About me
You may be looking for a therapist who understands the impact that shame, difference, rejection, identity struggles, relationships, or growing up in non affirming environments can have on mental health and self worth.
I’m Gavin Reid BA (Hons), MBACP, an LGBTQ+ affirming therapist offering online and in person counselling from my practice in Manchester city centre. As a gay man who grew up during Section 28 and the AIDS crisis, I understand personally how stigma, silence and discrimination can shape the way people see themselves and relate to others.
Before retraining as a therapist, I worked for many years within the corporate sector. While very different from counselling, this experience gave me insight into workplace stress, burnout, confidence struggles, people pleasing, and the emotional pressure many people experience trying to fit into environments where they do not fully feel able to be themselves.
My own experiences of therapy and personal development played an important role in my decision to become a therapist. Through therapy, reflection and training, I began to better understand the long term emotional impact that shame, minority stress and early experiences can have on identity, relationships and emotional wellbeing.
I work with many LGBTQ+ clients exploring issues around shame, identity, anxiety, trauma, self esteem, relationships, addiction, emotional overwhelm, belonging, and the lasting impact of feeling different or misunderstood growing up.
Training, qualifications & experience
I hold a first class BA (Hons) degree in Counselling and I’m a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP).
Alongside my core counselling training, I completed specialist training in Gender, Sexual and Relationship Diversity (GSRD) Therapy through Pink Therapy and am an Advanced Accredited GSRD Therapist. This specialist training and accreditation support my work with LGBTQ+ clients across a wide range of identities, relationships and experiences.
I have also undertaken additional professional development in trauma informed therapy, minority stress, attachment, shame, self compassion, and LGBTQ+ mental health. My work is informed by an understanding of how identity, relationships, social stigma, early experiences and wider cultural environments can shape emotional wellbeing and sense of self.
I continue to engage in ongoing professional development, supervision and reflective practice to support my work with clients and maintain ethical, affirming and evidence informed practice.
I continue to engage in ongoing professional development, supervision and reflective practice to support my work with clients and maintain ethical, affirming and evidence informed practice.
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
I work with clients exploring a wide range of emotional, relational and identity related experiences, including LGBTQ+ identity, shame, self worth, anxiety, depression, trauma, emotional regulation, relationship difficulties, setting healthy boundaries, people pleasing, coming out, minority stress, addiction and recovery, chemsex support, and the long term impact of growing up in non affirming environments.
I also offer affirming support for trans, non binary and gender non conforming people, as well as clients working within the sex industry.
Photos & videos
Fees
£70.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
I offer concessions for those saving for gender affirming care.
When I work
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early morning | |||||||
| Morning | |||||||
| Early afternoon | |||||||
| Late afternoon | |||||||
| Evening |
