Penelope Bould

WELCOME! You have taken an important decision by seeking research evidence-based therapy with a highly experienced, mature, well qualified, registered, friendly, warm integrative & or (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) CBT, DBT (Dialectical Behavioural Therapy) or person centred etc. FULL TIME counsellor /  psychosexual (sexual issues), multi-addictions and general psychotherapist / counsellor.

I work to empower adults, couples, people in all kinds of relationships, adolescents, children, families & organisations as well as people who have offended and those on probation.

Clients have described me as a warm, caring, inspiring and resourceful person. 

In practice at post graduate level since 2008, over 15 years, and over 17 years since starting clinical placements, I've appeared on the BBC and in other media as an expert, drawing on an unusually extensive range of qualifications and training behind me, including having attended over 1,080 (one thousand and eighty) learning events, including courses, conferences, seminars, webinars and workshops running to a list of dozens of pages.

You might have specific goals or feel uncertain or lost about how you can feel happier, about whatever it is that is not OK from your past or current life or any hopes and dreams for your future.

To learn more about your history and your situation and challenges or issues and problems etc. now, as and where appropriate I use a range of research based assessment tools which helps me to gather in depth information to contribute to understanding your needs and tailor approaches and techniques to you as a unique person.

This is an opportunity to say things out loud in a safe place, with a highly experienced warm hearted professional, to gain understanding and insights, to heal and to grow and get a treasure trove of practical takeaway techniques you can use in your day to day life, if you choose to do so.

I am a full time professionally MBACP registered practitioner & member of other specialist professional bodies, based on an unusually extensive range of training on many approaches and a complete A to Z of conditions and issues.

Working to identify conditions and empower autistic and neurodivergent people, for example living with ADHD, is amongst my specialties. I have a special qualification in an evidence based well respected approach which helps to diagnose autism.

For over 10 years I've also been a clinical supervisor of other counsellors, therapists, psychologists, support workers and mental health practitioners.

Since graduating in counselling 22 years ago I have provided thousands of hours of sessions for clients.

You have the opportunity to grow as a person, or couple or family, to hold your head high as you journey through life, with the aid of interesting powerful practical evidence based psychotherapeutic counselling and, where appropriate, psychosexual therapy techniques, which I use to empower clients. I teach clients tailored practical coping strategies, tailored to you as a unique human and to your unique situation and which you could use in your daily life.

To name but a few, issues I have worked with have included: relationships, abuse, addiction, (to e.g., abuse imagery; alcohol; cannabis & or cocaine & or other drugs; gaming, gambling, porn, shopping; technology, tobacco smoking: and other forms of substance use etc.) anxiety, generalised anxiety disorder, social anxiety, relationships, cancer, cancer's psychological impact, depression, disability issues, discrimination, family issues, feeling sad, long-term health challenges, OCD, panic disorder, phobias, personality disorders, prescription medication issues, sexual problems, sexual issues, sexual dysfunction, painful sex, stress, trauma, and an entire A to Z of challenges, mental and or physical health conditions.

I have studied with several universities. I graduated from university in The Theory & Practice of Counselling in 2002, and have 17 years experience in higher level work from 2006 and completion at postgraduate diploma level from 2008.

I first worked in a voluntary role with women and families escaping violent and oppressive relationships before that and as a Neuro-Linguistic Programming practitioner from 1997 plus I have NHS hospital experience as a counsellor.

I have also worked with men and people of all genders on an A to Z of conditions and issues, including those who are victim survivors of violence and oppression, and people from the military and veterans, using approaches from specialised training.

Clients are often surprised by how practical integrative counselling with or without CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) and other approaches, can be, with strategies and coping skills which can be used in daily life for a wide range of issues. This includes a wonderful strongly research based approach to couple counselling (using research involving 3,000 couples) and issues such as anxiety and depression and my clients find it really interesting and offers new hope.

A former school safeguarding governor, I have routinely had my background checked out for safeguarding on a number of occasions and I have a current Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Certificate (DBS).

Informed by specialised training, over the past 17 years my work has also included treating people with trauma, PTSD, psychosexual issues including couple sexual issues, survivors of sexual abuse and sex offenders as well as those who feel they are at risk of offending.

I have guest lectured and or run workshops at a number of universities including the:
* University of Oxford Department of Psychiatry seminar for working psychiatrists, therapists and mental health workers,
* University of Warwick (teaching students in counselling)
* University of Warwick Medical School (teaching trainee doctors) and
* Coventry University (teaching psychologists & social workers) and
* ran courses at what is now called Manchester Metropolitan University.

