Our Associates

Romi Wakil

Consultant Therapist

Romy is a qualified psychodynamic psychotherapist working within a trauma informed approach. She works as part of RTI’s therapeutic team in what she calls her ‘soul work’ – bridging the gap between mental health and human rights. Passionate about mental health being a human right, with RTI’s team of therapists Romy is developing RTI’s provision of therapeutic groups, collective healing spaces which provide refugees and asylum seekers with access to long term, identity-informed therapeutic support. Romy, with Gabriella co-facilitates a weekly therapeutic group on Zoom for male asylum seekers and is developing trauma and identity-informed resources for psychotherapists and refugees. She has spent the last 8 years developing trauma-informed practices across multiple sectors. She was part of setting up free psychotherapy for asylum seekers in Cyprus. In London she works with clients recovering from developmental trauma, eating disorders and war survivors. Romy conducts psychotherapy in English, Arabic and French.

“I am originally Lebanese, grew up in Cyprus and now reside in London. My Lebanese heritage inspires my passion and I see asylum seekers and refugees as survivors – providing safe spaces in which they can process and learn how to regulate their nervous systems after having survived (and for many, are still surviving) trauma is a necessity in helping them land both physically and emotionally in their new surroundings.”

Mahya Zaud

Psychotherapist

Mahyar is a registered psychotherapist, with more than 16 years of experience in working with trauma and PTSD. Alongside having private clients, he has consulted and managed many acknowledged social enterprises internationally to develop trauma informed programs and workshops, and to implement trauma-informed organisational culture. He has also coordinated programs and facilitated therapy groups for couples who were involved in domestic violence, male survivors of childhood sexual abuse, and marginalised and traumatised young women.

Avesta Panahi

Psychologist

Avesta is an Afghan counselling psychologist in training based in London, England. She has always had a strong interest in how humans communicate with each other emotionally and the impact of experiences and early relationships. This, coupled with her passion towards understanding the human mind, led her to pursue a professional doctorate in psychology. Alongside this interest is Avesta’s love for reading, listening to music and political discussions!

Asma Naurozi

Counsellor

Asma is a registered counsellor, based in Sydney, Australia with particular experience working with refugees and asylum seekers through a trauma-informed approach. She is passionate about helping people to overcome the psychological impacts of displacement and trauma by providing them with a safe space to express their needs and a compassionate and individualised process to recovery.

Originally from Afghanistan, Asma is multilingual with proficiency in Dari, Hazaraghi and Farsi as well as English, and has a deep understanding of the Afghanistan context.

Marianna Fiotaki

Dance Movement Therapist

Sarah Helander

Integrative Music Psychotherapist

Sarah Helander is an integrative music psychotherapist from Finland with a specialization in trauma-informed and multicultural practice. She has worked internationally with people in displacement, with children with special needs and on the autistic spectrum, and within the medical context, particularly with paediatric oncology patients. She has published and presented internationally.

“I am motivated to use creative interventions to improve physical, mental, and emotional well-being from a holistic perspective. In my experience, the universal aspects of the arts can create supportive interactions, social recovery, and enhance stabilisation and communication.”

Christina Gougouli

Dance Movement Therapist

Christina is a Dance Movement Therapist based in Larissa, Greece. She has been taking dance classes since a young age and this, along with her passion for psychology, led her to do an MA in Dance Movement Psychotherapy.

She is passionate about body-mind connection and always curious to explore all the (untold) stories that are embedded in our bodies, in a safe space with honesty and a non-judgmental approach. Christina also loves the creativity and endless opportunities of exploration movement therapy provides.

Besides her studies and continuous professional development in the psychotherapeutic field, she enjoys traveling, and developing her understanding of her own body through yoga and Argentinian tango classes!

Denisa Ndreka

Psychoanalyst and Psychodynamic Therapist

Denisa is a clinical psychologist based in Tirana, Albania. She became a therapist because of her interest in people’s self-discovery and healing journey and a wish to support people at whatever stage of the journey they are on.

Her heritage, as an Albanian woman also contributed to her path. Growing up in Albania, a country which has been through mass exodus and high rates of migration, she was always curious about its effects on her family and the people of Albania.

Ceinwen Birrell

Art Psychotherapist

Ceinwen Birrell is an art psychotherapist based in Bristol, UK and from in Glasgow, Scotland. Her family have Celtic origins but have spread and found new lives in all corners of the world.

Ceinwen’s nature draws her to be creative and to care for others- this brought her into her profession as an art psychotherapist and she feels both a responsibility and a passion to focus her skills towards groups that are marginalised within the global community.

In her spare time she likes to explore the natural world and paint.

Dhurata Nixha

Psychologist

Dhurata Nixha is a licensed psychologist based in Albania with specialisation in Positive Psychotherapy and Family Therapy.

Dhurata works through her private clinic in Tirana, Albania were she provides psychotherapy for adolescents and young people with emotional disturbances and mental health challenges. She is also a family therapist too and is engaged with parents who experience problems, mentoring them and helping them to find the stability in their life as a whole family and as a couple too. As well as this, Dhurata provides online counselling and therapy for people in the Albanian and English language.

She likes listening to the histories of people and helping them on their journey of self growth and recovery. She is amazed how active listening and supportive relationships can be healers and is honoured to work in this space.