Matthew Tinker

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PGDip CAT, UKCP & ACAT Registered Psychotherapist

About me

Do you feel overwhelmed, anxious, or stuck in patterns you can’t shift? Are past experiences — trauma, grief, or difficult relationships — still affecting your present? You don’t have to face it alone.

I offer a calm, compassionate space where you can feel truly heard, and where we can gently explore what you’re feeling, why it’s there, and how you can begin to move forward. My approach is trauma-informed, collaborative, and shaped to your individual needs. We’ll go at your pace — uncovering patterns, building resilience, and working towards lasting change.

I work with people facing trauma, anxiety, relationship struggles, addiction, and deeper questions of meaning, identity, or self-worth. As someone in long-term recovery and a practising Catholic, I also support clients exploring the connection between faith and emotional wellbeing — whether that means integrating spirituality or healing from religious wounding.

Above all, I offer a warm and respectful space where both soul and psyche are welcome.

Training, qualifications & experience

I’ve been working in mental health since the late 1990s, beginning my career as a mental health nurse in the NHS. I later trained as a psychotherapist and have worked across a range of NHS and private settings.

My core psychotherapy training is in Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT), which continues to shape my integrative and relational approach. In addition to CAT, I am trained in:

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing)

Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques)

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

This range of approaches allows me to tailor therapy to each individual, drawing on both cognitive and body-based methods for healing trauma and supporting emotional growth.

Publications:

https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780203728857-14/hate-matters-matthew-tinker

Member organisations

school 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.

ACAT
The Association of Cognitive Analytic Therapy (ACAT)

The Association for Cognitive Analytic Therapy (ACAT) is a registered charity. They welcome members of the public, health professionals, ACAT accredited professionals, and anyone interested in finding out more about CAT. They list CAT practitioners.

UKCP
UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)

The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.

As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.

UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.

Accredited register membership

UK Council for 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.

UK Council for Psychotherapy

Areas of counselling I deal with

Therapies offered

Fees

£90.00 per session

Health Insurance/EAP

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

Additional information

Please get in touch via email for further information.

When I work

Flexible

Caversham, Reading, Berkshire, RG4

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)
Employee Assistance Programme

Key details

DBS check info

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

Online platforms

Google Meet

Supervision

In person
Online

Supportive, integrative supervision with space for faith, recovery, and the real challenges of clinical practice

View supervision profile