Hi, I'm Dr. Kanchi Gunaratna — a HCPC Registered Chartered Psychologist with 30+ years of experience based in the UK.
About me
I am a Chartered Psychologist and an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS) registered with the Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC). I have a breadth and depth of experience in the principles and application in the field of psychology spanning over 30 years.
I am a fully accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist registered with the British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapists (BABCP).
Additionally, I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and a member of the EMDR Association UK and Ireland.
I am trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) (Compassionate Mind Training).
My experience
I have experience of working with a wide range of people with varied mental health difficulties, both within the Private and Public sector organisations.
I have worked at many NHS Trusts such as the St Thomas and Guys Pain Management Unit, St George’s University Hospital NHS Trust as well as within various other NHS and IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) services.
I also have a special interest in stress and its impact on people's Psychological Wellbeing. My Doctoral thesis is on Occupational Stress and Psychological Well-being. This has given me a unique and in depth understanding of the impact of stress (and anxiety) on a person.
Additionally, how excessive anxiety can result also in depression (and vice versa) and other mental health difficulties including Burnout. I have a thorough understanding of the impact of Organisational and personal factors on a person’s overall well-being and the importance and the value of a good Work-Life balance. I have written and deliver ‘Building Resilience’ sessions to organisations to manage as well as prevent stress/anxiety.
My approach
Our goal in therapy in the same — that is your wellbeing.
I value the importance of developing a sound, trusting therapeutic relationship with you. I try to make the therapeutic arena a safe and comfortable space where you feel able to share issues that are difficult and challenging to think about and address. I believe a safe space enables therapy to be effective as it will help you build and draw on your strengths and resilience.
I will work collaboratively with you to ensure the therapy is bespoke to meet your specific needs. It is a team effort. My aim is to empower you with skills and techniques enabling you to move forward in life, building on the skills you have and making you more resilient and able to manage your difficulties. Most importantly for you to continue to maintain the progress you have made, after therapy is completed.
I use evidence-based therapy, in line with NICE Guidelines to treat adults across a diverse range of mental health and psychological difficulties.
I take an integrative approach in my clinical work, delivering CBT, ACT, CFT and EMDR.
Services
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD
Depression
Stress
Anxiety Disorders
Areas of special interest
Stress & Anxiety
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I have an understanding of how excessive anxiety and/or depression can result in various other mental health difficulties. I have a thorough understanding of the impact of Organisational and other factors on a person’s overall Well-being and the value and importance of Life-Work balance.
Long-term conditions
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I have trained in Long Term Conditions at St Thomas and Guys NHS Trust. I treat individuals as well as run group sessions. My approach enables people to see how they can lead a valued and fulfilling life despite their Long-Term Condition(s).I have written and delivered 10-week LTC groups for the NHS (for individuals with Chronic Pain and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome).
Testimonials
I was treated for Anxiety and indecisiveness. I feel my therapy with Dr Kanchi has benefitted me and she is a great person to talk to and I always felt at ease during the sessions.
I was treated for Anxiety. I am very happy with the support I have received and feel like I have changed my way of thinking in a positive way. we have a good relationship I don’t feel judged when speaking and Dr Kanchi and she always listens.
I was treated for Anxiety. I am very happy with the support I have received and feel like I have changed my way of thinking in a positive way. we have a good relationship I don’t feel judged when speaking and Dr Kanchi and she always listens.
If I didn’t understand something it would be explained in a way I understood using examples. I was never made to feel stupid for asking for it to be explained again. definitely.
Therapy has been very beneficial for me and I have learned so much. Dr Kanchi is very kind easy to speak to. I am very happy with each of the sessions and the support I have received.
I was a bit weary of the idea of therapy but I have learned so much and am very appreciative with the help I have received. The sessions were all at my pace and were explained to me in a way I would understand. I enjoyed the tasks I had to complete between sessions. I was always listened to. Thank you so much for your help I will be forever grateful.
I want to say thank you again for all your support and introducing me to all the different approaches to help me manage my anxiety.