Testimonials Include:

I often hear clients say things such as:-

"I am more relaxed and I'm sleeping well now! Therapy has really helped me!"

"I felt down and was spiralling into terrible depths. Thanks to you I can breathe again."

"I am so glad my partner found you. You are so experienced and we are benefiting already after one session."

"That exercise you taught us as a couple was really powerful and we are feeling more reconnected."

"I got back to work sooner than I imagined - counselling has saved me money in less lost earnings when I was off sick and it was great to be earning again."

"I feel so much lighter and happier after coming to therapy with you!"

"I am calmer and can do things I never thought possible!"

"We are talking now and getting along so much better. We are amazed!"

"Inspiration is what I found and I feel inspired to live well now!"

"I now understand factors that prompted my behaviour. I am so relieved to have gained this insight."

"My nephew is happier even after just one session. We are amazed!"

"I have my son back now he is no longer gripped by fear."

"I thought I'd dealt with it but I couldn't sleep and after therapy with you I am so much more relaxed and optimistic!"

"As a woman I feel empowered to handle my challenges after sessions with you."

"We found inspiration here with you. We feel inspired!" (I worked with 4 members of the family from three generations.)

"I have gained insights. I couldn't understand why I was behaving like that before. It's been a revelation! And I've changed for the better!"

"Alcohol was destroying my friendships and my health and putting my job at risk. I've stopped using it. I feel more in control of my life and healthier! Amazing! Thank you so much!"

"I feel you are not only a therapist but a mentor for me. I am so very much happier. Thank you!"

The therapy I provide can be either integrative or focussed, for example, on one main approach such as:

* CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and / or
* Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
* Person Centred Rogerian
* Or using the full range including a remarkable strongly research based approach to couples therapy
* Systemic and Family Therapy
* Compassion and Acceptance Therapy
* Motivational Interviewing
* Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP)
* INTEGRATIVE
* Psychosexual therapy
* Somatics
* Addiction Therapy

And I use:-
* Elements of Compassion and Acceptance therapy
* Elements of Transactional Analysis (T.A.) and the
* Elements of the Psychodynamic Approach
* Elements of Existential Therapy
* Coaching techniques
* Metacognitive Therapy

In addition for couples I am trained and experienced in using a bolt-on approach to therapy based on wonderful research with literally thousands of couples.

A large toolbox of techniques is available to tailor to your needs, because I draw upon training and experience in a number of approaches to therapy.

I provide you with a safe confidential place to explore what ever is troubling you and or your goals or challenges, even if before therapy you are confused why you are not at ease.

* An experienced trained psychotherapist / counsellor working at higher level since 2006

* A trained medico-legal expert witness since 2014

* Also an experienced trained psychosexual therapist informed by specialised training particularly in 2008 and 2011-12 and additional training - sometimes I am attending specialised interactive live webinars every week.

* An experienced trained couples' therapist using a remarkable system based on research with literally thousands of couples

* An experienced trained family and child therapist

* A qualified life-coach from 2006 - informed by an 18 month certificated course, which required many many assignments, I incorporate coaching into the therapy where appropriate.

* Experienced skills trainer - taught commercially and in a number of universities I was trained in how to run courses at what is now part of Manchester Metropolitan University in a specialist course.

* Clinical supervisor of other psychotherapists and counsellors and those in safeguarding roles

* A former BBC reporter, producer, news bulletin and radio breakfast currents affairs show and presenter, I occasionally appear in the media as an expert on mental wellbeing and I'm also an expert on presentation skills, with extensive experience in both broadcasting live and pre-recorded and speech making to large conferences, medium and small audiences

* Former strategic and operational public relations managing director consultant and manager

* Trained actor with stage performance and event compere experience

I have been helping clients with challenges since 1997 with Neuro Linguistic Programming and as a psychotherapist working at a higher level with issues including serious mental health conditions since 2006, and it was in 2007 when I first worked clinically in an NHS hospital, after winning selection for a 12 month clinical placement which I completed in 2008.

A former law court reporter I am also a trained medico-legal expert witness accustomed to writing reports for legal cases.

One of my first questions is typically: "Apart from something being not OK and knowing you want to be more OK, are there any specific things you like to achieve through therapy?" It might be that you are unhappy or unsettled and perhaps unsure about what you want or need, just to feel better, or you might have specific issues and or conditions.

