Welcome, I’m Camilla Ferraro
Our stories can shape us…
...here’s some of mine.
Feeling stuck, anxious, burnt out or a little lost?
Well, I’ve been there too.
Five years ago, I finally decided to try therapy, a huge privilege in itself, and well it pretty much changed my life. So naturally, I became a therapist.
I’m joking of course – it was not that straightforward, but all of this to stay that I have been a client too. Therapy can be hard. It is no joke. It can also be deeply rewarding and enriching.
I also feel strongly that therapy is not the solution/fix-all for everything though! Many issues lie far beyond the individual person. Yes, therapy can facilitate individual healing but it is important not to overstate its benefit on wounds that lie far deeper than the individual (e.g. rooted in systemic oppression and marginalisation).
As therapy is deeply personal (and political – in my humble opinion!), it is important to find the right therapist for YOU.
I hope the below helps YOU get to know ME better, and if you think working together might be a good fit, then do get in touch.
Who is Camilla?
Integrative Psychotherapist, Registered Dietitian & writer. Neurodivergent, autistic woman, and a cat-parent too.
*And as much as I love talking in the third person, I will spare you from here on*
I grew up in Melbourne, Australia but currently call the United Kingdom home (and apparently my accent shows it). My pronouns are she/her.
How did I get here? My passion for food and science, initially led me down the path of studying nutrition and dietetics. However, after many years I noticed that I was feeling uncomfortable with the expectations around being ‘expert’ in a topic area that’s highly personal (we all have to eat) and actually largely political (with many folk facing struggles around eating, for reasons entirely beyond their individual control).
I still enjoy elements of this work, but I felt a pull to go deeper, and realised that I was becoming more interested in the stories of my clients (Who are you? and What’s happened to you?) and less interested in whether they were meeting their estimated energy requirements or following the meal plan.
This led to me finally summoning up the courage to re-train in psychotherapy.
I also have lived experience of both navigating the world with a divergent brain or ‘neurotype’, and of past disordered eating (as an adolescent), so when I say to clients ‘I get it’…well I often really do.
Having said that, I am never, ever the expert of you and your lived experience. You are the ‘expert’ in any of the work we may do together.
Finally, as a therapist and health professional bound by various codes of ethics, I am committed to a constant process of learning and unlearning. Of getting things wrong, apologising, and doing better.
That is always my promise to you.
Who is Stanley?
The other member of the team.
Stanley is our demanding, but very handsome back-of-house team member. He is head of staff wellbeing and makes sure we all get enough cuddles and pats to keep us happy. He also keeps my chair warm when I am away from the desk.
If you are an online / telehealth client then you may indeed get an unannounced visit from him. He likes a screen dive!
The Formal Bit
To reassure you that I am not a hairdresser dressed up as therapist – absolutely NO shade to hairdressers (legends!) but no one wants me cutting their hair.
Qualifications
- Dual Qualified as a Registered Dietitian/ Nutritionist (HCPC: DT29865) and Psychotherapist (MBACP: 406533)
- Post graduate Diploma in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy (University of East London)
- Masters in Dietetic Practice (Latrobe University, Australia)
- Undergraduate degree in Human Nutrition (Latrobe University, Australia)
Experience
- Experience working in various sectors of the public health systems (both inpatient and outpatient) in Australia and the UK (8+ years).
- Experience working in private and NHS mental health services – Eating Disorders (6+ years).
- Experience working in private practice, utilising a non-diet approach to help support with disordered eating, women’s health conditions, gut health, chronic health conditions and more for 7+ years.
- Experience working with young adults in university and performing arts settings.
Further Training and Courses
In a commitment to providing you with quality care, I am always engaging in further training courses and CPD, and hope to start couples therapy training soon, too.
Feel free to contact me if you would like to know specifics about the further training I have done.
During the course of working together, I might ask you what your values are.
So, it is only fair that I share with you some of mine.
Honesty
I will always tell you the truth. I will be straight-talking and transparent if I can no longer provide what we have agreed to, or am not the right person to support you.
Justice
My sense of social justice is strong and I always encourage discussion of systems of injustice and marginalisation as/when they come up in therapy. It is not the white elephant in the room.
Empathy
Endeavouring to always walk alongside you, to understand you deeply, and get a sense of what it is like to live in your world.
Fun
Sometimes I have to remind myself to have fun (especially when the world feels increasingly heavy). A few cat videos and a belly laugh later, and I am momentarily reminded.
Acceptance
Therapy should be embracing all genders, races and abilities (but barriers do indeed exist). In our work, I will wholeheartedly accept how you choose to identify.
Non-judgement
I will never judge you for who you are and what you bring into a session
Up Close and Personal
If you have read this far, then **claps** to you! You get some bonus intel into who I am, behind the scenes, as ‘the human’ rather than the professional.
Here are a few things you might not know about me.
- I am definitely an introvert. My social battery is extremely limited.
- I am obsessed with coffee. Growing up in Melbourne, Australia (with an Italian background) means it is basically impossible not to be.
- I am a voracious reader and purchase way too many books. My ideal life would involve constant time for reading and/or owning a bookstore.
- I am extremely sensitive to noise and often distracted/overwhelmed by loud or repetitive noises. I am also very picky about the sensation of fabrics against my skin.
- I love clothes and fashion/style and have a quite the knack for sourcing great pre-owned pieces (love a charity store / resale website!)
- My go-to favourite foods are baked goods including bread and pastries and chocolate (lots of it!)
- My go-to comfort watch is the movie ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ (maybe that’s cringe but I don’t care) and I enjoyed seeing the musical version too!
Feel working together might be a good fit?
Find out more about what I can offer: