Max West

Verified Professional Verified Professional
Verified Professional

Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.

he/him
MBACP (Registered), GMBPsS

About me

If you’re here, something has probably been weighing on you for a while.

You might be holding onto something you don’t want to burden others with. Or you’ve simply got used to dealing with things on your own. Maybe you’ve found yourself feeling anxious, low or overwhelmed, or caught in patterns that don’t seem to shift. To other people, it might look like you’re coping. Privately though, things have become harder than they used to be.

Many of the people I work with are thoughtful and aware, but used to handling things on their own. They don’t always feel in crisis, just worn down, disconnected from themselves or from others. You don’t have to arrive knowing exactly what’s wrong or what needs to change. Sometimes the first step is simply having somewhere to think out loud with someone who’s in your corner.

People often worry that therapy means opening everything up at once or committing to something they aren’t sure about. My aim is to make that first step feel as manageable as possible. You won’t be expected to talk about anything you’re not ready to discuss, and there’s no obligation to continue beyond what feels helpful to you.

So what might therapy look like?

No two people experience difficulties in quite the same way, so I don’t believe there’s a single right way to approach therapy. Some people find it helpful to understand the patterns that have shaped how they think, feel and relate to others. Others are looking for practical ways to navigate a particularly difficult period in their lives. Often, it’s a combination of the two.

We’ll decide together what feels most helpful for you. That might mean taking time to explore things in more depth, working with practical tools and strategies, or moving between the two as your needs change. My aim is always to offer a way of working that fits you, rather than expecting you to fit a particular model of therapy.

I offer primarily online sessions, along with a free initial consultation if you’d like to ask a few questions or get a sense of whether I’m the right therapist for you before deciding how you’d like to proceed.

You’re welcome to get in touch.

Training, qualifications & experience

I am currently completing a Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology (DPsych) at London Metropolitan University, a doctoral-level programme combining rigorous academic training with supervised clinical practice. I receive regular clinical supervision and am committed to ongoing reflective practice throughout my work.

Across my training I have worked with people navigating a wide range of experiences low mood and loss of direction, anxiety and patterns of worry, relationship difficulties, grief and bereavement, workplace stress, and the emotional weight of significant life change. These experiences can shake how we see ourselves and the world, often bringing feelings of confusion, panic, or anger alongside a quiet sense that something needs to shift.

I have worked in school, bereavement, substance misuse, and private practice settings, and this breadth has shaped how I approach each person with the same focus regardless of what brings them: to meet the person rather than the problem, and to offer a steady, compassionate space where things can be explored at a pace that feels manageable.

Member organisations

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

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

British Association for Counselling & 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.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Areas of counselling I deal with

Other areas of counselling I deal with

Men's mental health
Identity issues
Loss of direction
Perfectionism
Self-criticism
High-functioning anxiety
People pleasing
Emotional avoidance

Fees

£50.00 - £65.00

Concessions offered for

  • Low income
  • Keyworkers
  • Students
  • Trainee counsellors
  • Unemployed

Additional information

I offer a free 30-minute consultation for us to get to know each other and see if it feels like a good fit.

I am aware that therapy is a financial commitment. As such, I also want to open space to discuss fees in session with the aim of finding something that works for you. Adjustments can include concession rates, sticking to a specific session limit (e.g. 6, 9 or 12 sessions), or discussing partial payment plans.

At this time, in person therapy sessions have a flat rate of £65 with a sliding scale fee from £50 - £65 available for online clients.

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Early morning
Morning
Early afternoon
Late afternoon
Evening

Further information

Qualifications

  • Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology (Current)
    London Metropolitan University
  • Master of Science (MSc) in Psychology
    University of Sussex

Experience

  • Mental Health Aid at Elmhurst Primary School.
  • Counsellor at CCIWBS Bereavement Counselling Service 
  • Counsellor at the Grove Substance Misuse Service 
  • Counsellor at the Awareness Centre (Current)

Hanger Vale Lane, London, Greater London, W5

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone
Home visits

Types of client

Young people (13-17)
Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)
Organisations
Employee Assistance Programme

Key details

DBS check

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

Microsoft Teams
Zoom
FaceTime
Google Meet
Whatsapp