Providing you with appropriate positive regard, you can communicate openly knowing I will not be judgemental and that as a therapist I can cope with what you share and address any issue(s) you want to explore, address and or transform.

It can be very liberating having a real sense that I can hear anything you have to say, things which you might find impossible to share with anyone else.

Anxiety conditions including panic, couple work, depression, trauma, abuse, bullying, conflict, OCD, bereavement, psychosexual therapy including working with people on a transgender journey disability issues, addiction and working with people living with high level autism or what has been known as Asperger's, cross cultural issues are amongst many specialities I offer, using an unusually broad range of training and experience.

I am a full time practitioner experienced in working with adults, couples, children and families. I have worked as a counsellor in the NHS. I was first helping individual people with problems decades ago and families with difficulties.

After studying psychology at three universities, including achieving 90% in the written exam and 92% for the assignment mark for my Certificate in Health Psychology: Understanding Mental Ill-health (2004) from Coventry University, I graduated in counselling (2002) and I have been treating more serious mental health issues since 2006 and post Diploma studies and since completing 5 clinical placements in 2008. Although the vast majority of my work is psychotherapy and counselling, I first treated people using a form of Eriksonian therapy with Neurolinguistic Programming from 1997.

Even if you are unsure what is causing you to feel unhappy there are ways of exploring your well-being to find answers and ways of treating your symptoms.

Therapy with me is not only about talking and involves an in depth assessment of your needs as a unique person.

Employing the latest evidence based techniques, empowering you to find light and insights in dark and difficult times or to meet goals and handle challenges I keep in touch with the latest research and undertake additional training every year. Including in the past couple of years the latest approaches to anxiety, worry, depression, suicidal thoughts and OCD as well as ADHD, autism, personality disorders and happiness, dissociation and trauma to name but a few.

Sometimes sessions might involve, if and as and where appropriate, using creative arts if that would interest you.

I'm a qualified registered integrative practitioner. Registration is regulated by the same professional standards body monitoring doctors.

I use research based inspiring techniques including exciting practical couples' therapy based on research with thousands of couples, metacognitive therapy, CBT, systemic and family therapy and the person-centred Rogerian approaches also drawn from approaches to lifecoaching and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Eriksonian hypnotherapy with elements of Transactional Analysis and the psychodynamic modality.

A university graduate in counselling and holding a Diploma with a Distinction in Advanced Counselling Skills (and the highest mark of the year, a Merit, in research) as well as several other qualifications and a list of training courses undertaken running to several pages including this past year, I've worked clinically in an NHS hospital as a counsellor and offer a comprehensive integrative service.

I help to empower COUPLES, FAMILIES, CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE, individual ADULTS, older people & GROUPS from diverse backgrounds plus provide relaxation skills, mediation, facilitation and corporate work including stress management. I incorporate coaching into my therapy.

Therapy with me is an opportunity to explore your issues and gain practical tools to help you to cope with and transform your life as well as insights. I'm an integrative therapist and the list of approaches which I offer include Metacognitive Therapy, which is now included in the National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE) Guidelines.

The winner of the European Commission Breaking Barriers Award UK Certificate, I have a reputation for being innovative yet practical and, based on many years of in depth research with couples, I use a nuts and bolts approach to couple work as well as using more traditional approaches to relationships, whether they are romantic, family, friendships or business.

Clients and especially couples tell me they are pleasantly surprised and delighted by the approach and find the techniques they can take and use at home really helpful.

Trained in hypnotherapy with Neuro-Linguistic Programming, at Selly Oak Hospital post graduate centre, in 1997. Graduated in The Theory & Practice of Counselling in 2002 from Coventry University and originally read psychology at the University of Sheffield. Completed clinical placements for Diploma in Counselling in April 2008. Entitled to use the designatory letters MBACP after my name from January 2009, I am on the national British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) Register. Being on the register requires complying with standards requirements which include having clinical supervision meetings every month and undertaking continual professional development courses and reading.

This register is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care which also monitors the General Medical Council for doctors.

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You might be unhappy or confused and be uncertain about why or have a clear idea of what has triggered problems yet be unsure about how to become happier, for example less anxious or down or angry or obsessive or dissociative. I can help you to explore what is underneath, what is going on and help you to find solutions.

