About me
Hello, I’m Gavin.
You might appear to be coping on the outside while, underneath, something feels painful, unsettled or difficult to put into words. Perhaps you are grieving, living with the effects of trauma, struggling with low self-worth, experiencing difficulties in your relationships, or simply feeling lost or stuck.
You may have spent a long time putting your feelings to one side, carrying things alone or believing that you should be able to cope without support. Finding words for what is happening inside can be difficult for anyone, particularly if you have learned to hide your emotions. I also recognise the particular pressures many men experience around expressing vulnerability and asking for help.
Reaching out for counselling can feel daunting, particularly if you have never spoken to a therapist before. You do not need to arrive knowing exactly what to say or where to begin. We can start with whatever feels most present for you and find our way together.
I aim to offer a calm, grounded and welcoming presence. I want you to feel that you are meeting a real person who will listen carefully, take you seriously and work alongside you without judgement.
I am a Humanistic and Integrative therapist, drawing mainly upon person-centred, Gestalt and existential approaches. In everyday language, this means that I see you as a whole person, with your own history, relationships and way of understanding the world. I do not believe that one way of working suits everyone.
I am naturally curious and may ask thoughtful questions that help us look beneath the surface of what is happening. Together, we may explore your emotions, thoughts, physical sensations and the way you make sense of your experiences. Sometimes the body communicates something before we have found the words for it.
Our relationship will be collaborative, honest and accepting. You are the expert on your own life. I may offer my perspective, but I will not assume that I know what your experiences mean for you. If it feels helpful, I may gently draw attention to a pattern or share something I have noticed. We can explore together whether it feels meaningful to you.
I have experience supporting adults with grief and bereavement, including those affected by end-of-life concerns and life-limiting illness. I have also worked with trauma, low self-worth, relationship difficulties, emotional distress and experiences of feeling lost or stuck.
I welcome people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, cultures, ethnicities, faiths and relationship structures. As a bisexual therapist with English and Italian heritage, I understand that identity can have many layers. You are welcome to bring the different parts of yourself into counselling without needing to hide, explain or defend who you are.
I offer individual counselling and psychotherapy to adults aged 18 and over, either online or face to face in Hucknall.
I also offer a free 30-minute introductory consultation by telephone or online. This gives you space to talk briefly about what has brought you to counselling, ask questions and get a sense of how it might feel to work together.
If something in my profile connects with you, you are welcome to get in touch. There is no obligation to continue after our initial conversation.
Training, qualifications & experience
I hold a BSc (Hons) in Counselling and Psychotherapy, completed at the Sherwood Psychotherapy Training Institute and awarded by Staffordshire University.
I am a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and work in accordance with the BACP Ethical Framework. My BACP membership number is 422065.
I undertake regular clinical supervision and continuing professional development to support safe, ethical and reflective practice.
I am also a board member of Support for Survivors (S4S). This role contributes to my understanding of trauma and the importance of sensitive, ethical and survivor-centred support.
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
£60.00 per session
Additional information
Counselling sessions last 50 minutes and cost £60.
I offer a free 30-minute introductory consultation by telephone or online.
An optional block of four sessions can be purchased in advance for £220, saving £20. Any unused sessions will be refunded if you decide to end counselling before completing the block.
Further information
Appointments are available on weekdays between 9am and 7pm, subject to availability.
My private counselling cabin is in Hucknall, approximately a five-minute walk from the nearest tram stop and a two-minute walk from local bus services. One free off-road parking space is available.
Please be aware that the cabin does not have wheelchair access. Toilet facilities are available inside the main house.
I do not provide couples counselling, work with children and young people, or offer a crisis service. Active addiction and eating disorders are outside my current area of competence. If your needs would be better supported by a specialist or more intensive service, I will be open with you about this and help you consider an appropriate source of support.
