Jon Astbury MBACP MSc Counsellor
About me
You might not have anyone to turn to right now, or for lots of reasons it might not be possible to confide in those people closest to you. Whatever brings you to counselling, I will work collaboratively with you, with patience and commitment - I offer a therapeutic process through which you can explore what is troubling you in depth, at your own pace, in a safe, relaxed, supportive and confidential space. I can help you work through and make sense of your experiences - sometimes in new ways, and if you wish, help you find a way forward.
Right now you might be:- in emotional pain, feeling anxious, depressed or confused; living in a strained relationship or have family issues; troubled by earlier life events, loss or trauma; overwhelmed by stress at work or at home; you may have encountered discrimination or perhaps you are faced with an important life decision & feeling ‘trapped' or 'stuck' – Counselling can really help.
After years of working with people from lots of different walks of life, facing all sorts of difficulties and challenges, I continue to see how crucial it is to truly understand and value the person, their experiences, and their point of view. With someone alongside, who really doesn’t judge or criticise, you have the freedom and a solid base from which you can work through what you need to.
My Counselling room is quiet, private, with easy access to plenty of tea and coffee and my approach is friendly, calm and relaxed.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a Counsellor (MBACP), trained (MSc) Person-Centred therapist and registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP); I am also an experienced NHS and third sector mental health worker.
I have particular experience working with people living with stress, anxiety and depression. Before becoming a Counsellor, I worked for several years in NHS ‘crisis’ mental health services and in the third sector for people with enduring mental health difficulties. I also have several years’ experience in local authority and third sector services for people with learning and behavioural difficulties.
As a Counsellor, I am committed to and bound by the BACP’s ethical framework for the Counselling professions. Benefits of the framework and a therapist’s commitment to it, is to give people confidence that the therapist they are working with is accountable to a professional body and can provide a safe therapeutic space.
Member organisations
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
BACP is one of the UK’s largest professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy. Therapists registered with the Association fall into a number of different membership categories such as Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP and Registered Member MBACP (Accred), each standing for different levels of training and experience. MBACP (Accred) and MBACP (Snr Accred) members have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by the Association.
Registered members can be found on the BACP Register, which was the first register to achieve Accredited Voluntary Register status issued by the Professional Standards Authority. Individual Members will have completed an appropriate counselling and/or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but will not appear on the BACP Register until they've progressed to Registered Member MBACP status.
All members are bound by a Code of Ethics & Practice and a Complaints Procedure. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
My rates are reasonable at £35 for a therapeutic hour and I offer lower rates for students and those on lower incomes.
I can often see people straight away or within a few days. I am able to offer day time, evening or weekend sessions depending on my availability. You can contact me on 0161 850 6871 or email me.
The initial consultation is free of charge and will last for around 20 minutes. This will often involve a conversation about what brings you to therapy, my way of working, how I might be able to help, and my responsibilities to you. This will also give you opportunity to ask any questions you might have about therapy.
This first meeting can be important when choosing a therapist. It can help to get a feel for them as a person, what they can offer and whether you’ll be able to work together.
After this, and if you decide you’d like to go ahead, normal sessions will last for 50 minutes and tend to be once a week, although this is flexible. We can also agree to work to a limited number of sessions or on a more open ended basis depending on your needs.