Using exciting ways drawn from a range of research based and creative approaches to therapy, to aid your journey of positive change I have a toolbox of techniques to help you to discover the right solutions for YOU and or empowering you on your journey to find a happier way of being.

I provide a safe place to explore problems and or challenges or goals with a warm-hearted supportive professional you can trust.

By choosing to work with me you will have the benefits from my having undertaken a particularly wide range of training (listed below) including achieving a distinction in advanced counselling skills.

As well as therapy involving talking about how you are right now we might explore issues such as your attachment pattern to other key people from childhood onwards.

Good therapy is a collaborative experience where you feel accepted and respected. It can entirely involve talking. However, some of my therapy is not only entirely about talking. Where appropriate I ask clients to use treatment interventions (not medication but some clients needs meds from the GP or psychiatrist as well as therapy), symbolic objects, and where a client wants to acting something out through movement in the room, role play, writing and or drawing and or music, and or using clay to make things symbolising challenges and or solutions for those clients who like the idea of those kinds of approach.

I sometimes suggest to clients optional experimental tasks to do at home between sessions.

These activities at home or another suitable place often only take a few minutes.

So experimental tasks (or what you might call homework) you agree to do in the time between sessions adds to your personal growth, not only what happens in the therapy room. These activities between sessions are recognised as valuable and mostly based on research.

My sessions are via Skype or FaceTime, or WhatsApp, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom videocalls or phone.

Whether seeking help for couples, anxiety, depression, anger management, stress, bereavement, OCD, career or a wide range of other issues, this is an opportunity for you to be as a famous artist Grayson Perry once said of counselling "the STAR IN THE ROOM!" and to be really heard in a space where you are free without experiencing other people's judgementalism, to speak out and say it out-loud, to explore your feelings, thoughts, behaviours, actions and experiences, regrets, hopes and dreams, coping strategies and ambitions.

No matter what difficulties you face the good news is that if you are distressed there is the potential for changing your response, with research showing a new brain cell can form in just 6 seconds!

Many clients living with anxiety, depression, low self esteem and or anger management and other issues benefit from developing their assertiveness skills which I have been teaching for many years.

Perhaps you feel uncertain about the cause of your distress or keep having negative thoughts whizzing around your head, perhaps interfering with your concentration, your ability to sleep or even to do your job or to study or to focus on challenges at home.

When I work with COUPLES I ensure that both of you have time to speak and address your concerns and where appropriate I use some ways of working to repair problems and to bring you closer in some ways which you might find surprising, based on some valuable established research. Some sessions are together as a couple and usually I also see each of you separately as well.

In each session we usually work both on issues of conflict and on addressing building your love and affection.

I often with work with PARENTS, CHILDREN and YOUNG PEOPLE using various ways of building positive relationships and trust and handling difficulties whether within or from outside the family.

Especially for eating disorders I also offer to go to some clients’ homes to help you to explore patterns of behaviour at home whether you live alone or with others (with a chaperone). Based on research, I build a household or family therapy based approach where appropriate.

Appointments are available primarily in the afternoons and evenings with the latest starting at 9pm (through videocall and phone sessions can sometimes be later especially for international clients) and I also see some clients in the morning and at weekends.

I have received referrals from various sources including the police, schools, employee assistance schemes and insurance companies.

LEGAL
A former law court reporter, but very mindful of your confidentiality, I have been trained by judges, barristers, solicitors and top psychiatrists to be able to write reports for the courts and also to appear in person as an expert medico-legal expert witness for cases outside in meetings and inside the courts if you need that service.

So if you have had an accident or had something traumatic happen, if you are a survivor / victim or a defendant accused of something, it might be appropriate for me to conduct an assessment and write a report addressed to a court.

Where appropriate I can also liaise with police officers and the Crown Prosecution Service and other authorities such as child and social services.

I have participated in child safeguarding boards considering matters such as a child or children in need.

TRAUMA & ANXIETY
For8 years I was a member of a government supported on-call team for post-disaster work and, having attended about many training courses or workshops (usually 1 to 3 per year) to the government's National Institute of Health (NICE) Guidelines on the subject, anxiety and trauma are amongst my specialities, aiding my work with people with a range of anxiety issues whether trauma related or not. The training has included my performance being evaluated and complimented upon by a room full of psychologists and therapists so this is another reassurance for you that I am a respected professional.

