Sophia Armstrong | Qualifications & Experience

About me

Sophia Armstrong sitting on rocky beach with ocean and cloudy sky in the background.

I have practiced yoga for over 25 years.

Yoga is a crucial part of maintaining my own well-being, both physically and mentally. Since qualifying as a psychotherapist in 2018, I have discovered that I also draw on my experience as a yoga practitioner for my own self-care but also to help my clients. My yoga practice helps me to prepare myself before seeing clients and is also useful for some of my clients to learn breathing techniques, grounding exercises and mindfulness. This has been particularly helpful for my clients presenting with anxiety.

Get in touch

“My passions are working as a psychotherapist and my yoga practice.”

Illustration of a woman practicing yoga or meditation on a sofa, surrounded by plants, candles, and artwork, with a camera set up for recording or streaming in a room with a neutral beige background.

I am a fully qualified counsellor and psychotherapist based near Eastleigh, Hampshire. I hold an advanced diploma as an accredited yoga therapist with the IAYT (International Association of Yoga Therapists). This has enabled me to bring my two passions together - psychotherapy and yoga. I began this training when I realised that sometimes, clients need more than just to talk and getting into their own bodies by doing simple movement, learning about breath practices and learning how to relax can also have significant benefits for wellbeing as well. My experience is that the two therapies compliment each other and facilitating one to one tailored yoga practice works well along side talking therapy.

As well as a certified yoga therapist from the Yoga Therapy Institute, Amsterdam, I am an accredited BACP (British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists) member and I am bound by their code of ethics. I am also a member of HACP - (Hampshire Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists). I have all the required insurances to be working privately as a therapist and have regular supervision for my work as well as attend regular conferences to keep my work current and up to date.

Two women practicing yoga outdoors near a lake, balancing in a pose with one leg lifted and hands together in a high-five position.

Qualifications:

  • Advanced diploma in yoga therapy at the Yoga Therapy Institute, Amsterdam, 850 hours, The Netherlands, 2021-2025

  • Introduction to Yoga Therapy Skills, The Minded Institute, London, 2019

  • Yoga Immersion Course - Laura Green yoga training, 2017

  • MA - Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy, University of Roehampton, 2015-18

  • Level 3 - certificate in counselling, Peter Symonds Adult Education, Winchester, 2014-15

  • Level 2 - introduction to counselling skills, Peter Symonds Adult Education, Winchester, 2013-14

Affiliations/ posts held:

  • Member of SYA - Southampton Yoga Association, 2025-current

  • Member of HACP - Hampshire Association of counselling & psychotherapy, 2025-current

  • Supervisor (trainee) at Alton Counselling Service 2024-current

  • Member of Psychodynamic reading group, Colden Common, Hampshire 2022-current

  • Trustee of ACS (Alton Counselling Service) 2022-2024

CPD (continual professional development) - additional training:

These are shorter (day or weekend) courses on specialist areas of therapy which enable me to stay up to date and adhere to the BACP guidelines on professional development:

  • 20-21/04/2024 Yoga therapy for anxiety attacks. 6 hrs CPD YACEP - Montserrat Gomez (Yoga therapy Institute)

  • 21/04/2021-25/04/2021- Yoga psychology: philosophy & practice for anxiety and depression relief: Lisa Kayleigh Isley (Yoga Therapy Institute)

  • 08/03/2021 –Transforming Attachments (attachment theory, mindfulness and body psychotherapy): Linda Cundy, Siobhan McGee, Kathrin Stauffer.

  • 06/03/2021 –Somatisation – The Physical Expression of our Unspoken Story: Juliana Appel-Opper.

  • 27/02/2021 –An Experience of Embodied Relational Therapy: Stephen Tame and Allison Priestman.

  • 24/02/2021-Transforming the ‘Living Legacy’ of Trauma: Janina Fisher.

  • 5/02/2021 –Creativity as a healing tool: Connectiong mind, body & imagination: Lemn Sissay & Bessel Van der Kolk.

  • 05/02/2021 -The Body keeps the score

  • 09/01/2021 – Body Talk: Working with the Unspoken. When talking is not enough: Lorna Evans.

  • 21/04/2018 –Trauma and the Body: Graham Music