Why East End Therapist

Dr Kirsten Shirke is a medical doctor, qualifying in London in 1997, and working in NHS General Practice in East London since 2003. Kirsten is a BACP registered psychodynamic psychotherapist, seeing patients for psychotherapy in NHS settings and in private practice. She is able to offer long and short term therapy, face to face in south east London and more widely online across the UK.

Kirsten has a special interest in mental health disorders, alcohol and substance misuse, and is clinical lead for a project supporting survivors of domestic abuse in primary care settings. She has extensive experience of working with people experiencing a range of mental health disorders and has worked with people experiencing homelessness as well as refugees and survivors of trauma and abuse. She is able to work with people who have difficulties with emotions and relationships, disordered eating, self-harm and suicidal thoughts, low self-esteem, work stress and many other challenges.   

Kirsten trains doctors and medical students at all stages in their training and has worked with doctors experiencing mental health concerns, burnout, and stress. Kirsten additionally has a BSc degree in Sociology and has experience of qualitative research with South Asian women experiencing domestic violence. She obtained a distinction for her Masters degree in psychodynamic psychotherapy at Goldsmiths University, exploring the impact on the COVID-19 pandemic on GP wellbeing. 

Outside of work Kirsten is keen distance runner, and can often be seen running in south London with her border collie and running partner Marley.

Qualifications and memberships – MBBS, MRCGP, DRCOG, DFFP, BSc, MA, MBACP

Dr. Kirsten Shirke in numbers

"It isnt where you came from, its where you're going that counts"

Ella Fitzgerald