPACB - Counselling & Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body - Diploma in Integrative Counselling 

• Counsellor Tutor - Advanced Certificate in Clinical Supervision, Including Online and Telephone Working Level 6

• HSC Oxford Home Study Centre - CPC accredited - Diploma in Life Coaching Level 7

• Counsellor Tutor - Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling 

• PESI UK - Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP) Training Course: Applied Neuroscience for Treating Anxiety, Panic, and Worry

• PESI UK - Anxiety, Trauma & Self­Harm in Children and Adolescents ­- Essential Regulation and Restorative Practices

• PESI UK - Advanced Trauma Treatment for Children and Adolescents: A Certified Child and Adolescent Trauma Professional Training Course

• PESI UK - CBT Training for Anxiety and OCD

• Hillingdon  SCP - Initial Working Together to Safeguard Children (level 3)

• Mindful Society Global Institute - Neurodiversity - Informed Mindfulness

• Mental Health First Aider

• ADHD Clinical Services Provider (ADHD-CCSP) Certification Course: Strength-based Interventions to Thrive with ADHD from Childhood to Adulthood

• Oaklander - Sand Tray: Using the Oaklander Model

•  Carolyne Spring - Working with Trauma 

• Counsellor Tutor- Autism and ADHD Awareness 

• PESI UK - 2023 Autism Symposium: What's New & What's Next in Treating Clients on the Spectrum (Online Course)

• Ongoing trainings: 

• PESI UK- 2025 Autism Symposium

• ADHD Coach

• Certificate in Romantic partner therapy