Meet our founder:
Madiha Sheikh, Lead Clinician
SANCTUARY IN MIND
Hello, I’m Madiha Sheikh, a psychotherapist offering a calm, reflective space exclusively for
women to explore what feels difficult, uncertain, or overwhelming. Many women come to therapy during periods of change — when emotional strain, health concerns, or life
transitions begin to affect how they feel, think, and cope. My role is to meet you with care
and curiosity, and to support you in making sense of your experience at a pace that feels
right for you.
My approach to therapy is shaped by over twenty years of experience working at the
intersection of mental health and physical health. I spent many years in hospital and
hospice settings, supporting adults whose emotional wellbeing was closely affected by
illness, medical treatment, and major life change. This work gave me a deep understanding
of how psychological distress is often intertwined with the body, physical health, and
hormonal change — particularly for women.
This background informs my current focus in women’s mental health, including hormonal
and life-stage transitions such as perimenopause and menopause. I am one of a small
number of clinicians globally with specialist menopause-informed training through the
EMBERS® programme, and I continue to develop this expertise through advanced
accredited training. This allows me to offer psychological support that takes both emotional
experience and physiology seriously, rather than treating them as separate.
I work integratively, drawing on both relational psychotherapy and Cognitive Behavioural
Therapy (CBT). This means our work can be reflective and exploratory, while also offering
practical psychological tools when helpful. The therapeutic relationship is central to my
work, as meaningful change often begins with feeling understood, respected, and supported.
Alongside my private practice, I currently work within NHS Talking Therapies as a high-
intensity psychological therapist, which allows me to maintain a strong foundation in
evidence-based practice while working with a wide range of presenting difficulties.
I also offer therapy through a cultural and faith-informed lens, where this is important to
you. I am mindful of how family systems, cultural expectations, and faith can shape emotional experiences, and I aim to hold these sensitively within the therapeutic space.
Therapy can also be offered in other languages, if this supports you in expressing yourself
more fully.
Alongside my clinical work, I value connection, reflection, and creativity, and these values
naturally shape how I hold the therapeutic space.
This is therapy with you in mind
Qualifications & Accreditation
Psychotherapy Training
– Postgraduate Diploma in Integrative Relational Counselling and Psychotherapy
(Distinction)
– Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
– EMBERS® Professional Training Programme – Menopause-Informed CBT
Professional Memberships
– Accredited Member – British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
– Accredited Member – British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies
(BABCP)
Foundational Training
– BA (Hons) Social Work
– Registered with Social Work England
– Registered with the Canadian Association of Social Workers
Our goal isn’t to keep you in therapy forever. It’s to help you find your footing—so you can walk forward on your own.
Welcome to Sanctuary in Mind,
where peace isn’t about escaping life,
it’s about coming home to yourself.
Integrative Counsellor
Iqra Sheikh
SANCTUARY IN MIND
Qualifications
 Master’s in Integrative Counselling
ï‚· Diploma in Interpersonal and Counselling Skills
ï‚· Online and Telephone Counselling Certificate
ï‚· Registered Member of the BACP
Experience
I have experience supporting women with a range of emotional and psychological concerns,
including anxiety, low self-esteem, grief and trauma. I have previously worked within a women’s
centre, where I offered counselling to survivors of domestic violence and women with
experience of the criminal justice system. This work has shaped my understanding of the
importance of safety, trust and compassion within the therapeutic relationship.
How I Work
I am an integrative counsellor, which means I tailor therapy to each woman rather than using a
single approach. I draw gently on CBT, attachment-based ideas and transactional analysis, while
holding a strong person-centred foundation.
I believe therapy is most effective when women feel emotionally safe, heard and respected. I aim
to offer a warm, non-judgemental space where women can explore their experiences at their own
pace, reconnect with their strengths, and begin to rewrite their stories in ways that feel
meaningful and empowering. My work is sensitive to identity, culture and lived experience, and I
value working collaboratively and with care.
Areas of Interest
Anxiety · Depression · Low self-esteem · Bereavement · Trauma · Abuse · Anger · Reproductive
Mental Health