Matei Dudu MSc, MSW, PGDip, BA

Psychotherapist & Clinical Associate

I am a Systemic Family Psychotherapist with 18 years of experience in healthcare, the third sector, and private practice across the UK and Europe.

Building trust is a core value in my practice and I aim to create a welcoming and safe space while honouring the individual stories and strengths my clients bring. I value life transitions, knowing that they can bring change & growth as well as stress and strain.

I value working collaboratively and tend to focus on present-day issues while emphasising what changes might help you move forward. Together we might explore past experiences, family history, significant relationships, relationship difficulties, cultural contexts and sources of stress. My goal is to offer you a constant and stable environment to work through times of personal or family changes and uncertainty.

I have a strong interest in the mind-body connection, exploring how stress and trauma impact mental health, physical health and significant relationships. I provide a space for you or your family (whatever family means to you) to explore your preferred identities and relationships with mental health within the context of gender identity, sexuality, neurodiversity and immigration. I have extensive experience working with children and adults in mental health, physical health and gender identity services. My practice is informed by social justice principles, and I am interested in how queer and trans people are reclaiming and renegotiating non-oppressive relationships with psychotherapy. Some of the areas I specialise include:

- Recovery from anxiety, depression, low mood, self-harm, bereavement

- Being worried about your children or other family member’s mental health

- Seeking affirmative gender identity exploration and support within a society increasingly affected by queer & transphobia

- Navigating medical gender reassignment decisions and couple and family relationships

- Exploring the impact of trauma and oppressive systems on mental health and relationships

- Conflict, relationship difficulties & family estrangement in queer communities

- Exploring the impact of mental health/physical health issues on work, family and couple relationships

- Stress related to migrating to a new country and culture

- Stress-related to neurodiversity needs and post-ASC and ADHD diagnosis support

- Chronic physical health impact on mental health and embodiment

- Managing symptoms & body/mind work with people affected by Functional Neurological Disorders and Non-Epileptic Attacks

I trained with the Faculty of Medicine at Leeds University, UK, and achieved an MSc in Systemic Family Psychotherapy. I have extensive experience working in private and NHS settings, where I am considered a Highly Specialist. I am registered with UKCP (UK Counselling and Psychotherapy) and AFT (Association of Family Therapy), and I am a member of BAGIS (British Association of Gender Identity Specialists).

Born and raised in Transylvania, Romania, I moved to the UK in 2008 and now live in Yorkshire with my partner and our spoiled cat. I’m also an avid hiker, a singer in an LGBTQ+ choir, and deeply grateful for the support of my friends, family, and the queer community.