About me

My name is Kangli. I am a qualified, registered and professional counsellor trained in Humanistic Gestalt modality, along with training in CBT and Person Centred therapy, as well as couple & relationship therapy. You can see the list of my professional qualifications and my professional memberships at the bottom of this page. 

I work with clients from age above 11, including both individuals and couples. The way I work is warm, authentic, non-judgemental and creative, adapting to individual needs. I appreciate the diversity and uniqueness of each individual and I believe in people’s innate ability for continuous growth and unlocking potential. During our sessions, I offer a safe space where you can explore and voice your thoughts, feelings and emotions about how life affects you, a dedicated space for you to be you, or to search and discover your true self. 

I have had a great passion for art from a young age, which led me to study art and design to Master degree level. My artistic skills enable me to work with clients, who are willing, in creative ways where they can explore their issues using a variety of media and methods, such as drawing, painting, craft making, fairy tale, sand tray, modelling clay, nesting dolls, stones and many more. This can help clients to get in touch with their unconscious mind, which often is influential in people’s decision making. 

I am bilingual and I can work in both English and Mandarin. Having lived in different countries and cultures, I have a deep understanding of the impact of being different and how it might affects people’s interaction with one another. I am familiar with different cultures and curious in learning more. Transitioning from one culture to another, transforming and integrating, managing feelings of lost, feelings of otherness, adapting and accepting changes, searching for a sense of belonging and new identity… these are examples of issues that can be explored and worked through within our sessions, especially for clients from ethnic minority background and multicultural clients. 

Apart from my private practice, I am also an Emotional Support Counsellor at the Stroke Association, offering counselling sessions for people affected by stroke, including stroke survivors, their carers and family members. Previously, I worked for many years in the adult social care and mental health service, supporting vulnerable adults, and I worked extensively in counselling children and young people with various mental health issues in the voluntary and community sector. 

I also have a wide range of additional experiences in my professional career including international work. For example, I worked in the media and arts sector at the BBC and Arts Council England, and for many years in China and Hong Kong in the creative industry. 

I love nature and I especially appreciate the beauty of the deep forest. A forest is like our own mind – it can seem daunting and maze-like with many dark corners, but is ultimately full of wonders, beauty, peace and calmness. 

Similarly, I’ve always found intrigue in the word echo – in order to find our way in life we must continuously ask questions and although the answer often lies within us, and we may not always receive the answers we wish we could, we can never really find our way on the path until we are brave enough to do this. 

At Echo Forest Therapy we will seek the way through the forest together, never afraid to ask the big questions to help us understand ourselves because we know that’s how we truly find our way.