About
About me
Dr Beate Li
(née Schieffelbein)
Starting therapy can feel like a big step, and it’s important to find someone you feel comfortable with. As a counselling psychologist, my approach is integrative and grounded in person-centred values. This means I draw on different therapeutic models to meet your individual needs, while always keeping your experience, autonomy, and perspective at the heart of our work. I aim to offer a therapeutic environment where you feel heard, respected, and supported, and where we can explore whatever you're facing at your own pace, with honesty and care.
Experience
I have been working in the field of mental health since 2006, and over the years I’ve had the privilege of supporting people through some of the most challenging and meaningful moments of their lives. My career has taken me through a wide mix of environments e.g. Victim Support, MIND, Women’s Aid, East London NHS Foundation Trust, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, and Xyla Services; each one teaching me something different about what it means to be human, to struggle, and to heal.
I have extensive experience working across a range of settings, including secondary schools, services supporting victims of crime, and alongside the Metropolitan Police. My work has focused on safeguarding individuals affected by domestic violence, as well as supporting people facing long-standing challenges such as addiction, homelessness, and immigration difficulties. In addition, I am trained in perinatal care and have provided maternity services within the NHS.
Working across these settings, from community and voluntary services to both primary and secondary care within the NHS, has helped me develop a deep and compassionate understanding of the many ways distress can show up. I’ve supported people living with anxiety, depression, trauma, long-standing emotional patterns, relationship difficulties, and the weight of complex life experiences. I’ve worked closely with multidisciplinary teams, contributed to risk assessments and care planning, and supported clients through periods of crisis, uncertainty, and change.
Training & Qualifications
My academic background involves a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and a Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology. Along the way, I spent time in formal clinical practice under close supervision, learning how to truly listen, to formulate with care, and to tailor therapeutic approaches to each person’s unique needs. Supervision was a space where I learned not just techniques, but humility, self-reflection, and the discipline of delivering therapy that is ethical, attuned, and grounded in evidence.
As a practitioner, I am registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and am a chartered member of the British Psychological Society’s Division of Counselling Psychology. As a registered clinician, I engage in regular training and ongoing professional development to ensure my knowledge in counselling psychology remains current and evidence-based.
Philosophy
Research continues to show that the therapeutic relationship is one of the strongest predictors of change. For me, this isn’t just a finding; it’s the foundation of how I work. My aim is to offer a space where you can gently set down the parts of yourself you’ve been carrying alone. A space where you can be honest, confused, hopeful, hurting, or unsure and know that it’s okay.
Together, we slow down enough to notice what’s happening inside you. We explore your experiences with warmth and curiosity, rather than judgment. We make sense of patterns, uncover the meanings beneath them, and find ways forward that feel right for you. My role is not to direct your life, but to walk alongside you as you rediscover clarity, personal capacity, and a sense of connection with yourself.
