Gary Fletcher MBACP - Person-Centred Counsellor for Adults and Children.

I work at the Alder Centre, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital as a bereavement and staff counsellor. I also run my own private counselling practice supporting adults and children.

I have worked for a national children’s mental health charity as a child counsellor and have worked for MacMillan at Halton Hospital as a counsellor for cancer patients and their families. During this time, I have supported many clients with a large scope of needs from depression, anxiety, bereavement, Cancer treatment, disability, loss, eating disorders, pregnancy related issues, relationships, self-esteem, suicidal feelings and trauma to name a few.

Therapeutic person centred counselling

This is a traditional therapy used in many areas. This therapy is based on the belief everyone has the capacity and desire for personal growth and change if a person is given the right set of conditions. The counsellor is not seen as the expert who directs the therapy. They offer unconditional positive regard, empathy and congruence in a safe protected space to help the client come to terms with negative feelings this in turn helps the client to change and develop.

Therapeutic play

This is used primarily with children. It uses play as a means to communicate with the child helping them to explore and express their feelings and emotional problems. It can allow a child to work through their anxieties where they can relearn and realign themselves helping to overcome these difficulties. When a child acts out this can been seen as bad behaviour, this is just a means of communicating the thing they are unable to express. Therapeutic play can help in this, giving the child a safe protected space to come to terms with their inner turmoil resulting in their behaviour to improve.