EMPOWERMENT
Whether wanting to learn how to relax more easily, work out your life purpose, fulfil your goals, healing old or new hurts or finding direction when feeling lost or facing confusion, addressing a specific or wide variety of issues, I am here to help to EMPOWER you in a way which is right for YOU.

I accept you as you are and help to provide options in a non-judgmental way and encourage you to find inspiration and if you need it to add to your motivation too.

I also teach techniques to use daily, such as for boosting self confidence, relaxation and meditation to give your brain a break from unhappy thoughts whilst working to change your outlook or negative perceptions where appropriate.

Issues around diversity are also amongst my specialities, especially gender (such as gender body dysphoria) race and ethnicity issues including prejudice, discrimination and oppression and disability matters.

UNIVERSITY GUEST LECTURER & TUTOR - E.G. TAUGHT GPs ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH & PSYCHIATRISTS ABOUT EMPOWERING DISABLED PEOPLE

A former member of the University of Warwick Medical School Advisory Board for three years, I have helped run workshops at the University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire for GPs, ran a seminar I presented for the University of Oxford Department of Psychiatry; and lectured at the University of Warwick (teaching psychotherapy / counselling students and trainee doctors), Coventry University (clinical psychologists and social workers) and was the only student asked to give a seminar where I trained at Warwickshire College.

I have also run courses at Manchester Metropolitan University (then Crewe & Alsager College of Higher Education) in negotiation techniques, assertiveness and industrial relations skills and I run private courses for clients in negotiations, equality and diversity, stress management and media interviews and presentations.

COMMITMENT TO TRAINING

Continual professional development is so important. for example, in one year 
I attended conferences on autism, forensic psychology and offending including sexual abuse. In 2016 and 2017 I attended conferences covering a wide range of issues on child mental health and had additional training in identifying and treating personality disorders and working with people with dissociation and trauma. In 2015 undertook additional training in depression, rumination and suicide at two universities using the latest research based interventions. In 2012 I trained in the latest research based approach to successfully working to empower people living with eating disorders and in 2013 and 2014 I enhanced my clinical supervision skills for working with supervisees - counsellors and psychotherapists.

In 2014 I also learned more about using music in therapy and added to my legal knowledge with training in expert witness work mentioned earlier and participated in a refresher course in hypnotherapy (I originally trained in Eriksonian Hypnotherapy with Neuro-Linguistic Programming in 1997).

PSYCHOSEXUAL THERAPY

I am also an experienced trained PSYCHOSEXUAL therapist. My training and work has include:

* The impact of internet addiction (whether involving games or other activities not just ones related to sex) on couple relationships
* A wide range of issues such as erectile dysfunction
* Painful or unexciting sex and or
* Loss of desire
* Child sexual abuse images and child contact sexual abuse - I am trained to work with both victim survivors and abusers and those accused of abusing and those fearing they might be or are straying into illegal activity
* paraphilias
* adult inappropriate sexual behaviours and sexual offending

Some relationships become a-sexual and you might want to ignite a new flame between you or rediscover a sexual relationship through some well established techniques. (This does not involve anything physically sexual happening in the therapy room.)

It is thought that 1% of people are asexual but some people who describe themselves as asexual do enjoy kissing and some caressing but do not want to be more intimate.

DIVERSITY

My clients have come from a wide range of diverse backgrounds including disabled people, as well as lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transvestite, transsexual and those questioning their sexuality and orientation (LGBTQ) clients and people from different ethnic origins, from various cultures, religions and social classes.

REASSURANCE & SAFEGUARDING

DBS and formerly Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checked, especially as I was a school safeguarding governor for over three years. I have also been trained in safeguarding adults and e-safety online.

GROUPS

Working with groups over a period of decades, I am trained to facilitate groups with particular expertise in several issues such as negotiations, equality and diversity, and drawing on my experience as a former full time educational journal editor, national newspaper and BBC reporter, producer, presenter, editor and documentary maker as well as managing director of my own public relations and marketing consultancy I also train people in strategic public relations and presentations.

WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES

Clients consult me on a very wide range of issues including couple and friendship relationships, anger management, anxiety, depression, abuse, confidence and trauma - a longer list of issues appears at the end of the profile although of course your issue might not be written down I have worked a very wide range of issues including what is sometimes called the "Pure O" form of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and trichotillomania (pulling hair out).

INTEGRATIVE APPROACH

My approach is called INTEGRATIVE in that I bring together knowledge from more than one approach to counselling and psychotherapy.

