Meriem Gawi

Meriem Gawi is a counsellor at Nightingale Hospital in London, where she provides integrative counselling to individuals experiencing a range of emotional and psychological difficulties. She specialises in supporting clients struggling with anxiety, bereavement, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, self-harm, and interpersonal difficulties. With a background spanning over 25 years, she has worked extensively with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, offering a compassionate and culturally sensitive approach to therapy.

Meriem initially trained as an Arabic and French interpreter and community advocate before qualifying as a Children and Families social worker. For over 12 years, she worked with survivors of domestic abuse, providing one-to-one and group support through organisations such as the Domestic Violence Intervention Project (DVIP) and Woman’s Trust. She later pursued her counselling training at the Centre for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD), where she obtained a Certificate, Diploma, and Advanced Diploma in Humanistic Integrative Counselling. She is now a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

At Nightingale Hospital, Meriem provides both short- and long-term therapy, drawing on humanistic and integrative counselling techniques, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and a client-centred approach. She works collaboratively with individuals to help them explore their emotions, identify unhelpful thought patterns, and develop healthier coping strategies. She offers therapy in English, Arabic, and French, ensuring accessibility for clients from different linguistic backgrounds.

Meriem is committed to creating a safe, non-judgmental space where clients can openly explore their challenges. She believes in empowering individuals to gain insight into their experiences and work towards meaningful personal growth. Her role is to guide and support rather than dictate solutions, helping clients find their own path forward.

In addition to her clinical work, Meriem has contributed to research and advocacy in the field of domestic abuse. In 2012, she co-produced the Al-Aman Toolkit for Professionals, designed to enhance understanding of cultural and religious factors influencing domestic abuse within the Arab community, including issues such as forced marriage, female genital mutilation, and honour-based abuse.