Dr Erin Vignali

Hi! I’m Erin and I’m a Counselling Psychologist.

I currently live in the United Kingdom but I was born in New York and raised internationally. I lived in the Netherlands, Singapore, Japan, Philippines, Hong Kong, and India.

In 2013, I came to this country to do my MSc in Child Development and eventually, I trained at the University of East London and received my doctoral degree in Counselling Psychology. I currently work in the NHS full time.

I have wanted to be a psychologist since I was 12 years old. I even remember the exact spot I was standing when I told my friend that I wasn’t sure I would do it because the amount of education required took too long!

My hesitation did not last long after I took International Baccalaureate level Psychology in High School and feel in love. Then there was no turning back and after a BA in Psychology, an MSc in Child Development, I finished my degree and became a psychologist.

At first, we will take our time in getting to know one another. I will introduce myself and the way I work. Then I will ask you to share what you are struggling with at the moment.

I especially like to consider culture as I think it is an important part of who we are as people. What is most important for me is that you feel comfortable and safe to share your experience, free of judgement and with a great sense of empathy. I will encourage you at all points to share your feelings and opinions – what you would like to gain from this experience is the most vital part of our work and we can think together about how to best achieve this.

I have worked with a number of different therapies including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Systemic Family Therapy, Schema Therapy, and Person-Centred Therapy. I work integratively, moulding what I know to best suit you as an individual. There is no one size fits all in psychology!

I have also been fortunate enough to have worked with a number of different presentations including depression, anxiety, personality disorders, phobias, psychosis, bipolar disorder, and OCD. I have had the privilege of working with people of so many cultural backgrounds, in numerous countries, each one teaching me about aspects of their identity. I have worked with people from all walks of life which has included adults, children and young people, those with intellectual disabilities, neuropsychological difficulties, as well as traumatic brain injuries.

I am an avid cyclist and rugby enthusiast. A dream day for me would be a nice long cycle in the morning, maybe a game of touch rugby and then watching a rugby union game in the evening – preferably any team that Eddie Jones is coaching (currently England) and my all time favourite Japan. I lived in Japan when  I was younger and am still very loyal to my childhood home!