About me
Hello, I'm Gareth Barnes, a fully qualified and BACP registered counsellor based in Horwich, Lancashire.
I provide a warm, confidential and non-judgemental space where you can explore whatever is troubling you. People come to counselling for many reasons, including anxiety, depression, bereavement, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, or simply feeling stuck and unsure about the next step in life.
My aim is to help you better understand yourself, make sense of difficult experiences and develop the confidence to move forward in a way that feels right for you.
Although our work together is centered on you, I believe it's important that you know something about the person you'll be talking to.
After a career in law, a series of significant life events led me to reassess what mattered most. Like many people, I experienced periods of anxiety and depression and, for a long time, believed I simply had to live with them.
Following several bereavements, I sought counselling. It not only helped me process my losses but also taught me something life-changing: lasting change comes from understanding ourselves rather than fighting against ourselves maybe accepting those parts of oursleves we find hard to deal with. That experience inspired me to retrain as a counsellor, qualifying with a Level 4 Diploma in Counselling from Runshaw College.
Today, I bring both my professional training and my own experience of personal change into my practice. I know how daunting it can feel to ask for help, and I also know how transformative the right therapeutic relationship can be.
At the heart of my work is the belief that people have the capacity to grow, heal and build more fulfilling lives. Counselling isn't about becoming someone different - it's about becoming more fully you.
Whether you're facing a crisis, coping with loss, struggling with anxiety or depression, or simply want to understand yourself better, please reach out to me.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications
CPCAB Level 5 Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
ABC Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills
ABC Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills
ABC Level 1 Certificate in Counselling Skills
Experience
I am an integrative counsellor, combining person-centred talking therapy with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques, tailoring my approach to meet the unique needs of each client.
Alongside my private practice, I work as a Wellbeing Counsellor for a leading Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), providing immediate emotional support, assessments and structured short-term counselling for clients experiencing a wide range of personal and workplace difficulties.
I also volunteer with Cruse Bereavement Support, where I provide one-to-one bereavement counselling to people coping with the loss of someone significant. My work with Cruse has strengthened my understanding of grief in all its forms and the importance of compassionate, person-centred support.
Before training as a counsellor, I spent many years working in the legal profession. This experience developed strong listening and communication skills, a deep respect for confidentiality, and a commitment to professionalism and ethical practice—qualities that continue to underpin my work as a counsellor.
Member organisations
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£45.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
When I work
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