About me
Danilen Nursigadoo, BA(Hons), MA, MSc (Dist)
My name is Danilen.
I am a Systemic Psychotherapist, registered with UKCP. I am trained, qualified and experienced to work with individuals, couples, and families, with over 15 years of experience of helping people become their best selves.
I work with people using an approach that is attachment informed and trauma informed. I will work with you to assess your circumstances and adapt my approach to suit your particular needs, taking into consideration your goals, hopes and expectations from psychotherapy. Together we will get you to where you want to be!
​​
​I have a wonderfully warm and cosy therapy room in Blackheath Village, London. I also offer therapy online, where you can join from the comfort of your own home.
For individuals, I can also offer walk and talk therapy around Greenwich Park (come rain or shine!)
​
My Qualifications
MSc (Distinction), Family Therapy, Institute of Psychiatry, Pscyhology and Neuroscience, King’s College London (2019)
PG Cert, Family Therapy, Institute of Psychiatry, Pscyhology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, (2018)
MA, Social Work, Warwick University (2011)
BA, (Hons) Business, Durham University (2009)
Additional Qualifications:
FT-AN
MANTRA
Narrative Therapy Level 1
Theraplay Level 1
Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy Level 1
Non-Violent Resistance
BWLA (British Weightlifters' Association) Leader's Award
My Professional Background
As a Senior Systemic and Family Psychotherapist, I work at the Maudsley Hospital, Eating Disorders Service. I have been here for six years and have worked on the Inpatient and Outpatient Units, as well as working as the Team Lead for the Day-care Service. In my roles I have helped develop the service, supervise the development of other professionals, and lead on most aspects of family involvement in treatment.
I am also part of the FREED team, developing and supervising a team that delivers FT-AN to young adults.
In this role I am also involved in teaching, and have been involved in training professionals across the country in FT-AN, as well as contributing to the teaching at International Eating Disorder Conferences, and national MANTRA training courses, EDSA, as well as the inaugural PEACE Pathway conference in 2021. As part of my involvement working with people with eating disorders and autism I also contributed to the book "Supporting Autistic People With Eating Disorders" edited by Kate Tchanturia.
I also work with King's College London, to teach and supervise a clinic for Systemic Psychotherapists in training.
​ ​
Outside of this role, I also deliver training to local authority social work teams, on implementing systemic practice.​ Helping teams to develop skills in risk management and reflexivity.
​
From 2011 to 2019 I worked in specialist adoption services in the public sector, NHS and private sector. I worked with all people affected by adoption, aged from birth to 85 years old! The principles of my work with adopted people are rooted in psychoanalytic and systemic theory related to attachment and trauma. I apply this based on the training principles of Story Stem, Theraplay and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy. I have been fortunate to train with Dan Hughes and the wonderful people at PAC-UK and Family Futures. During my time working in adoption services I also worked with the DfE to develop the Adoption Support Fund which enabled equitable access to therapy across the UK.
​​​
As a hobby, I also collaborate with a wonderfully eclectic bunch of systemic psychotherapists to produce an intriguingly creative podcast called “The Systemic Lens”, focused on media and culture. We review and discuss films, such as The Wizard of Oz, Everything Everywhere All at Once, and Encanto. I invite you to give it a listen!
​
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7D3tqvgN3dVN1JTStFCfOu?si=dd21edc831444dfd
​
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1xkTKzncIgijs9K8FP03AA?si=G7MV2IZZSTSggalcIejMSw
​
See my UKCP profile here: https://www.psychotherapy.org.uk/therapist/Danilen-Nursigadoo-iQy3HAAS
​​​​
My Story
I grew up in South London, and have lived all around the UK, as well as spells living in Konstanz, Paris and Brussels. I am very much now settled in London where I live a peaceful life with my partner and our young son.
I really value the diversity of culture, values and opinions living here. It is a constant reminder for me to remain open minded and curious to the experience of others.
​
In 2011 I trained as a social worker and began working in a specialist field with people touched by adoption. I helped people who were seeking to grow their family via adoption, families that needed help to build attachments and connect to one another during and after adoption, people who had experienced loss through adoption, and adults who had once been adopted.
​
Through this work I founded the basic principles of what makes me a Systemic Psychotherapist today. Fundamentally, considering people and the world through the emotional pains and joys experienced in early years, and exploring how this shapes our view of the world, how we relate to others, how others relate to us, and how we understand our unique value, on this earth that is home to over 8 billion quite similar beings (and trillions of other living ones!).
Whilst I loved my work as a social worker, I have always been a believer in developing skills, through experience, education, and introspection. This led me to train as a Systemic Psychotherapist and develop a plethora of specialist skills.
​
Through my time working in specialist fields, I have been privileged to be able to help hundreds of individuals, couples, and families to be able to live fulfilling and satisfying lives.
This showed me how powerful specific skill sets can be at improving compromised physical and mental wellbeing.
Today, my practice is focused on understanding where people want to get to, and figuring out together, how to get there. This happens with compassion, empathy, motivation, love, experimentation, belief and self-discovery.
Blackheath Psychotherapy
