About me
I’m Maria Skolozynska Edwards (she/her). I am a founder of Gentle Growth Therapy and a BACP-registered integrative counsellor/therapist working with adults, children and young people.
I’m Polish, based in Brighton, in my thirties, and I’m an adoptive mum, queer, polyam, vegetarian, fat and disabled. I’m also neurodivergent (ADHD) and highly sensitive.
I work within the intersection of mental health and education with the focus on breaking the barriers put in place by the heteronormative, mononormative, racist, LGBTQIA+-phobic, capitalist and imperialist systems.
My career is focused on working with marginalised communities. Throughout my life I’ve worked with the houseless people in Poland, Syrian refugees, Palestinians in the West Bank, queer/transitioning children and teens, neurodivergent individuals excluded from education and more)
My goal in life is to offer an environment in which people feel comfortable, seen, accepted and safe.
Credentials
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BA in Sociology (First-Class) from Collegium Civitas (2014, Warsaw)
Postgraduate Diploma in Training Facilitation in Education, Administration and Business from SWPS University + Laboratorium Psychoedukacji (2018, Warsaw)
PGCE (Primary) with SEND focus from London South Bank University (London, 2021)
Qualified Teacher Status - Teacher Reference Number 2054710
Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills (CSK-L2) - CPCAB training from CPTA (Brighton, 2022)
Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies (CST-L3) CPCAB course from CPTA (Brighton, 2022)
Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (TC-L4) - CPCAB training, BACP accredited from CPTA (Brighton, 2024)
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy Registered Member - 407777
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2024 - Founder of Gentle Growth - Therapy + Consulting
2024 - Onsite School Counsellor (In training) at Bower Tree Therapeutic Services - Breakwater Academy in Newhaven
2023 - Integrative Counsellor in Training at Choose Therapy
2022-2024 - Senior Education Expert and Quality Assurer at Nudge Education Ltd
2015-2023 - Founder and Lead Organiser of Podzielmy sie Foundation’s “Podziel się Posiłkiem z Bezdomnymi” initiative for the houseless community across Poland
2014 - 2018 - Co-organiser & Co-host at TEDxWarsaw
2017 - Desk Officer at The Polish Center For International Aid - PCPM
2015 - Shadow Teacher for Children with Autism at Mini Misie Preschool
2008-2010 - Baby Sitter of a non-verbal young person (aged 7-9) with ASC/D diagnosis
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A Black Perspective: Accessible & Inclusive Online Therapeutic Spaces - March 2023
ASIST: Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training - December 2021
An Early Years Approach to Neurodiversity - Qualified Tutor - January 2022
Autism Spectrum Disorder by University of California, Davis - March 2016
BACP CYPF Conference 2023 Breaking the cycle of trauma and promoting healing and hope - March 2023
BACP CYPF Conference 2024 Neurodiversity: the therapeutic encounter - March 2024
Cultural Competence Training - Nafsiyat Therapy - September 2023
Gestalt Chair/Cushion Workshop with Lawrence Capon - March 2024
Humanitarian Response to Conflict and Disaster at HarvardX - edX - 2016
Intersectionality and Social Change - Dwight Turner - April 2023
Introduction to Counselling Assessments, Private Practice and Advanced Techniques with Practical Applications - July 2024
It's your call: Safeguarding awareness training for workers who enter people's homes - TES - January 2022
Nonviolent Communication (NVC) Course at Dworczyk Training - 2015
Persuasive Presentation Course at Dworczyk Training - 2015
Pink Therapy 2023 Conference - Relationally Queer Online - August 2023
Safeguarding Children and Young People with SEND - January 2022
Supporting Dyscalculia Online - January 2022
Therapeutic Interventions with Children Workshop - Bower Tree Counselling Services - May 2024
Therapy and Social Change - Mick Cooper - February 2023
Understanding Domestic Abuse - Women's Aid - March 2024
Understanding How to Break Down Barriers for Learning - January 2022
Understanding coercive & controlling behaviour and the impact on survivors - Women's Aid - January 2024
iO Chicago 5-Week Intensive Improvised Theatre Course - July-August 2017
Values
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We believe in the individual's agency and inner knowing. "You are your own best resource" underscores the idea that clients inherently possess the wisdom and insight necessary to understand themselves, their needs, and their ability to self-actualise.
This concept is deeply rooted in Carl Rogers' person-centred approach, which emphasises the self-actualising tendency—the inherent drive within each person to realise their full potential.
