Christopher Stafford

Hello, and thank you for reviewing what I can offer you as a trusted down to earth therapist based in the heart of Liverpool City Centre on Castle Street.

I offer in-person sessions where you'll receive a warm welcome in the heart of Liverpool City Centre, as well as remote online sessions for clients Nationwide or for clients who may prefer this mode of therapy. On request telephone counselling can be considered also.

**In November and December I am offering a complimentary, no obligation enquiry telephone appointment (15 mins) for us to sense check if I am the right match for you as a therapist and for us to explore how we may work together in therapy**

My name is  Christopher (Chris) Stafford, a counselling psychotherapist with a private practice, providing therapeutic services to individuals aged 16 and over, as well as to couples and families.

I also head up The Chris Stafford Emotional Wellbeing Training Services, where I  devise and present training workshops and presentations for both trainee and qualified therapists, as well as individuals in diverse workplace and public sector environments.

Why choose me as your therapist ?

I am a trusted, respected and host a wealth of experience and expertise in the field of Psychotherapy, Counselling and Emotional Health. I am effective and highly qualified in what I can offer clients ensuring they care and wellbeing are always prioritised. Most importantly I am down to earth, humble always caring and strive to offer always warmth and acceptance to all my clients.

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. 

At present, in-person therapy sessions are available at:

Liverpool City Centre (L2 0NR)

Online sessions are currently available also.

I am a very experienced down to earth therapist with well over 4500 engaged client therapeutic hours. This is not just my job, but my full-time career, and I am wholeheartedly committed to providing informed robust therapy tailored to meet the unique needs of all my clients.

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.

As a fully qualified therapist with advanced training and qualifications, my practice is not confined to clients who may identify with the aforementioned issues; I cater to a broad spectrum of emotional health needs.

All my qualifications, which are exclusively in counselling and psychotherapy, are transparently listed on my profile. I hold the belief that clients /patients who regardless  if they are paying for therapy privately 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 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 training to inform my private practice:

Sexual Abuse

Domestic Violence

Childhood Trauma and Abuse

Self-Identity

Shame

Attachment Issues

Depression

PTSD and related concerns.

LGBTQIA+ Experiencing

Sex and Sex related issues

Chronic Illness and Life Limiting Illness

I am a fully inclusive therapist who champions 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 or send an email to set up an initial exploration session which will take place in person or online. This session has a fee of £50 and lasts 50 minutes. It is an opportunity to have an explorative look at how therapy at this point may be useful for you, addressing the key areas you want to work on and for me to advise how I would work to support you as an individual or couple. In advance of this appointment I am happy to answer any immediate questions that you may have so please do get in touch. 

Should you opt to proceed with my services following this, we can schedule our first counselling session at a time and place that suits us both.

Individual sessions are £60 - £70 per hour and Couples' sessions are £85 per hour.

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.

I am eager to hear from you.

In the meantime, look after "you"

Face to Face Counselling:

Initial Exploration Consultation Individual Session (50mins) £50.00 (In person or online) 

Initial Exploration Consultation Couples Session (60mins) £65.00 (In person or online)

This an opportunity to deeply explore the reasons for you wishing to access therapy, to understand the areas of your experience you wish to focus on and for me to find a little more about you as an individual or couple and of course for you to ask any questions. This will allow me to advise on what I can offer to support you in therapy and for you to decide if you would like to work together in a therapeutic relationship.

Following the initial exploration consultation therapy fees are below:

Individual Therapy: £60 to £70 per 60 minutes session.

Couples Therapy: £85 per 60 minutes session.

Individual Online Therapy £65 per 60 minute session.

Couples Online Therapy £80 per 60 minute session.

I am currently (6.11.2024) able to offer concessionary rates to students attending Level 4,5,6 counselling training courses for individual private therapy.

Please note 48 hours cancellation notice is required for all appointments 

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