Gill Cunliffe

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she/her
Registered MBACP (Accred) , BSc Counselling (Hons)
Wigan WN6 & Skelmersdale WN8

About me

Sometimes life transitions and change can leave us feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected from ourselves. Whether you are experiencing anxiety, feeling lost, low mood, grief, or feeling uncertain about the future, you don't have to navigate it alone. Taking the first step towards counselling can feel really daunting and scary, but it can also be the beginning of meaningful change. I provide a safe, supportive, and compassionate space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings freely, feel genuinely heard, and find a way forward that feels right for you.

How I Work
My approach is warm, collaborative, and tailored to your individual needs. At the heart of my work is a person-centred philosophy, creating a safe and supportive space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings without judgement. Drawing on a range of therapeutic approaches, including CBT, I support clients to gain insight into unhelpful patterns, develop coping strategies, and work towards meaningful change. For those who feel drawn to it, I also offer outdoor therapy, recognising the restorative and grounding benefits that spending time in nature can bring. Together, we work at your pace, helping you make sense of your experiences, build resilience, and move forward with greater clarity, confidence, and self-understanding.

Specialist Areas
I have experience supporting people with a wide range of emotional and psychological difficulties, and I offer particular expertise in:

  • Menopause and perimenopause support
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Bereavement, grief and all forms of loss
  • Life transitions and identity exploration
  • LGBTQ+ affirmative therapy
  • Personal therapy for trainee counsellors

These areas often overlap, and therapy provides space to explore the deeper impact of these challenges on your sense of self and relationships.

Menopause-Informed Therapy
Menopause can affect emotional wellbeing, relationships, confidence, and identity—sometimes in ways people don’t immediately link to hormonal change. I have specialist training in menopause and perimenopause support and also run workshops to help people become more menopause‑informed. Whether you’re directly experiencing menopause or supporting someone close to you, I offer a compassionate, knowledgeable space to navigate this chapter with understanding and practical support.

A Safe and Supportive Space
Therapy with me provides a calm, confidential environment where you can speak freely without fear of judgement. Many people describe counselling as a chance to breathe, reflect and reconnect with who they truly are. My role is not to tell you what to do - but to walk alongside you, helping you discover your own insights, strengths and choices.

Flexible Ways of Working
I understand that everyone’s circumstances are different, so I offer several ways to access therapy:

  • Face‑to‑face sessions in my cosy, private therapy room near Wigan town centre
  • Outdoor therapy in natural surroundings for those who feel more comfortable outside or benefit from movement and nature.
  • Online sessions via secure video
  • Telephone counselling

Free parking is available, and public transport links are close by, making sessions easy to access.

Continual Professional Development
I’m committed to ongoing professional learning and regularly undertake further training to enhance my practice. This has included:

  • Outdoor therapy
  • Menopause‑specific training
  • Acceptance & Commitment Therapy
  • Art‑based therapeutic approaches
  • Mental health awareness
  • Inner child work
  • Neurobiology of interpersonal trauma

This ensures that you receive informed, up‑to‑date and ethically grounded support.

Who I Work With
I welcome:

Adults of all ages and some young people (14years +)
Clients from the LGBTQ+ community
Individuals experiencing life changes, emotional distress or uncertainty.
Trainee counsellors needing personal therapy as part of their training.

For Referrers
I accept referrals for clients experiencing menopause-related emotional and physical changes, bereavement, anxiety, identity exploration, or those seeking therapy that is tailored to their individual needs and circumstances. I offer flexible scheduling and clear communication to support a smooth referral process.

Getting Started
If you feel ready to explore what’s been troubling you, or if you’re simply curious about whether therapy might help, you’re welcome to get in touch. I offer a warm, approachable space where you can begin to make sense of things and find a way forward that feels right for you.

Training, qualifications & experience

  • BSc (Hons) Counselling (First Class)
  • FdSc Counselling (Distinction)
  • CBT for Menopause
  • Level II cert. Mental Health Awareness
  • Confidence in Menopause (CPD)
  • Attachment in the early years (CPD)
  • Considerations for Taking Your Work Outdoors, Outdoor Therapy Training (CPD) 
  • How to do Counselling Online (CPD)
  • Working with the inner child (CPD)
  • Sexualised Trauma (CPD)
  • Sudden & Traumatic Death (CPD)
  • Introduction to Pluralistic Therapy
  • Using Expressive Arts Therapy Techniques

Member organisations

Registered / Accredited

Registered / Accredited

Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

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

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
Accredited Register Scheme

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.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Areas of counselling I deal with

Other areas of counselling I deal with

  • Menopause / Perimenopause
  • Women's health
  • Men's health
  • Student Counsellors / Student psychotherapists
  • Motivational Therapy
  • Stress Management
  • Relaxation Techniques
  • Mindfulness.

Fees

£60.00 per session

Concessions offered for

  • Low income
  • Keyworkers
  • OAPs
  • Students
  • Trainee counsellors
  • Unemployed

Health Insurance/EAP

  • Aviva
  • Axa Health
  • BUPA
  • Cigna
  • Health Assured
  • Saga
  • Vitality
  • WPA

Additional information

Free Initial 20 minute session online video or telephone.

I offer concessionary rates. Please contact me for further details.

I work with student counsellors and offer a 20% discount.

£60 per 50 minute session working online video, telephone or face to face either in my office or outdoors.

In certain circumstances, I can offer a 1.5-hour outdoor therapy session for £90.

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Early morning
Morning
Early afternoon
Late afternoon
Evening

Further information

I work flexibly so you can choose the way of meeting that feels most comfortable for you. This might be face‑to‑face in my private therapy room, through online video, by telephone, or outdoors in nature.

My therapy room is close to Wigan town centre, with free private parking and excellent public transport links. There’s a bus stop less than a five‑minute walk away, making it easy to reach however you travel.

For those who prefer being outdoors, I also offer outdoor therapy. This can be as simple as sitting together on a quiet bench in a peaceful green space, or walking side by side in several accessible locations across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire and Merseyside. Many people find this way of working less intimidating and more grounding. It can also be a good option for those with mobility needs, as we can choose accessible routes and locations that feel comfortable for you.

Outdoor sessions are always flexible, and there’s never any pressure to meet outside if it doesn’t feel right, or if the weather isn’t on our side. We can easily move the session indoors, online, or by telephone whenever you need to.

Wigan, Greater Manchester, WN6

Skelmersdale, Lancashire, WN8

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Young people (13-17)
Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)
Groups
Organisations
Employee Assistance Programme

Key details

DBS check

In England and Wales, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS, formerly known as CRB) carry out criminal records checks for individuals working with vulnerable groups, such as children. To find out more, visit gov.uk , or contact this professional directly

Wheelchair user access
Wheelchair user access

Wheelchair-accessible premises should have step-free access for wheelchair users and individuals who are unable to climb stairs. If a Counsellor's premises aren't step-free, they may offer alternative services such as telephone/web-based appointments, home visits, or meeting clients in different location, so you can choose the option that suits you best.

You can contact the Counsellor to discuss the options available.

Under the Equality Act 2010 service providers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that individuals with disabilities can access their service. You can read more about reasonable adjustments to help you to access services on the CAB website.

Accessible routes are available for outdoor therapy.

Online platforms

Microsoft Teams

Social