Since last talking to you I have managed to go on long journeys and trains without thinking about needing the safety behaviours - even going on flights without my parents, and with my family going on holidays. Thank you for everything
I was treated for OCD.I am very happy with the therapy received from Dr . Kanchi as I always felt positively influenced to do my best and I was always praised for any hard work that I felt I did.
I was never made to feel embarrassed or little for any of my thoughts or feelings. I have come a long way since the start of my therapy and have noticed a big positive difference in my day-day life.I feel very comfortable to address any concern no matter how silly it sounds. Also feel comfortable talking about everyday life, not just about therapy. The techniques were easy to understand, and Kanchi made sure I could ask or if I didn’t know, that she could explain. I would you recommend therapy with Dr. Kanchi to others (family, friends, colleagues).
Before seeing Dr Kanchi, I felt overwhelmed with my job and stressed out by what I perceived as unusual pressure and relentless monitoring from my manager. This resulted in severe physical manifestations for which I endured painful procedures.
Before seeing Dr Kanchi, I felt overwhelmed with my job and stressed out by what I perceived as unusual pressure and relentless monitoring from my manager. This resulted in severe physical manifestations for which I endured painful procedures.
Speaking with Dr Kanchi was a godsend. She patiently listened to me and helped me to understand and navigate the challenges I faced at work that led me to her.Dr Kanchi has helped me immensely to change my mindset and basically do a complete mental reset.
This has enabled me to successfully return to work and cope with the stress of my job despite my employer’s unwillingness to change any of the circumstances that had led to my anxiety and my absence from work for six months.
The strategies she introduced me to have helped tremendously in improving my ability to better remember and retain information, see problems and roadblocks for what they are, make decisions that help me to thrive, solve problems in a more contrastive manner, and deal with work and life more effectively and efficiently using the tools she provided.
Dr Kanchi was very friendly and we had a good working relationship. She always enquired of my well-being and always asked how my week went. She also took an interest in the things I was telling her, giving positive feedback when due and constructive feedback (included in the session) when necessary. For this, I’m grateful because it has helped me to grow.
Everything Dr. Kanchi delivered was clear and easy to understand and apply. Dr Kanchi would ensure I understood one point/technique and was applying it before moving to the next. I would most definitely recommend Dr Kanchi without hesitation
I was treated for helping manage my anxiety. For me it (CBT therapy) was a fantastic tool to understand my emotions, behaviours, body reactions and responses and to manage them in a constructive way. I found it also quite eye-opening to see that we could actually change.
I was treated for helping manage my anxiety. For me it (CBT therapy) was a fantastic tool to understand my emotions, behaviours, body reactions and responses and to manage them in a constructive way. I found it also quite eye-opening to see that we could actually change.
Kanchi is an open, warm and understanding therapist. I was surprised by how comfortable and confident I felt in her presence while sharing some very personal information. I felt I could fully trust her and knew she would not be judging anything I said. Kanchi able to deliver the techniques in a way that was easy to understand. She presented the relevant techniques in a simple and almost graphic way easy to process.
At first, I was quite hesitant to take up a remote therapy but as it was the only option at the time did it and actually cannot say I felt less involvement or that physical distance made any difference. I was very satisfied.
I was treated for Dermatillomania , I wanted to help reduce picking my face.
I was very happy with the therapy I received. I found Dr Kanchi creative and knowledgeable in the number of different techniques she suggested that may have helped. She was then flexible enough to only proceed with the methods which worked practically for me, rather than insisting that I carry on with methods that should work in theory but that may not fit into my life. In that way I was able to settle on 4 or 5 different techniques that really make a difference.
My therapeutic relationship with Dr Kanchi was very good. I found her supportive and respectful at all times. I had no problem understanding the techniques and the sessions built upon each other so by the end they were reinforced and well-understood. I would have no hesitation recommending Dr Kanchi.
Thank you for everything you have done for me, I greatly appreciate it!
I was treated for anxiety and to help me with my confidence. She tailored the sessions to whatever I wanted and from the beginning I stated that I wanted her to be straightforward and tell me points where I could do better, I am glad this was continued throughout.
