Clinical Focus

Sharmila supports individuals and couples navigating a variety of complex and sensitive issues, including:

• Communication breakdowns and recurring conflict
• Loss of intimacy or desire
• Affairs and relational ruptures
• Grief, identity, and intergenerational trauma
• Sexual health issues such as painful sex, erectile difficulties, low or absent desire, premature or delayed ejaculation
• Menopause and the impact of hormonal changes on relationships
• Parenting, life transitions, and separation
• Race, gender, and cultural identity in relationship dynamics
• Addiction, anxiety, and emotional regulation

She is skilled in working with people of all ages, genders, sexualities, and cultural backgrounds, and brings curiosity and empathy to each therapeutic relationship.

Therapeutic Style

Sharmila works in an integrative model, combining psychodynamic psychotherapy with couple therapy and a CBT-based psychosexual approach. This means she may use in-depth emotional exploration alongside practical behavioural exercises (such as Sensate Focus) to support clients in both understanding and actively reshaping their experiences.

Sessions are collaborative and tailored to each client or couple’s needs. Whether exploring unconscious patterns, building emotional resilience, or improving physical intimacy, Sharmila’s style is direct, thoughtful, and emotionally attuned.

At the heart of her work is a desire to help people feel more connected to themselves, to each other, and to their own sense of meaning and identity. She fosters a non-judgemental, affirming space where clients can safely reflect, grow, and work towards greater relational and emotional wellbeing.

Background & Training

Sharmila’s journey into psychotherapy began with a Certificate in Social Work from Eastleigh College, where she worked with young adults, the elderly, and led therapeutic groups for families affected by alcoholism. After a career in the corporate sector, she returned to her interest in the human psyche, training at WPF Therapy, a UK centre of excellence in psychodynamic therapy.

She went on to complete:

• A Diploma in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (WPF, 2012–2015)
• A Professional Certificate in Couple Therapy (BCS, 2017)
• A Diploma in Psychosexual & Relationship Therapy (Tavistock Relationships, 2020–2023)

Her clinical experience includes placements at Basingstoke Counselling Services and within the NHS, where she worked with both individuals and couples. She has supported clients presenting with a broad range of concerns including trauma, identity struggles, and complex sexual health issues. She particularly values the opportunity to explore how culture, gender, and family history shape one’s experience of self and sexuality.

Sharmila also contributes to the wider therapy profession through writing and education. She is a contributor to the Talking Point panel for Therapy Today, the professional journal of the BACP.
Read her article here

Approach to Couple Work

Sharmila supports couples in making space for honest, often difficult conversations—whether about communication, parenting, sex, or life changes. She brings empathy and structure to the process, helping couples understand one another’s emotional worlds and take meaningful steps toward reconnection.

She understands that relationships are complex and often carry unspoken emotional legacies. Her approach is to meet each partner where they are, without judgement, and to work at a pace that supports healing, clarity, and mutual understanding.

Qualifications

• Certificate in Social Work, Eastleigh College (1987–1989)
• Diploma in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, WPF (2012–2015)
• Certificate in Couple Psychotherapy, Basingstoke Counselling Services (2017)
• Diploma in Psychosexual & Relationship Therapy, Tavistock Relationships (2020–2023)

Memberships

• BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) – Registered & Accredited Member
• COSRT (College of Sexual and Relationship Therapy) – Member

Appointments

Sharmila is available for evening appointments on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

To book a session, please call Evidence-Based Therapy Centre on 091 727777 or reach out via the contact page.