About Me - Dr Darren Ellis, Psychotherapist & Counsellor 

I grew up on a council estate in London’s East End. In my younger years I played in bands, immersed myself in rave culture and worked in the photographic industry. Over time, I became increasingly disillusioned with the world of advertising and decided to travel extensively through Asia, particularly India. My father was Anglo-Indian, and these travels were partly about exploring that side of my heritage, but they also led to a growing interest in spirituality, meditation, prayer, philosophy and theology. I later completed a Baccalaureate in Philosophy at a college in Dublin.

​

My interest gradually shifted towards psychology and, in particular, how people make sense of their lives and emotions. I completed a BA in Psychosocial Studies followed by a PhD in Social Psychology at Loughborough University, where my doctoral research explored emotion, personal narratives and disclosure. Alongside my academic work, I undertook professional training in counselling and psychotherapy at the Sherwood Psychotherapy Training Institute in Nottingham.

 

I subsequently taught counselling, psychology and psychosocial studies at university level for many years, including teaching MA Counselling students and, more recently, teaching person-centred and psychodynamic counselling skills. Alongside my academic work, I have developed an established psychotherapy and counselling practice. I am a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

 

Research and writing have also been an important part of my life. I have published books and academic papers exploring psychotherapy, emotion, mental health and our increasingly digital lives. My books include The Social Psychology of Emotion, Emotion in the Digital Age and Understanding Mental Health Apps.

 

However, qualifications and theories only tell you so much about a therapist. What continues to interest me most is people and their stories — how we become who we are, how our relationships and experiences shape us, and why we sometimes find ourselves repeating patterns that we don’t fully understand.

 

I also believe that therapy should be somewhere you can bring your whole self. You don’t need to know psychological terminology or arrive with a clear explanation of what is wrong. Some people come with a very specific difficulty; others simply have a sense that something in their life or relationships isn’t working as they would like it to.

 

My own route through life has been varied, and perhaps because of that I feel comfortable working with people from very different backgrounds and life experiences. Whether your understanding of life comes from formal education or the “University of Life”, I will be interested in your experience and what it means to you.

 

If you are considering therapy, you are very welcome to get in touch and tell me a little about what has brought you here.