Matthew Campling

For 10 years I wrote advice columns ('agony uncle') for several publications, plus I was a popular 'guest expert' in newspapers, on radio and television.  My approach blends 30 years of skill and experience with gentle, respectful suggestions the client can make their use of.

Clients are often looking for support and effective answers for Anxiety and Depression.   Sometimes it's an Addiction concern, or the person has been the victim/survivor of some form of Abuse.  I work in a caring, client-centred  approach, sometimes with the help of CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) tools.   I now have over 20 years experience as a counsellor and psychotherapist and I have experience and qualifications for working with both individuals and couples. Over the years feedback from my clients has helped me develop a way of working which is supportive, open, sensitive and meaningful.  I ask £60 per session, I work from North London, and I also work on the phone and via Zoom.

How Counselling and Psychotherapy Can Help

Because you have the opportunity to really set out and thoroughly examine the issues in your present and past life, and to work out a more desirable future.  It helps because I will listen and put things together for you.  I may make suggestions but these are not commands - these are suggestions for being more active and successful in dealing with your issues.  I also think sessions are really helpful because you know that once a week you have somewhere where you can unpack the week, so as you go through the days you can save up things you want to talk about.  Although it's only 50 minutes (the therapeutic hour) I see therapy as a 24/7 cocoon of support and understanding.

What to expect in the first session

If you've not been to counselling before, it might seem daunting.  Instead think of it as a wonderful place to let go of your problems.   If you have difficulty putting things into words, I have many years of helping to support and clarify client's thinking. You will see that I am not there to judge or criticise, as you may have experienced from friends or others.  I am there only to help you make sense of things and sort things into whether you have to accept them, forget them or work on them.

I am experienced in helping clients who are experiencing difficulties with:

• depression
• anxiety
• relationship issues and handling break-ups
• panic attacks and anxiety using CBT
• redundancy and other work issues
• questions about unlovability - helplessness - lack of self-worth
• talking about sexual orientation
• overcoming a 'toxic' childhood and adolescence,
• compulsive and/or addictive behaviour AND other therapy issues

In addition to general therapy, I have specialised in working with Eating Disorders. I work with both Anorexic and Bulimic clients, as well as Overweight or Obese clients. I have published three books on this - Eating Disorder Self-Cure and Therapeutic Weight Loss, as well as Diary of a Male Anorexic (my own history of the illness, which explains my personal understanding of eating disorders and recovery.). All these books are available on Amazon.

I was a volunteer therapist with Relate for two years and I am very interested and experienced in couples therapy. As I already noted, for 10 years I was a magazine agony uncle so I am used to listening to complications and confusion and getting to the important core of concerns. I focus on life and work issues problems as well as past and present relationship issues.

I ask £60 per 50 minute session for individuals.

£85 per 70 minute session for couples.

I see students on counselling/psychotherapy courses - there is a discount available for therapy students.

There are a few steps leading to the front door.  My consulting room is on the ground floor.