I was always looking forward to my sessions as I felt it was a relief to get everything off my chest with someone that was looking out for my needs. All techniques I have been taught I have and will continue to use in my daily life as they have significantly improved my mental health. Kanchi has made it very easy to feel comfortable in my sessions. Each technique was set out clearly and practised when needed.
I definitely would recommend therapy with Dr. Kanchi to others (family, friends, colleagues)I thought I would struggle not being face to face but I found it easy to open up and all the sessions were very helpful.
I am starting to feel like me again and the CBT has been invaluable for my anxiety.
Dear Kanchi
Thank you so much for helping me over the last couple of months . I am starting to feel like me again and the CBT has been invaluable for my anxiety.
I was treated for anger management and stress. I was extremely happy with the therapy I received from Dr. Kanchi.
I was treated for anger management and stress. I was extremely happy with the therapy I received from Dr. Kanchi.
The sessions were held at a time that was convenient for me, and I never felt under pressure to complete any of the extra work that she sometimes asked me to do. Even when we had communication issues, she went out of her way to still deliver the sessions. Dr. Kanchi understood my professional background and how it affected my issues, and I was able to talk openly, with confidence about my work and home life.
Dr. K always started the session asking me about my week and was genuinely interested in what I had to say. Dr. Kanchi’s approach to delivering the various techniques and lessons was very good and informative, describing why she was delivering certain content and why it was relevant. If she felt that a certain aspect of the therapy was not necessary for me, she quickly informed me and gave me an alternative approach.
The benefit of the remote therapy allowed me to be flexible with m ability to attend my sessions, and although a face to face session would have been good to have, I don’t believe that it would have been as flexible. I have already recommended a close friend to speak to Dr. Kanchi.
If any other friends or colleagues approached me, I again I would always recommend Dr. K.
I was treated for low self esteem , I was very happy with the therapy. Not only I have learned a lot, I went from a very dark place to a better one. Knowing more about myself, getting to know my values. I still have lots of work to do but Dr Kanchi gave me lots of tools to achieve that.
I had a great therapeutic relationship with Dr. Kanchi, we get to know each other a bit more, and I really enjoyed our weekly discussion. Dr. Kanchi was able to deliver the techniques in a way that was easy to understand . It was super easy to understand and she made sure I was always understanding.
I would definitely recommend therapy with Dr. Kanchi to others (family, friends, colleagues)
Dr. Kanchi treated me for Anxiety and Low Self Esteem. Working with Dr. Kanchi was great and I have learnt a lot in our months of working together.
She has a very structured approach to the sessions which provides a good balance of learning and also application of techniques. Dr. Kanchi also takes time to listen to the individual, ensuring the sessions and discussion is helpful and progressive to current context. Overall, I found the experience of working with Dr. Kanchi very positive and supportive.
Kanchi always made me feel comfortable and positive in my sessions. Her psychology has genuinely turned my life around in terms of managing my OCD.
The therapeutic relationship with Dr. Kanchi was both professional and empathetic. I always felt like our sessions were a safe space. Dr. Kanchi was able to deliver the techniques in a way that was easy to understand through revisiting some of the materials and techniques, Kanchi was able to help me cement some of the techniques of CBT and ACT. I would absolutely recommend therapy with Dr. Kanchi to others (family, friends, colleagues).
I found my therapy sessions to be very helpful. I appreciated learning coping strategies to deal with my anger and dermatillomania. Dr Kanchi was very empathetic, compassionate and understanding. I felt as if she genuinely cared about me and wanted a positive outcome for me.
There was plenty of time for me to ask questions when she was teaching me about a model / theory. I found the videos that we used helpful too.I would certainly recommend Dr Kanchi to a friend or colleague. I was pleased to find someone who specialised in dermatillomania.
I continue to use the coping strategies on a day-to-say basis and so far have not had any relapses.
Dr Kanchi has changed my life and I can’t thank her enough! I feel hardly any social anxiety at all thanks to the methods I’ve been taught and I feel like a different person compared to when I started my sessions. The therapeutic relationship with Dr Kanchi was Excellent, from our first session I felt at ease I honestly feel as though I’m speaking with a friend.