This approach encourages a willingness to change and trust in one's own judgment, recognising that individuals are best equipped to identify what is right for them and navigate their personal growth and healing journey.
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We believe that "you were born good and innocent," a principle grounded in the person-centred approach pioneered by Carl Rogers. This perspective holds that every individual enters the world with an inherent goodness and purity.
We believe that each person deserves to be loved, cherished, nurtured, and protected from birth, fostering an environment where they can thrive and develop their true potential. By recognising this fundamental innocence, we create a foundation for self-acceptance and personal growth, essential for a fulfilling and authentic life.
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We challenge the pervasive societal message that individuals are inherently flawed and in need of constant improvement.
This idea aligns with social justice and progressive thought, which critique the capitalist framework that perpetuates feelings of inadequacy for profit. In a world where consumerism often dictates self-worth, this perspective asserts that individuals have inherent value and worthiness.
As Carl Rogers noted in his quote, "The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change."
Embracing one's innate worthiness can lead to transformative personal growth and empower individuals to resist societal pressures that undermine their self-esteem and well-being, promoting the concept that rest and self-acceptance are acts of resistance against oppressive systems.
We're inspired here by Rest is Resistance - a Manifesto from The Nap Ministry, written by Tricia Hersey
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This is based on the idea of radical acceptance which affirms that everyone should be accepted and respected for who they truly are, without feeling the need to apologise.
Unlike fitting in, which often requires conformity and self-doubt, belonging celebrates authenticity and diversity within communities. This fosters environments where individuals feel valued and connected, without having to apologise or change who they are to be accepted.
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You have the power to change" resonates with principles from Gestalt Therapy, Maslow's hierarchy of needs, and Carl Rogers' person-centred approach.
Gestalt Therapy emphasises personal responsibility and the ability to make choices that foster growth and self-awareness.
Maslow's theory suggests that once basic needs are fulfilled, individuals strive towards self-actualisation, reflecting an inherent drive for personal development and change.
Rogers' approach underscores the belief in each person's potential for positive change when provided with a supportive and empathetic environment.
These perspectives collectively affirm the innate capacity individuals possess to initiate and navigate transformative changes in their lives.
Principles Of Gender, Sex And Relationship Diversity (GSRD) Therapy
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Taking an anti-racist, feminist, Queer and LGBTQ+ affirmative philosophy throughout the therapeutic work. Helping clients deconstruct the negative impact of amatonormativity, heteronormativity, mononormativity, cisgenderism, sexism, patriarchy, capitalism, ableism (including neurodiversity), and colonial thinking that affect all people, including heterosexual people. Promoting advocacy and being an ally to all marginalised and oppressed groups. Offering psycho-education.
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Committing to keep developing our awareness of self and clinical competencies. Committing to training for ongoing maintenance of cultural competence. Staying humble with the enthusiasm to keep learning. Gaining specific knowledge of various marginalised populations such as LGBTQIA+, kinksters, neurodiverse people, sex workers, and those of diverse racial and cultural backgrounds. Not making assumptions based on appearance.
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Having a thorough understanding of the varied ways oppression functions in society and how it affects a wide range of people differently, including marginalised people. Helping clients develop more resources for self-care and well-being.
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Enhancing psychological resilience. Understanding the physiological and psychological effects of individual, collective, and cumulative trauma. Reducing symptoms of post-trauma stress for survivors of abuse, attacks, discrimination, and conversion practices. Having a thorough understanding of grief, including loss due to change. Understanding shame, its effects and how to mitigate it.
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Gaining and keeping updated with the specialist knowledge of gender, sex, sexuality and relationship diversities, including knowledge of sexual fantasies, desires, and behaviours. Understanding the biopsychosocial processes of sex.
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Incorporating knowledge of minority stress, intra-community minority stress, social safety, micro-aggression, and intersectionality. Employing a strengths-focused affirmative practice within our therapeutic modalities. Affirming clients' self-determination.
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Focusing on self-worth through an affirmative stance and compassion-focused approaches. Fostering joy and pride in our diversities, building community connections and harnessing micro-affirmations in the therapeutic relationship. Embracing the quality of accompaniment in the therapeutic relationship: the client is accompanied by the therapist.
Developed by Dominic Davies and Silva Neves (2023) from Pink Therapy
Book an initial call.
hello@gentlegrowth.co.uk