I use MINDFULNESS techniques where appropriate. I have in a sense a toolbox of techniques to use as and where appropriate with clients. I am a down to earth and practical person using skills from a broad wealth of training.

Unconditional positive regard, respect, empathy and genuineness are at the core of the work I do with clients and I emphasise that YOU ARE A UNIQUE PERSON. I assist you to explore your potential and solutions to problems in a way which is right for YOU.

Updating my skills with additional training every year, although I first studied psychology and sociology with statistics from the age of 18 and this was followed by a career in press, radio and TV journalism and public relations consultancy and management most of my psychotherapy and psychology training has been since the late 1990's.

I attend dozens of courses, conference or workshops and webinars, and other learning events every year.

This has the advantage that my approach benefits from some of the latest thinking on what helps to empower clients as well as drawing from a wealth of decades of development in therapeutic approaches from around the world.

A former volunteer support worker helping women and children to escape from violent or cruel relationships, I have used aspects of Transactional Analysis for years, but much of my training has been in the Person Centred also known as Client Centred Rogerian approach, and Cognitive Psychology at university and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) comparing it to the Psychodynamic and Person Centred approaches, as well as Stress Management using CBT and psycho-neuroscience.

Research evaluated innovative techniques from the family therapy systemic approach are very useful for empowering for clients, for both individuals, couples and families.

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) techniques I have found have a wide range of uses. These help you to connect with visualisation and or creating associations with sounds and a sense of touch to feelings, transforming negative or unhelpful thoughts and feelings to positive ones.

Stress Management techniques can be used in combination with other approaches to help you to bring about change. I can bring you the benefits of managing stress as taught to me by one of the world's foremost authorities on the subject, Professor Stephen Palmer a clinical psychologist using a CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) approach. Helping clients to set and to empower them to achieve their goals, I also provide LIFECOACHING.

You might feel lost, lacking direction in life or confused and unsure of what you want to do with your life and together we can explore issues such as life planning, discovering and feeling connected to what you want.

After working for many years as a journalist and broadcaster and interviewing people from all walks of life, I became very aware that people often had powerful emotions and issues and behaviours with which they needed help and so I returned to extend my original studies in psychology and then in psychotherapy and counselling. It is worth bearing in mind that pure psychology does not in itself show you how to help a client and that training in methods of helping people is essential.

Training Which I Offer To Clients

An experienced trainer I offer courses and sessions in:-
* Disability and diversity awareness
* Negotiations
* Advocacy (I have been an advocate for people with mental health issues at tribunals and with employers, housing providers etc.)
* Media (press, radio, TV and audio video) interviews, scripting and editing
* Meditation
* Mediation
* Negotiations skills (trained tutor & ran courses in higher education)* Presentation skills (I am a former BBC reporter/producer/presenter and experienced national and regional newspaper reporter, journal editor and public relations practitioner, manager and managing director)
* Presentations to small medium and large conference or web audiences
* Relaxation
* Script writing
* Speech writing, making and giving to small medium and large audiences
* Stress Management

An occasional university guest lecturer / tutor and consultant and as well as documentaries I made a commissioned educational video for trainee doctors for a university medical school.

Winner of the UK Certificate of the European Commission "Breaking Barriers" Award 2000 for breaking barriers between disabled and non-disabled people, empowering disabled people and helping those around them to handle disability issues positively is amongst my specialities. I work to the empowering SOCIAL MODEL OF DISABILITY devised by disabled civil rights campaigners.

