Owen Hills

My training is in Gestalt counselling and I work with this as a theoretical basis. Put simply, this means working with the client in the here and now based on what the client brings, whether past trauma or current difficulties; memories, thoughts or feelings. The aim is to facilitate the growth of self-awareness and self-responsibility. 

There is an understanding in Gestalt that the self is not fixed. It is a process, always in relationship with an other, whether that might be a partner, a job, family, a past experience or an aspect of one's personality. The aim of Gestalt is to bring awareness to the parts of this process, and identify ways one might be stuck, or repeat patterns of self-sabotage. 

Gestalt is a dialogic approach, meaning that the work takes the relationship between the counsellor and client into account, bringing attention to ways in which it might shed light on the client's self-process. 

I offer an attentive and compassionate space for clients to explore where they are now, and how they came to that place. This can be a daunting undertaking, as I know from my own experience, but the work is led by where the client is at and their awareness and understanding of their own process. I see my role as counsellor as to listen, to reflect and sometimes to guide or challenge; the Gestalt approach is that the work we do is a co-creation, counsellor and client working together in the here and now.

In my experience, just to talk, to voice and acknowledge pain and difficulty can go some way toward positive change, and I hope to facilitate this and take it further. This might involve giving voice to different parts of the self that are hurt, locked away or self-defeating, and seeing how these parts manifest physically or in day-to-day interactions. To go deeper we might draw on the experimental nature of Gestalt practice, using acting out, drawing, guided visualisation or breath work. 

I am open to working with people of all backgrounds, ages, and beliefs. I am aware of the challenges we face in this time, of the anxiety and uncertainty that is present, and the very real systemic obstacles there are to the wellbeing of many of us; I welcome exploration of this in the counselling room.

I offer a free initial phone call or online meeting, to talk about what brings the client to seek counselling and what I can offer.

If we decide to go further, we can use the first session to explore further the clients needs and wants and whether they would fit with how I work.

I will charge for the initial session, but there is no obligation to continue beyond this.

I wish to offer help in my practice to those on lower incomes, or who might struggle financially. Please get in touch about concessionary rates.

I am available for face to face or online work. Please get in touch for more details.