Christopher Stafford

Updated: Sunday 21st June 2026

Hello, and thank you for reviewing what I can offer you as an experienced and trusted down to earth Counselling Psychotherapist based at a beautiful landmark building on the Pier Head in Liverpool City Centre.

My practice is informed by the highest standards of qualification and research I have obtained, my own personal development as an individual and a genuine desire to embrace others in their emotional pain and suffering. You will find my practice suite calming, professional and discreet.

I will always strive to ensure you feel safe, comfortable and fully supported in your therapy with me.

I am currently able to offer concessional rates for students, trainee therapists and out of work clients. I only have limited allocation remaining but please do contact me for further information.

As a Counselling Psychotherapist who offers therapy to Individuals, Couples' and Family Groups, I very much welcome you to contact me directly so I can provide you with information and insight into how I approach therapy in these different ways so you can decide if we would be a suitable match for your therapeutic needs.

I offer in-person sessions at my private practice in Liverpool City Centre.

I am also happy to offer online sessions nationwide.

However we connect you'll always receive a warm welcome.

How to get started with me as your therapist ?

Please reach out via the contact tab on this very site, via email to chrisstafford.counselling@gmail.com or message to 07714075324 to arrange your initial 15 minute complimentary conversation regarding starting therapy with me. This appointment is offered via a telephone call and is available to clients looking for individual therapy.

Please see below or contact me directly to find out how I work with couples and families and how I start the consultation process within these areas of therapy.

There is no obligation to proceed to sessions after the consultation.

Please note: I only offer sessions on a weekly or fortnightly basis for individuals and couples' therapy appointments. I do not offer longer gaps in between therapeutic appointments I'm afraid unless we have already established a therapeutic relationship. After an established therapeutic relationship has been achieved then I am happy to work monthly with clients.

I am currently unable to offer concessional sessions or pro bono sessions as all these places have been previously allocated. This changes from time to time so do check back as I will always update when I am in a position to offer these sessions.

My name is  Christopher (Chris) Stafford, and I am a highly qualified and fully insured Counselling Psychotherapist with a private practice, providing therapeutic services to individuals aged 16 and over, couples and families.

I also offer therapeutic mediation to couples who may be separating.

Why choose me as your therapist ?

I am trusted, respected and host a wealth of experience and expertise in the field of Psychotherapy, Counselling and Emotional Health. I am an effective therapist, highly qualified and experienced in what I can offer clients ensuring their care and wellbeing are always prioritised. Most importantly, I am down to earth, humble and commit myself wholeheartedly to my client work always caring and continuously striving to offer always warmth and acceptance to all.

Therapy with me is collaborative. You will certainly be heard but I will also work in a an engaging and respectfully challenging way with you to support you to seek resolve.

Meeting your expectations

I sincerely hope that I am the right match for you as a therapist, to start your personal therapeutic journey in a space that is safe, professional, and warmly accepting, focusing entirely on you, whether as an individual, a couple, or a family.

While my profile might appear quite detailed, I believe it's important to be open, honest, and transparent with you about the psychotherapeutic approaches I employ, as well as the qualifications and experience I can offer, especially since you've taken the first step towards therapy which is a difficult and dauting thing to do and I genuinely respect that.

Seeking support is not always an easy choice but it is often where a reset and resolve can be found for ourselves.

I hope this gives you more insight into arranging private therapy sessions with me. 

Online sessions are currently available also for clients Nationwide.

I have engaged in 8000+ client therapeutic hours. This is not just my vocation, but my full-time career, and I am motivated to providing informed robust therapy tailored to meet the unique needs of all my clients. With that in mind I do only work with certain amount of clients per week, to ensure that I offer each person the same exact high standard of therapeutic approach and consistency.

I provide both short-term and long-term psychotherapy for young people, adults, couples and families. If you choose me for family therapy I work from the techniques of Narrative Therapy and Structural Family Therapy (SFT).

For me, the field of counselling and psychotherapy has always been a source of immense joy and ongoing learning of the human experience. I have consistently maintained the same level of motivation and energy to support my clients on their personal therapeutic journeys, just as I did in my very first session. It is truly rewarding to engage in meaningful work with clients and witness their development and progress towards healing and resolution.

The healing and acceptance of what once seemed unacceptable can be a profound realisation, and the ability to facilitate such transformative spaces continues to inspire my dedication to this work.

All my qualifications, which are exclusively in counselling and psychotherapy, are transparently listed on my profile. I hold the belief that clients who regardless if they are paying for therapy privately or not deserve to be fully informed about their therapist's level of qualification within the counselling professions and what the therapists specialist training is.

This ensures that the therapist is not only highly qualified but also possesses extensive experience in their field and areas of specialisation. My qualifications exceed the minimum entry-level requirements required to practice as a counsellor in the UK and for transparency I hold a first class BSc degree.

My fees are a reflection of the advanced qualifications and specialised training I have undertaken to practice with efficacy as a counselling psychotherapist. They also cover the use of a high-specification, centrally-located private counselling rooms, which is a rented space distinct from my home, providing a neutral environment for both of us.

I have experience addressing a variety of mental health conditions and illnesses, as well as assisting individuals through diverse life transitions and challenging experiences, within private practice, charitable organisations, public sectors, and clinical environments.

I recognise that life can be challenging, uncertain, and at times extremely painful and certainly unfair, causing us to sometimes lose our sense of personal meaning and identity amidst the trials we face to survive. Feeling "stuck" without a clear purpose can give rise to various negative emotions and thoughts, which can impact the quality of our lives.

I hold that our emotional 'unfinished business'—the feelings and experiences we have yet to articulate—can profoundly influence our current state of being. Discovering a means to voice the unvoiced can offer liberation.

