Malik Naeem Akhtar

I have been a qualified person centred  counsellor since 2002 working in Rochdale and the surrounding area. I offer both long and short -term therapy, and am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and fully abide by their ethical framework for good practice. I am also a qualified IEMT advanced practitioner, as well as trained in Brainspotting Level 2. Brainspotting Performance and F.L.O.W.

Counselling offers a space to talk about the issues in your life and there are many reasons for coming. Talking things through with a supportive and non-judgemental therapist can help you gain clarity and make sense out of where you currently find yourself. This in itself can provide some relief and open up the potential for positive change. Whether you are having difficulties at work, have anxiety or depression, have had a major life event/trauma, an addiction, experienced loss, or just need to make sense of your current situation I can offer you a warm, confidential and welcoming space where you feel safe, respected and supported in order to explore your thoughts and feelings; this approach is at the heart of how I work.

As an integrative counsellor I draw on different approaches to help understand the uniqueness of your individual situation. Most importantly, I will gauge my approach to fit with what feels right for you.

I specialise in short term work where the focus is on making the changes you would like to see in your life. Using this approach we would typically schedule to meet for 6 to 12 sessions and then review how we feel the sessions are going. There are times where longer term work is more suitable and we can discuss this together at any point during the process.

Choosing a counsellor who feels right for you is often an intuitive decision. Please feel free to call for an initial chat as this may help you decide if you would like to book a first appointment.

Fees

£50 In employment.

£40 Unemployed, OAP, Students

Testimonials

Hi Naeem, Wanted to say a big thank you for helping my teenage daughter. As you know she went from being a very confident primary schoolgirl and wining the whole school talent show to being disengaged and crying in the toilets within a space of two years. It got so bad, that we had applied to move schools even though we knew it was not the right thing to run away from problems.

If I am honest, I had not heard of the Eye Movement Therapy and was sceptical. After just one session wich lasted 30mintues, she opened up to me about what had been affecting her (which was the untimely death of her anty). I notice almost immediately that she was much more focused, decided that she did not want to change school and asked me to cancel the request. She made up with the girls she was having issues with.

Six months on, she is happy, focused (does homework without being told), has decided what she wants to be when she grows up. It feels like I have my daughter back, full of life and confidence. I cannot tell you how much this timely intervention has impacted her and my life.

If you are wondering if this is something you should try, consider this, I work in health care and to get a result like this in Primary Care would have taken months if not years (assuming if anyone had the time to see my daughter). I cannot recommend Naeem highly enough, he is an amazing man with a gift for putting young and old at ease, and healing those things that are unseen, if ignored, change life beyond recognition. If my daughter slips, I will have no hesitation to call Naeem and trust he will help her back on her feet.

Peps is a brilliant listener and a genuinely caring and patient person. He instantly makes you feel at ease and is very easy to talk to. From years of working with people he has a wealth of knowledge and techniques to draw upon to help with any given situation. I would thoroughly recommend his service to friends and family. -Rebecca.

I first met Peps when I was in a bad place emotionally, following the death of my husband and having a lot of other stressful matters happening in my life.
He was recommended to me by someone who had worked with him.
I had received counselling before, some years ago and was sceptical about going to see him at first, as I didn’t think it would be very beneficial to me.
How wrong was I !?!??
The minute I met him for my first appointment he put me at ease. He asked me about myself and why I had come to see him. He reassured me and told me he would help me ...... and he certainly did. He gave me coping strategies on how to become strong, how not to let people emotionally abuse me, how to remain strong and positive and how to change my way of thinking.
I credit Peps with the fact that, through his, patience, care, assistance, knowledge and professionalism, I am here today and that I am a more balanced, confident and happy person.
I can not recommend Peps enough if ever you need any counselling, to me, he is the only person I would advise you to make an appointment with.
Thank you Peps for all the help you have given me, I will never be able to thank you enough. Jeanette.

I have known Peps for over three years now and attend a number of his workshops, where I have been helped considerably.
During this time I have found him extremely professional and knowledgeable in his approach to addressing the many varied issues he deals with. Peps offers both group and one to one sessions, his relaxed and calm manner work perfectly and make all participants feel comfortable and welcome.
I would like to consider Peps my friend as well as counsellor and appreciate all he continues to do.

Danny.

After the sudden passing of my husband last year, I started having anxiety attacks, some days as many as six or seven.  I tried various methods to overcome these without success, and whilst my bereavement counselling helped in some areas, the attacks continued.  It was after a really bad episode of attacks that I contacted Peps, having had one to one meditation sessions with him a couple of years ago I knew his expertise in bringing emotional issues to the surface and his ability to coach me into overcoming these issues at that time could help.

The session was very calming and relaxing, during which, he helped to bring my anxieties to the surface, guiding me to explore and overcome the possible trigger points.  His techniques are very effective, that evening I had the best sleep since I lost my husband.  The feeling of calm and relaxation from the session remained with me even after the session had ended. I was experiencing multiple anxiety attacks every day, yet the following day and for the next week or so, I didn’t have one single anxiety attack, I still have the occasional attack from time to time, certainly not on the scale as before, and  using the techniques Peps demonstrated during my session, they are no longer troublesome and easily dealt with.

Peps has the remarkable ability to talk you though whatever issues affecting your daily life and guide you into overcoming these using very easy techniques.  His approach is very professional and confidential, you feel ease within seconds, He is a very dedicated person and passionate about his work.  His results are phenomenal and I would certainly call on his expertise should I need to in the future.

A very grateful client.

I have been able to calm my inner turmoil and find the strength to keep moving forward when even my thoughts were bleak and making it a very difficult time in my life.

Naeem has helped me to realise that it is both the negative and positive experiences in life that help me be me! Also, I don't need to be afraid of the negative, or ashamed, we're human beings after all.

I feel that with the guidance provided I can now manage the negative and work through it to a place of strength and calm.

I really appreciate your abilities to listen deeply, calm my anxieties and tame the roller-coaster that I have been chained to in my mind.

You have been a true saviour and your gentle nature has left me in a place of calmness, feeling both appreciated and loved.

Thank you

Andy.

I have had quite a few 1-1's with Peps now & I can fully recommend him. He's always gentle and kind and non- judgemental and knows exactly what to say and what to advise. He's a very intelligent man and blows me away with his knowledge every time I see him.

Thanks for always being there whenever I've needed your wisdom.

Donna.

I met Peps at True Serenity leading a group Ho'oponopono class. I wanted to let go of some "emotional baggage" but didn't really know where to begin. I was very impressed by how quickly I was put into a relaxed state and how much lighter I felt afterwards. The techniques I learned quickly helped me to understand and deal with my anxiety.

I also had some one-to-one counselling as there were some things I did not want to discuss as a group. Again I found this to be very effective and helpful. Peps is a professional and caring person who clearly knows what he's talking about. He naturally puts you at ease and helps you change perspective without judgment. I would recommend him to anyone looking for a spiritual mentor or counselling support.