Dean Richardson MNCS(Accred. Reg.) ~ Couples, Individuals, Groups, LGBT+

About me

WHEN AM I AVAILABLE: for an up-to-date list of immediately available appointments - see my website (link at top if this page).

Professional & effective counselling services from an established, highly experienced, flexibly-attentive, frankly-speaking male counsellor of 19+ years experience:

• … for individuals: seeking understanding about what's fuelling your anxiety,
• … for couples: seeking understanding on how you might approach your relationship-conflicts,
• … for polyamorous groups: seeking understanding of the matrix of conflicts within your group,
• … for LGBT (QIA etc): seeking alliance with a specialist counsellor (more than just a simple ally).

DEAN RICHARDSON - "a proper counsellor" …

Let me tell you where "proper counsellor" came from…

A little while back, an old, experienced & respected colleague of mine, whom I hadn't seen in many years, came up to me to say hello during a Hampshire Festival of the Mind conference in Portsmouth.

She told me that she had referred a number of people to me over the years in her roles as supervisor and counsellor. In particular, when someone told her of the kind of counsellor they thought they aught to be seeing, my experienced colleague's anxious response was:-

"Oh no! You want to go and see a proper counsellor! Go and see Dean Richardson…!"

…and so was born the phrase "a proper counsellor" (which I rather love!)

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WHAT MIGHT WE MEAN BY "PROPER" COUNSELLOR?
It is an unfortunately situation that in the UK: "Counsellor" is not a protected title. Anyone with no-qualifications, little/poor/no training, no insurance, no clinical supervision and no membership of a professional body can still describe their service as "counselling" and imply they can work with you therapeutically. It's a little bit scary.

So, my counselling practice (now into its 19th year) is based in sensible training, qualifications, experience, continued study & enhancement of my skills, and all supported by regular supervision.

I'm qualified in counselling via a Diploma in Psychodynamic (psychotherapeutic) Counselling (Chichester Counselling Services, course accredited by the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy), plus a post-graduate diploma in systemic/psychodynamic couple counselling (incorporating a cognitive behavioural approach) (Chichester) and for therapy groups I've added an analytic and facilitate approach to group counselling via the National Foundation in Group Analysis. Plus I am a registered counsellor and an accredited member of the National Counselling Society (MNCS(Accredited Registrant)).

Yet - with that kind of qualification I'm still your bog-standard bloke:

• I don't follow dogma simply because "the book says it's a good idea to do so".
• I learn from *you*, the client - meaning that whilst I'll be assisting you, you'll also be playing an active part in our counselling work. You're the book we learn from :)
• I get puzzled over things I don't understand, I'm curious to learn more rather than taking things a face value. This helps uncover not-yet-understood material.
• I translate (most, not all!) psychobabble into understandable plain English.
• I tolerate a lot of the heavy, nasty stuff that happens to people during their lives (trauma, rape, abuse).
• I use basic, plain language (including colloquial language/swearing - pretty much because this is my natural language, but which I'll edit out if it offends). We'll speak a common language!
• I listen well, people find that they can talk stuff over with me.

… and with such an approach, together my clients and I start figuring out stuff enough so that - after a while - the client no longer needs to keep seeing me for counselling.

My approach is to assist clients in coming to terms with risks and anxieties in life in a way that makes sense to them; to assist them in learning how to manage matters when the shit-hits-the-fan (rather than aim to go through life desperately hoping that the fan will always remain, erm, shit-less :) )

I also have a speciality in working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, queer/questioning, intersex and ally people (LGBTQIA) in counselling.

So, with all this going into my kitbag since 1999, I think I might have earned my colleague's description: "a proper counsellor" ;)

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I'M SOMEONE WHO ASKS THE QUESTIONS THAT NO-ONE ELSE IS ASKING.
Many people can despair in the thought that they don't know the answers - or resolutions - to their problems… or that they "have already tried everything" and "everything has failed".

Yet, when certain kinds of questions are asked; when new challenges are put in front of people, new thoughts can occur. These new thoughts can lead to new ideas… and then introduce new answers and resolutions.

I can put a circular question to a couple about their relationship, and all three of us watch as new pathways emerge as the question is jostled with.

I can put an open question to an individual, who might delight in (or cry with relief) that they had never been asked such a question before.


PART OF MY SKILLS ARE ASKING QUESTIONS THAT OFTEN CAUSE A RESPONSE: "Oh, I've never been asked that before!"

My insightful & respectful approach to counselling can bring immediate relief simply by initially feeling that you are being understood by somebody. This is an important first step before any client & counsellor get into working through deeper, perhaps more distressing issues.

In short: I can help you turn "what the fuck?!" into "oh, I get it now!".

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COUNSELLING SERVICES I OFFER IN HAVANT/WATERLOOVILLE and ONLINE VIDEO (eg Skype).

• Couple/Relationship Counselling for two-adult relationship issues (intimate, married, partners, friends, business partners/colleagues).
• Individual counselling for any adult individual wishing to understand themselves, their behaviour, their emotional-responses etc.
• Small counselling groups (from 4 to to 8 people - e.g. a polyamorous relationship) who have a common objective & find working in a group therapeutically helpful.
• LGBTQ Speciality: where sexuality, orientation or curiosity has become troubling.

I have been honoured to discover that some clients have travelled regularly as far away as 50 miles to work with me weekly in counselling.

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HOW TO BEGIN COUNSELLING WITH DEAN RICHARDSON.

I will offer to meet with you for just one session.

There will be no obligation to meet with me after that. No signing up for years of therapy. No minimum terms and paying lump sums up-front. Continuing will be up to you.

If that single session gives you an experience that our time together would be well spent (and we both agree about this) then we can talk more about continuing weekly, what the focus of what we would be working on and how we will end our counselling relationship when it's complete.

My aim… is to become redundant, with you leaving counselling in a better place than before and more able to manage in the outside world.

No need for future "top-up" sessions (as if you'd run out?!), no feeling you're obligated to return to counselling; we'll work things through so that they're done… or done enough.

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Curious to learn more about Dean Richardson?

See my website for my full details and experience as a counsellor, group facilitator, and couple therapist for relationship issues.

… or use Counselling Directory to send a (free of charge) private message which I will respond to (usually within two work-days).


Are you ready to spend some time… with me… on yourself…?