The sessions were set at my own pace and she made sure I understood everything and always checked I was happy with everything. I already have recommended therapy with Dr Kanchi to others! I can’t praise Dr Kanchi enough my only wish is that I could carry on speaking to her forever because she is brilliant.
I have tried counselling before and felt uncomfortable and didn’t benefits me at all but these sessions have been life changing. Dr Kanchi is excellent at what she does and I feel she genuinely cares about her patients.
Dr Kanchi has helped me identify areas where I needed to understand a little more about why I was feeling certain ways about certain things, and apply techniques to manage that so I am not overwhelmed with my emotions.
Kanchi was amazing and listened to everything I had to say and has most definitely helped me.
Kanchi was amazing and listened to everything I had to say and has most definitely helped me. My experience exceeded my expectations and I am so happy to be where I am now with thanks to Kanchi
Thanks for all your assistance over the past ten weeks. I'm more than happy for you to use any of my comments or views to promote your services.
I have found your approach very supportive and encouraging, and I feel as if I have regained a lot of control over what I'm feeling and how I'm behaving.
I believe I have more control over my life and have broken a cycle of feeling unvalued, overwhelmed, and powerless in the face of seemingly endless demands and tasks. You've made a real difference by boosting my self-esteem and have helped me recognise and value the achievements that I'd previously tended to dismiss as unimportant.
Your sunny, friendly outlook made me feel that I'd made a new friend, within the boundaries of your profession of course.
Dr Kanchi has been such a huge help, I have very much enjoyed working with her and cannot be happier with the outcome.
I came to Dr Kanchi with a number of issues resulting from my postpartum experience, and within the course of several months, all of my issues have been identified, worked on and resolved. I am now once again able to go through life with a positive mental state, gratitude, and resilience. I would highly recommend Dr Kanchi to anyone. Thank you so much!
I have felt very relaxed and open to the techniques shared, which have really helped me in dealing with my anxiety.’
I have found the experience and service from Dr Kanchi Gunaratna to be excellent. I have felt listened to and supported throughout. I have felt very relaxed and open to the techniques shared, which have really helped me in dealing with my anxiety.’
It has been a great experience, Kanchi was very kind and understanding. It felt like a safe space to explore my mental health and discuss methods to address the issues I experienced. I now feel confident that I have the tools required to prevent anxiety building to a level which it has a significant impact on my Life.
The literature provided was easy to follow and refer back to. I couldn’t praise the service I have received any higher. Kanchi particularly has been great, she allowed me to set the agenda, discussed issues in a compassionate way and always provided great solutions.
If anyone is need of mental health assistance I will be highly recommending this service. Many thanks.
It’s all impressions, but I felt that Dr Kanchi understood where I was coming from. I’m aware that as a “trauma survivor” my “trauma” is at the miniscule end of a spectrum (although we never used the word “trauma”) but Dr Kanchi took my troubles seriously and gave me the opportunity to talk about issues that might “normally” be considered too trivial to talk about and proposed remedies that might eradicate my frustrations.
The on-line tutorials and supporting documentation made the strategies to deal with issues easy to understand. I appreciated the scientific reasoning behind the techniques and it gave them more authority, encouraging a belief that they would be successful in my case.
I would recommend Dr Kanchi as a friendly, supportive and effective therapist – certainly in addressing the feelings I’ve been trying to deal with. I would trust Dr Kanchi to only take on such a recommended person if she could help them, or refer them to another more suitable practitioner if she felt she couldn’t.
I would like to thank Kanchi for the support during my therapy. Kanchi is a very kind person who made me feel at ease while going through each session and ensured that I understood all the techniques to help with my low mood.
At times when I was still feeling low or had difficulties implementing the techniques, Kanchi was very understanding and encouraged me to move forward.
I would recommend this service to family or friends that are struggling with low mood/ depression.
Being armed with a better understanding of the NAT’s, setting aside worry time, being compassionate to myself, allowing me time, taking time to understand if something is moving me closer to my goals or distracting me were all really valuable topics I was taken through.