I firmly believe that individuals can transcend emotional turmoil to reach a state of self-acceptance, moving beyond mere existence to a life filled with personal tranquillity. It's recognised that the inconceivable occurs, and it often remains unspoken for many years, especially in cases of childhood abuse and trauma. I fully acknowledge the immense challenge and pain involved in confronting these issues, but it is within the secure environment of therapy that I provide where resolution and healing can be found.

Living a life that feels out of sync with your true self can be overwhelming. Emotionally, it may lead to anxiety, depression, and profound sadness. It's common to feel "stuck," as if life is moving forward without you, and you're not engaging with it in the way you'd like to.

You might find yourself trapped in a relentless cycle of self-critical thoughts, which can lead to a sense of emptiness, sadness, and isolation, along with a yearning for a different emotional state in your life.

As an integrative counsellor, I offer a secure therapeutic environment that is led by you, the client, working at your own pace to assist in navigating your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. My goal is to immerse myself as deeply as possible into my client's world, to truly grasp what it feels like to be them, enabling us to collaborate effectively.

I customise and personalise my therapeutic approach to warmly welcome your unique life experiences, whether you participate in individual or couples sessions.

Respect and empathy are integral to my counselling practice, allowing me to truly listen and be present with you, acknowledging the unique experiences you share.

I am here to accompany you on a deeply personal and potentially challenging journey, providing a safe therapeutic space for you to explore without fear of judgment or rejection.

Below are areas I have completed additional post qualification training to inform my private practice further:

Sexual Abuse

Domestic Violence

Childhood Trauma and Abuse

Self-Identity

Shame

Attachment Issues

Depression

PTSD CPTSD and related concerns.

LGBTQIA+ Experiencing

Sex and Sex related issues

Chronic Illness and Life Limiting Illness

Gender Dysphoria

OCD

I am a fully inclusive therapist who advocates equality for all as a standard practice.

Regardless of the platform we use for your counselling sessions, my dedication is to offer an environment that revolves around you. This is your opportunity to delve into what matters to you, address your concerns, and articulate your feelings about being yourself in this world, with all your unique experiences. I am prepared to listen to the emotions, thoughts, and experiences you decide to share in our sessions, empowering you to forge a path towards the life you aspire to lead.

Taking that initial step towards self-understanding and enhanced self-awareness can be daunting and filled with hesitation. As individuals, we may neglect our own needs, particularly when we've prioritized the desires and needs of others over our own for an extended period. This can lead to a disconnection from our authentic selves, prompting a journey to rediscover who we are, and what we truly seek from life and our relationships.

Creating a therapeutic space that is exclusively yours, where you can be completely heard, being accepted without any demands can be an incredibly empowering experience.

As a fully insured therapist, I am also registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) to guarantee full compliance with data storage within my practice. Additionally, I hold membership with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP). My core counselling training and qualifications have been elevated to a BSc (First Class Honours) level, enabling me to provide a range of therapeutic interventions, ensuring that you receive the best possible experience from your therapy.

**Beginning Therapy with Me**

To start, simply give me a call, a text or send an email to set up an initial exploration consultation appointment call which will take place via telephone, online or in person. Should you opt to proceed with me as your therapist  following this call, we can schedule our first appointment (I can be flexible with days and times as I have my own counselling practice) at the following fees:

£60 - £70  60 minutes Individual Therapy Session

£125 Initial Couples Therapy 90 minute consultation

£95  75 minutes Couples Therapy Session thereafter (Max 2 individuals)

Family Therapy Session are also available. Please contact me directly to gain more insight into how I work within Family Therapy.

Following your booking, I will email you a confirmation of your initial appointment, including comprehensive details about the location, parking, public transport options, and arrival instructions.

Additionally, I will attach our counselling agreement to this email, which will provide detailed information on how our counselling sessions will be conducted. This agreement will cover aspects such as confidentiality, data storage, my fees, payment methods, and my cancellation policy. Please read the counselling agreement, fill out all the sections designated for clients, sign it electronically, and send it back to me prior to our first session. If electronic signing is not feasible and you opt for in-person counselling, we can complete the signing of a physical copy during our first meeting. Should you have any inquiries about the aforementioned details, you are welcome to raise them with me.

In your first session, we will start by reviewing the counselling contract to address any questions you may have. After obtaining your informed consent, we will embark on our therapeutic journey. The initial session will be exploratory, allowing me to gain insight into your life experiences and current situation.

This is your counselling session, a space for open exploration to find the resolution you seek.

We will regularly review our sessions. You have the freedom to conclude your counselling journey whenever you feel it is appropriate.

What I do not offer

I am unable to offer free sessions. (All my pro bono slots are booked up for 2026)

I do not offer single session therapy.

I do not offer sessions to individuals under the age of 16

I do not hold unconfirmed appointments in my diary for longer than 24 hours after booking.

I do not offer therapy within the initial consultation call.

I am eager to hear from you with any other questions or to book in your initial conversation calls.

In the meantime, look after "you"

Individual sessions: £70.00  (1 Hour Sessions)

Couples Therapy: £95.00 (75 Minute Sessions)

Family Therapy - Please contact me directly regarding fees and session durations.

Pro bono sessions currently full and will again be reviewed in October 2026.

I tailor theoretical approaches to your therapy, or you can choose for us to work with one specific approach. My primary method of working with clients involves an integrative or, as it's currently termed, pluralistic approach. This means utilising a combination of theoretical approaches, providing us with flexibility and a broader toolkit to personalise your therapy.

The approaches include:

- Person-Centred Theory
- Psychodynamic Theory
- Narrative Theory
- Transactional Analysis
- Compassion-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Gestalt Theory