About me
Thank you for visiting my page. My name is Marc; I’m a 32-year-old accredited counsellor (NCPS), and I’m determined to help you with your mental health. I have been working with individuals and groups for over 5 years, helping with issues like anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, abuse, and addiction. In addition to my professional knowledge and training I also have personal experience with poor mental health – as a teen and young adult I struggled for many years with anxiety and depression. My personal life history and professional development has equipped me with a great deal of insight and practical knowledge on how to transform one’s mental health.
I enjoy physical exercise, mindfulness, and several forms of personal and professional development, all of which positively influence my mental health and serve to benefit my career as a counsellor.
My Service at a Glance
- Free 15-minute consultation phone call
- A standard rate of £45 per session
- All sessions will last 50 minutes, unless agreed otherwise
- Block bookings (with price reduction) are available - ask me about this
- Online counselling via Zoom or Google Meet
- Face-to-face counselling also available (Armagh area) – blended approach possible
- A predominantly person-centred approach to counselling which includes psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) approaches.
My service is aimed at helping you improve your mental health by fostering self-understanding and self-acceptance, empowering you to feel comfortable in your own skin and implement the changes you desire.
About My Service
Free 15-Minute Consultation Phone Call
During your free 15-minute consultation you can raise any questions you may have; I aim to provide immediate support while gathering some information to assess your current situation. From there, we will book your initial counselling session.
My consultations are usually available on short notice; please feel free to request this.
Initial Counselling Session
Your initial counselling session will last 50 minutes and will take place either online (via Zoom or Google Meet), or face-to-face in the Armagh area.
In this initial session, we will discuss your goals and immediately begin the therapeutic work. We will discuss a potential duration for therapy which will be dependent on your needs and goals. A general recommendation is a minimum of 6 to 8 sessions.
The Process
Together, we will explore 2 key areas of your life: (Generally, working with your Inner World is my preferred starting point; however, your therapeutic goals will dictate the direction and duration of our work)
1) Your inner world
2) Your outer world
Your Inner World
This contains the 4 aspects of thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and behaviours. When life gets difficult it’s because one (or several) of these aspects causes more difficulty than we can handle i.e. our resources to cope have been exceeded. For example, we may seek therapy due to our thoughts (negative or intrusive), beliefs (poor self-worth), emotions (anxiety or depression), or behaviours (addictive or self-defeating). How we think and feel today is largely affected by how we’ve thought and felt in the past; difficult experiences leave their imprint on the psyche.
As we begin to understand your thoughts and emotions on a deep level, your everyday mood will begin to transform. Negative states of anxiety, fear and sadness begin to soften, creating space for the positive qualities of calm, confidence, and satisfaction.
Your Outer World
Family, friendships, social activities, professional development, education, and health and fitness are several aspects of your outer world which are huge contributors to your mental health (there are also many more). The human brain responds to its environment, mostly in the developmental stages of childhood, but also throughout the entire course of life in a process called neuroplasticity – this is not a theory, but a process which has been confirmed by decades of scientific research. The cognitive and emotional circuitry of the brain is directly influenced by how we spend our time: when we change our habits and allocate our time and energy to activities which promote a healthy engagement with life, we have the power to literally change our brain functioning and improve our mental health.
Together, we can identify the areas of your outer world which you’d like to improve upon, and help you implement the required steps for change – a practical and rewarding process!
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications
Fully Qualified Counsellor and Hypnotherapist
- Level 5 Professional Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling Practice
- Level 4 Diploma in Counselling Skills and Theory
- Level 3 Certificate in Hypnotherapy and Counselling Skills
Cruse Bereavement Support
- Bereavement Support Foundation Course, quality checked by the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS)
Aware-NI Support Group Facilitator
- Completed the Aware-NI support group facilitator training which enabled me to host and facilitate support groups covering a range of mental health difficulties
Fully Qualified Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor
- Level 3 Certificate in Personal Training
- Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing
Experience
- Support group facilitator with Aware-NI – 4 years (2019-2023)
- Bereavement support counsellor with Cruse Bereavement, the UK’s leading bereavement charity – 2 Years (2023-2025)
- Counsellor in Private Practice – ongoing, since March 2024
- 3 years of practical experience as a trainee counsellor (November 2020 – March 2024)
Training/Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
- Safeguarding webinar - Cruse Bereavement Support
- Trauma awareness webinar – Cruse Bereavement Support
- Self-care webinar - Cruse Bereavement Support
- Ongoing telephone support webinar - Cruse Bereavement Support
- Networking, Communication and Understanding - Cruse Bereavement Support
- Take 5 (Steps to wellbeing) Ambassador Briefing – Southern Trust
- ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) – PIPS Hope and Support
- Ethical Practice CPD Course - NCPS
- Introduction to Working with Eating Disorders CPD Course – NCPS
- Keeping Adults Safe (Safeguarding) – Volunteer Now
- Safeguarding Children Affected by Parental Substance Misuse – ASCERT
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.
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£45.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Initial 15-minute consultation phone call: free of charge.
Standard 50-minute counselling session: £45.
I offer block-booking options - feel free to speak to me about this.
Cancellations of less that 24 hours' notice incur a late-cancellation fee equal to the full session cost.
When I work
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