About me
Struggling with life issues and feeling overwhelmed? Or feeling stuck with where and what you are doing now and in the foreseeable future? I help folks from diverse backgrounds, men and women, young and old who are struggling with life issues to find a way forward.
Hello, I’m Ian, I offer face-to-face & on-line therapy for individuals in South Manchester and Northeast Cheshire.
I'm professionally qualified and registered with the BACP having completed a MSc in Counselling & Psychotherapy (Distinction). I also previously trained and practiced as an Executive Coach.
I help men and women from diverse backgrounds who are struggling to deal with issues that are bringing them down and holding them back, helping them to work out what is going on and to assist them to find answers and solutions to allow to them progress and grow, rather than be stuck and overwhelmed by life events.
As a counsellor I have experience of working with a number of issues, these include:
- Anxiety - feeling fearful, struggling to cope with life
- Depression - low mood, pessimism, lack of confidence
- Loss - of a life, a relationship, a job, a future plan
- Bereavement - grieving for the death of someone
- Relationships - that are not what they were or what you want now
- Low self-esteem - little self belief, imposter syndrome, in a work or social environment
- Life threatening illness - such as cancer, dealing with the thoughts of mortality and coping with the treatment process for yourself or a loved one
- ADHD - struggling to cope and experiencing burn out
- Career/work matters - promotion, change, objectives, redundancy, stress, retirement
Feeling worried and struggling with what to do, being angry, fearful, hiding away, using unhelpful means of distraction are reactions we all experience at some point in our life. Life is sometimes hard. I strive to help you make sense of what's going on and assist you to become ‘unstuck’.
My approach
My approach is fundamentally grounded in person-centred counselling. I believe that each person is different, the issues mentioned above may be universal, but you are unique. My role includes ‘holding a mirror’ that enables you to become more self-aware and to work with you to figure out what you want and how to progress.
The relationship we build is critical. I provide a safe, welcoming environment where trust can be carefully built. Clients say that what they appreciate is that I am a good listener, non-judgmental, and they feel comfortable opening up to talk about important personal matters. They appreciate the relationship which forms that enables honesty, compassion, challenge, authenticity and humour to be present.
There are also times when you may be looking for guidance and assistance, in work and career matters for example, where you may want a more direct approach. This is something that I am comfortable with and can bring my coaching experience to bear.
Please get in touch and we can have a free 30 minute talk, online or by phone, to see if I am the right fit for you. Assuming you wish to progress, we will arrange a mutually convenient day, time and place to meet for 50-60 minute sessions. My counselling room in Didsbury is a comfortable, private space. Typically the sessions will be face to face, however, we can also work together on-line using Teams or similar for some or all sessions if this is preferred/the only way you can work. We would normally meet weekly or bi-weekly. The number of sessions we would have is determined by you. I aim to be as flexible as possible in order to support you.
Training, qualifications & experience
Who am I?
I spent 30+ years of my working life initially in international companies and then as a Partner in an international advisory business. Towards the end I trained as an Executive Coach working with candidates and new partners.
After completing my MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy in 2021 I have been mostly based in Wythenshawe, Withington and Trafford hospitals as a counsellor working with clients referred to Macmillan. I also volunteered with MIND in Ashton, and with a young person’s charity in Macclesfield - Just Drop In - working with 17-24 year olds.
Member organisations
school 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.
The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations. In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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.
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
Coaching - Helping to make plans, set goals, achieve objectives, overcome issues, make decisions in student life, working career and/or general life.
Working with young adults - 18-24.
Therapies offered
Fees
£60.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I am open to offering concessionary rates to key workers, students and trainee counsellors. I accept payment by bank transfer. We can arrange the details when we first speak.
When I work
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