Very positive experience. The skills and techniques always felt like they were introduced at the correct time and felt very relevant to my position. Being armed with a better understanding of the NAT’s, setting aside worry time, being compassionate to myself, allowing me time, taking time to understand if something is moving me closer to my goals or distracting me were all really valuable topics I was taken through. I have subsequently recommended the process for a colleague to explore
Regarding the actual sessions, Kanchi’s sessions were well structured and highly beneficial to me.
Regarding the actual sessions, Kanchi’s sessions were well structured and highly beneficial to me. I felt very comfortable working with Kanchi and her calm and kind mannerisms made it easy to open up. She involved me in the planning of the sessions and maintained a feedback loop around what has worked for me and what hasn’t.
She made me feel very comfortable in providing that feedback and was very receptive and reminded me that its ok not to get on with every method. I have recommended the service to my colleagues and will continue to do so.
Dr.Kanchi is a very professional, nurturing, highly qualified practitioner. She has devised a thorough and very effective strategy to teach me CBT, ACT, CFT, through which I have managed to learn the ability to self diagnose, use key tools for coping with anxiety, and formulate a plan and framework for leading a compassionate way of life.
The treatment has empowered me to become more confident in my ability to self manage my own mental health.
Thank you.
Kanchi was great. She really helped me a lot and I can really see/feel the difference since the start of the sessions. She was always very positive and supportive
Kanchi was great. She really helped me a lot and I can really see/feel the difference since the start of the sessions. She was always very positive and supportive
Thank you for the support, I had some good sessions and appreciate the approach and method.
I liked that I was given tools to work with as it provides some good techniques and perspectives, and also allows you to work on your own and apply the methods, which I think will also be helpful for the future. Dr. Kanchana Gunaratna has also been great – good at listening and adapting based on my input in the sessions, friendly and very professional and trustworthy.
I feel like I have the tools I need to be able to manage my anxiety and it has made such a positive difference to my quality of life and wellbeing.
Kanchi was fantastic at listening to how I was feeling at the start of this journey and was able to quickly identify the techniques that would help me to address these. Each session was tailored to what I was dealing with or how I was feeling at that current time which was a huge help. I feel like I have the tools I need to be able to manage my anxiety and it has made such a positive difference to my quality of life and wellbeing. I’ve transitioned to feeling completely overwhelmed to feeling like I can deal with whatever life throws at me. Kanchi – thank you so much for all your kind words, wisdom and support. I’ll miss you!
I would like to thank Kanchi for the support during my therapy. Kanchi is a very kind person who made me feel at ease while going through each session and ensured that I understood all the techniques to help with my low mood.
At times when I was still feeling low or had difficulties implementing the techniques, Kanchi was very understanding and encouraged me to move forward. I would recommend this service to family or friends that are struggling with low mood/depression
Dr Kanchi has provided personalised and helpful sessions, which have felt very informative and beneficial. I feel well equipped to continue applying the methods that have been shared and taught during the sessions.
Dr Kanchi has provided personalised and helpful sessions, which have felt very informative and beneficial. I feel well equipped to continue applying the methods that have been shared and taught during the sessions.
Lovely therapist -Kanchi with good discussion on what to do in the sessions. Lots to take in and it’s definitely a skill to apply them in difficult times. Good to have a number of things to choose from, relaxation, thinking techniques etc
Lovely therapist -Kanchi with good discussion on what to do in the sessions. Lots to take in and it’s definitely a skill to apply them in difficult times. Good to have a number of things to choose from, relaxation, thinking techniques etc
I was very sceptical about the whole CBT process but after my sessions would definitely recommend it to anyone struggling with life.
Kanchi explained everything very well, always checked to ensure I had understood and was happy to listen at the start of each week and tailor/amend that week’s session accordingly
Overall very good and Kanchi has helped me understand my thinking behaviours.
I have noticed a real step forward and progress since I started the treatment. Thank you for helping me Kanchi! I feel more informed about my anxiety. I now have the tools to recognize and deal with many issues that I was struggling with before.
Kanchi was amazing at understanding me and where I was struggling. Kanchi’ s empathy shone through and made me feel listened to. Thank you Kanchi.
Kanchi was amazing at understanding me and where I was struggling. Kanchi’ s empathy shone through and made me feel listened to. Thank you Kanchi.
