About Me
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About Me
My name is Sheri Ayinla, and as you can tell by the name, I am the founder and counsellor behind “Sharing with Sheri”. When developing my practice, I was at a loss when deciding what to name it. It was actually my friends who helped me come up with the name, and upon reflection, I felt it had a nice ring to it, capturing the essence of what counselling is about. Sometimes, keeping things to ourselves can feel like a weight on our shoulders. I know I have been guilty of this in the past. But doing something as simple as sharing your problems with someone willing to listen can lighten the load and make you feel lighter as a result. With the right support, you may even feel better equipped to tackle what is going on for you. Becoming a counsellor had been a dream of mine since the age of 15 and although people might have thought that it was too young an age to consider such a career path or questioned my understanding of the profession, what I did know at that time was that I wanted to make a difference by helping people work through their issues, in a way I would have wanted someone to help me through mine at that time in my life. I encountered several obstacles along the way, which have made me appreciate my accomplishments. Coming from an African background, although my mum was supportive of my dreams, particularly my becoming a counsellor, she could never really fathom the idea of sharing her problems with a stranger, even someone whose purpose it was to listen without interrupting her process. Whilst I can understand this may feel strange to some, I can honestly say I have found counselling to be a positive and empowering experience, helping me work towards healing and personal growth. I also credit my journey towards becoming a counsellor to helping me learn more about myself as an individual and helping strengthen relationships with the important people in my life.
My experience
I have a postgraduate certificate in counselling skills as well as a level 4 diploma in Therapeutic Counselling. During my training, I worked for a counselling service offering both short and long-term counselling to clients 18 and over (with the option of online or in-person). I explored/ supported them through issues such as: education, common mental health issues, self-worth/self-esteem, relationship issues, and identity issues. After qualifying, I also worked for a sexual health service in Hillingdon as a Lead Programme Delivery Counsellor, working with young people. During my time there, some of the issues I explored with them were adapting to new cultures/environments, family dynamics, as well as the exploration/processing of traumatic events. I have over 3 years of experience supporting young vulnerable people in the leaving care system, many of whom have experienced abandonment, instability and significant trauma that have had a lasting impact on their emotional well-being, relationships and ability to navigate adult life. From all that I’ve experienced so far in my career, what I’ve learnt is that what anyone really wants is to feel heard, and I strive to ensure I provide my clients with a positive experience where they feel exactly that.