ADHD, Addiction, Adverse Childhood Events,  Addiction to Pornography, Addiction to Sex, Anger Management, Angry Child, Anorexia, Arguments, ASD, High Functioning Autism, Asperger's, (Note Asperger's is a term less used now and High Functioning Autism is a term which is useful),  Behavior, Behaviour, Behaviours, Assertiveness, Attention Deficit, ADD, ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism, Autist, Autists, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Behavioural Problems, Bereavement, Binge Eating, Binge Drinking, Body Dysmorphia, Body Image, Boss problems, Cancer, Child Sex Abuse Images, Child Sexual Abuse, Children in Care, Computer Addiction, Couple Counselling, Court Cases, Creative Block, Crossdressing, Cross-Dressing, Cultural Issues, Custody Battles, D.I.D., Depersonalisation, Disability Discrimination, Disability Hate Crimes, Disability Issues, Disablism, Discrimination, Dissociation, Dissociative Identity Disorder, Dissociative Identity Spectrum Disorders, Divorce, Domestic Violence, Eating Disorders, Employment, Emotional Distress, Erectile Dysfunction, Evidence, Facilitation, Friendship Issues, Gambling, Grief, Hate crimes, Homophobia, Homosexuality, Insurance, Internet Addiction, Interview anxiety or stress,  Job Worries, Lack of Desire, Legal worries, Legal problems, Looked After Children, Loss, Low Libido, Marriage Counselling, Media Anxiety & Skills Issues, Mediation, Meditation, Motivation, Negotiating Skills, Negotiation, OCD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Personality, Offending, Oppositional Defiant, Over Eating, Pansexuality, Panic Attacks, Parental sexual Orientation Change, Painful Sex, Parental Phobias, Police Investigations, Sex, Sex Problems, Sexual Problems, Stress,  Pornography, Porn, Porn Addiction, Post Traumatic Stress, Pre-Marriage Counselling, Premature Ejaculation, Prejudice, Presentations, Promotion, PTSD, Pure O, Sexual Offending, Surviving, Racism, Relationships, Relationship Counselling, Report production, Self-Esteem, Self Esteem, Self Harm, Sex Addiction, Sexism, Sexual Abuse, Social Care, Speech Giving, Surviving Sexual Abuse, Speech Making, Speech Writing, Suicidal Ideas, Suicidal Ideation, Transsexual Issues, Transsexuality, Transvestite, Transsexuality, Transgender, Trichotillomania, Vaginismus, Violent Children, Violent Men, Violent Women, Violent People, Workplace Bullying, Workplace Competition, Workplace Issues, Workplace Relationships, Worry,

FEES

As an experienced therapist with advanced and extensive training, having attended now over 900 (nine hundred) learning events, including courses, conferences, seminars, webinars and workshops my usual fees are as follows:

£65 per 50 minutes for most types of sessions for one person;

£79 to £98 per 50 minutes for psychosexual therapy;

£79 per 50 minutes for relationship work and family work for up to 2 people, with an additional fee for children or adults subject to agreement;

£80 to £98 per 50 minutes for work related to alleged or guilty pleas to offending.

I make the most of your session time by sending you my new client form, so you can fill that in before you come to your first session, if you want to do so, in order to save taking up completing the form in a session.

Discounts are offered to people with reduced means and incomes where possible such as students and others on a low income and of low means or with other financial difficulties.

I have a sliding scale of fees with a higher fee for couples and families; psychosexual work; or groups of friends or work or student colleagues who need help to improve their relationships.

I offer therapy, incorporating coaching on a flexible basis.  I am also an experienced trainer.

You do not need to make a commitment for a certain number of sessions.

You can just book one to start.

First sessions are usually paid via card over the phone or bank transfer, or bank deposit if you go to a bank physically, or PayPal on booking and always in advance of the session. 

Sessions can be for varying lengths of time from 50 minutes upwards, for example 60 minutes, 70 or 80 or 90 minutes or 1 hour and 40 minutes or 2 hours and some clients choose to have longer breakthrough sessions, of e.g. ,3hours, with comfort breaks and short sessions on top of their main ones.

Longer sessions can be potentially peppered with activities, if and where appropriate.

BOOKING
Appointments are usually only booked after I speak with a client on the telephone unless disability access needs requires alternative arrangements.

A SHORT INTRODUCTORY APPOINTMENT can be arranged if that is what you would prefer.

* HOURS - AVAILABILITY:  Daytime and evenings via Skype or FaceTime, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, or phone, the last one hour slot for a 50 minute session starts at around 11pm but mostly in practice ending by 10pm.

If you can only find time at weekends then weekend sessions may be possible.

I offer international clients who need them later sessions whenever possible.

I recommend that couples and families have sessions of at least 80 minutes and preferably at least 90 minutes (an hour and a half) but we can meet for a shorter introductory meeting first or regular sessions if that is what you would prefer.

Sessions can be:
* Via videocalls: Skype, FaceTime, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp or other appropriate electronic means.
* Via phone
Sessions are at varying durations and frequencies depending on your needs and budget, such as once to three times per week or even daily, fortnightly, every three weeks or monthly or for some clients occasional sessions.

I previously had therapy rooms for in-person sessions for 12 years but these days all sessions are online or via phone since the COVID era began.
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