Kanchi has been amazing
Kanchi has been amazing, I couldn’t have asked for anyone better.
Kanchi helped me through one of the most difficult times in my life .
I feel like the help I received from my therapist Kanchi Gunaratna was brilliant . Kanchi helped me through one of the most difficult times in my life. She encouraged me to work hard and got me through dark times. I could not have done it without her. I am very grateful .I now have the skills to help myself and feel confident.
Dr. Kanchana Gunaratna has also been great – good at listening and adapting based on my input in the sessions, friendly and very professional and trustworthy.
Dr. Kanchana Gunaratna has also been great – good at listening and adapting based on my input in the sessions, friendly and very professional and trustworthy.
I’ve gone from feeling a little lost and very overwhelmed to a place of much greater calmness, understanding (knowledge is power) and control with a whole armoury of tools to deal with my issues going forward.
Kanchi was a really excellent therapist, very skilled in the compassionate and highly competent delivery of my therapy. She took the time to identify and understand my issues and modified the sessions we had to really hone in on and deal with those areas.
I liked the ongoing progress reviews we had in each session and Kanchi’s style of delivering the therapy techniques and tools. I’ve gone from feeling a little lost and very overwhelmed to a place of much greater calmness, understanding (knowledge is power) and control with a whole armoury of tools to deal with my issues going forward.
I feel more informed about my anxiety.
Thank you for helping me Kanchi! I feel more informed about my anxiety. I now have the tools to recognize and deal with many issues that I was struggling with before.
I have seen such a decrease in my anxiety over the course of my therapy.
I have so much credit to give to Dr K, she helped me so much with anxiety that I had been suffering with for years, she is great! I feel like I could speak to her about anything. Absolutely, she checked after she explained to see if that made sense which it always did. Absolutely recommend therapy with Dr Kanchi to others.
I was in a pretty low place when I first spoke to Kanchi and I did struggle to see in the beginning how this therapy would help me and struggled to find motivation to do self help off the back of the calls, I was very negative but every time I saw Kanchi always gave me the best recommendations how I could turn this around. As the weeks went on I could see a change and how much it was helping.
Kanchi was always supportive listening to my struggles in the previous week and gave me points of reference to refer to when I was struggling. I feel I have progressed so well and that is largely due to Kanchi’s teaching style and her great compassion she is an asset to your clinic and I just want to thank her for changing my life for the better.
I have felt very relaxed and open to the techniques shared, which have really helped me in dealing with my anxiety.
I have found the experience and service from Dr Kanchi Gunaratna to be excellent. I have felt listened to and supported throughout. I have felt very relaxed and open to the techniques shared, which have really helped me in dealing with my anxiety.
I now feel confident that I have the tools required to prevent anxiety building to a level which it has a significant impact on my Life.
It has been a great experience, Kanchi was very kind and understanding. It felt like a safe space to explore my mental health and discuss methods to address the issues I experienced. I now feel confident that I have the tools required to prevent anxiety building to a level which it has a significant impact on my Life. The literature provided was easy to follow and refer back to. I couldn’t praise the service I have received any higher. Kanchi particularly has been great, she allowed me to set the agenda, discussed issues in a compassionate way and always provided great solutions. If anyone is need of mental health assistance I will be highly recommending this service. Many thanks.
I’ve found the service very useful in helping me to tackle some long-standing sleep issues.
As we come to the end of the CBT course, I feel that I’ve got a much better set of tools at my disposal to manage this going forwards. I also really appreciated Kanchi’s flexibility when I needed sessions to be rescheduled….. a positive experience that I’d happily recommend to others.
I have been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and have had around 14-16 cognitive behaviour therapy.
Losing my daughter. At 16 years old due to her committing suicide I feel horrendous and I shock and very unwell mentally. I have been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and have had around 14-16 cognitive behaviour therapy. I was seen at [redacted]. My therapy was with Kanchi- Chartered Psychologist CBT and EMDR. She was absolutely amazing and I learnt a lot am very grateful for her weeks of working with me.
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dr.k [at] drkpsychology.uk
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