About me
Counselling and Psychotherapy in Hertford, Hertfordshire
Hello, I'm Gary, a BACP-registered counsellor offering professional counselling and psychotherapy in Hertford, across Hertfordshire and online throughout the UK.
You may be feeling overwhelmed, stuck in patterns you want to change, or struggling with anxiety, addiction, trauma or difficult life experiences. Perhaps things appear manageable from the outside, but internally you're finding it increasingly difficult to cope.
Reaching out for support can feel daunting. I offer a confidential, supportive and non-judgemental space where you can talk openly about what is happening and begin to understand what may be sitting beneath the surface.
I have over fifteen years' experience working within addiction and mental health services, with particular experience supporting people affected by alcohol and drug use, recovery, trauma, anxiety, shame and the impact these difficulties can have on relationships and families.
My areas of focus
I work with adults experiencing:
• Addiction, alcohol and drug-related difficulties
• Recovery and relapse concerns
• Trauma and difficult past experiences
• Anxiety and emotional distress
• Stress and burnout
• Low self-esteem and confidence
• Relationship difficulties
• Life transitions and personal growth
You don't need to identify with a particular diagnosis or know exactly what is wrong before getting in touch. Sometimes people simply know that something needs to change.
My approach to counselling
My approach is integrative, which means I draw on different therapeutic approaches according to your individual needs rather than expecting you to fit into one particular model.
My work may include elements of:
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Person-centred therapy
• Trauma-informed approaches
• Mindfulness-based approaches
Our work is collaborative and tailored to you. We can explore what's happening now, understand patterns that may have developed through previous experiences, and consider different ways of responding to the difficulties you're facing.
What therapy with me is like
I aim to provide a calm, straightforward and non-judgemental environment where you can speak openly, including about experiences that may be difficult to discuss elsewhere.
Together we may work towards:
• understanding patterns in your thoughts, feelings and behaviour
• processing difficult experiences and emotions
• developing healthier ways of coping
• improving relationships and communication
• building confidence and self-understanding
• developing a clearer sense of how you want to move forward
Taking the first step
You don't need to decide whether long-term counselling is right for you before contacting me.
I offer a free 15-minute introductory call where we can briefly discuss what's bringing you to counselling, you can ask any questions you have, and we can consider whether working together feels like the right fit.
Sessions are available in person in Hertford, including for people travelling from Ware, Hoddesdon, Broxbourne and surrounding areas, as well as online throughout the UK.
If you're considering counselling and would like to find out more, you're welcome to get in touch.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a BACP-registered counsellor with over 10 years' experience in counselling and psychotherapy, alongside more than 15 years' experience working within addiction treatment, recovery and rehabilitation services.
My professional background includes supporting people experiencing addiction, trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression and relationship difficulties across a range of settings. This extensive experience within addiction services has given me a particular understanding of the complex relationship between addiction, trauma, anxiety, shame, relationships and recovery.
I have also worked on NHS pilot programmes supporting trauma survivors and continue to develop my practice through advanced trauma-focused training and ongoing professional development.
Alongside my private practice, I teach counselling at West Herts College, supporting the training and development of future counselling professionals.
I hold professional qualifications in Therapeutic Counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and undertake regular continuing professional development to ensure my practice remains informed, ethical and responsive to the needs of the people I work with.
Areas of particular experience
Addiction & Recovery • Alcohol & Drug-Related Difficulties • PTSD & Trauma • Anxiety • Relationship Difficulties • Depression • Stress & Burnout • Low Self-Esteem • Bereavement
I often support people who:
• are concerned about their relationship with alcohol or drugs
• are struggling with addiction, recovery or the possibility of relapse
• are living with the effects of trauma or PTSD
• feel overwhelmed by anxiety, stress or emotional distress
• are experiencing burnout or emotional exhaustion
• are affected by addiction within a relationship or family
• want to understand themselves and their relationships better
• recognise patterns in their lives that they would like to change
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Addiction
Trauma
Anxiety
Stress
Burnout
Low self-esteem
Relationship issues
Codependency
Shame
Men's issues
Emotional abuse
Life transitions
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£70.00 - £90.00
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
I offer a free 15-minute introductory telephone call, giving you an opportunity to briefly discuss what brings you to counselling, ask any questions and decide whether you would like to arrange a first session.
Individual counselling: £70 – 50 minutes
Online counselling: £70 – 50 minutes
Telephone counselling: £70 – 50 minutes
Couples counselling: £70–£90 – 60–80 minutes
I reserve a limited number of reduced-fee appointments for people on lower incomes and trainee counsellors. Please feel free to ask about availability when you contact me.
Sessions can be paid for by bank transfer or cash.
I ask for 48 hours' notice if you need to cancel or rearrange an appointment. Sessions cancelled with less than 48 hours' notice may be charged at the full session fee.
When I work
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early morning | |||||||
| Morning | |||||||
| Early afternoon | |||||||
| Late afternoon | |||||||
| Evening |
Further information
Deciding whether counselling is right for you
You don't need to be in crisis or have everything figured out before coming to counselling. You may simply know that something doesn't feel right, that the same difficulties keep returning, or that the ways you've previously coped are no longer working.
For some people, reaching out follows a difficult period of anxiety, trauma or relationship problems. For others, it may begin with concerns about alcohol or drug use, difficulties in recovery, or recognising the impact that addiction is having on themselves or someone close to them.
Whatever brings you to counselling, our first conversations are about understanding you, rather than putting a label on what you're experiencing.
I recognise that contacting a counsellor can feel uncomfortable, particularly if you're used to managing things yourself or haven't spoken openly about what you're experiencing before. You won't be expected to disclose everything immediately, and there is no pressure to know exactly what you want from therapy.
We can take things at a pace that feels manageable and consider together what you would like to be different.
Not sure whether counselling is the right next step?
I offer a free 15-minute introductory telephone call. This gives you an opportunity to briefly explain what's bringing you to counselling, ask questions about how I work and decide whether you would like to arrange a first session.
There is no obligation to continue after the introductory call.
