About me
Hi, I'm Paul (he/him), a UKCP-registered Psychotherapeutic Counsellor and trainer, specialising in Gestalt therapy – a creative, relational approach that goes beyond “just talking” and works with your whole self: body, emotions, thoughts, relationships and imagination.
I specialise in working with adults who are navigating big life transitions, often as a result of trauma. I work with grief, loss, sexual trauma, anxiety, break-ups and burnout, and the big questions these experiences bring: Who am I now? What really matters? How can I live with more authenticity?
You might be stuck in familiar relationship patterns, swinging between craving closeness and connection and then finding yourself overwhelmed and wanting to withdraw. You may struggle to set boundaries and ask for what you need, never feeling good enough or constantly comparing yourself to others.
I know how deeply exhausting this can be. In my teens and twenties I struggled with depression, low confidence and a painful sense of not being “good enough”. I also lost a parent at this time. This set me on a long personal exploration, mainly through Buddhist practice. I now draw on around 20 years of Buddhist practice and teaching in my therapy work, using meditation, mindfulness and compassion-focused practices where they’re helpful. You do not need to be Buddhist, spiritual, or interested in meditation to work with me. These practices are simply part of what informs the way I work: paying attention carefully, meeting experience with kindness, and creating space for things to be seen more clearly.
What a session might be like
We go at your pace and stay close to what’s happening in the room - what you notice in your body, emotions and our conversation. If you just want to talk, we can; if you’re open to it, we might also:
- Tune into your body to understand how trauma or emotion shows up physically
- Use gentle, creative methods - like meditation, visualisation or exploring an image or phrase - to shift stuck patterns.
- Give voice to quieter parts of you and hear what they need
- Engage in honest, two-way conversation that helps you reconnect to your own voice
Sometimes we’ll try small experiments - simple, creative ways to experience something differently. These are always optional. We decide together, and you can pause or stop at any time.
Who I work with
- Adults
- Students
- Trainee Counsellors/Psychotherapists
Who my approach works well with
I have found my approach works especially well with people who:
- Are self-aware but feel stuck in their head (loops of stories, “what-ifs,” overthinking)
- Feel anxious and caught in repeating patterns they can’t shift
- Are grieving or living with/alongside a life-limiting illness
- Are at a crossroads (after break-ups, burnout, or big life transitions) and want to explore the next step
- Struggle with boundaries, people-pleasing, shame, or a persistent “not good enough” feeling
- Are processing trauma or the after-effects of difficult relationships
- Are exploring meaning, identity, or spiritual questions
- Want an engaging, creative and dynamic approach to therapy that focuses on the "here and now."
My approach can be especially helpful for those who have engaged in personal development or therapy before but are now looking to make deeper, transformative changes.
This is a welcoming, LGBTQ+ affirming space.
Introductory calls and email enquiries
I offer a free 30-minute introductory call to explore how we might work together.
If you can’t find a suitable time, please get in touch by email and I’ll be happy to arrange something convenient.
Training, qualifications & experience
My training
I am a full clinical member of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP),the official body for psychotherapist training and registration. I am registered as a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor. I've completed four years of accredited Gestalt Psychotherapy training at the Manchester Gestalt Centre, a registered training institute of the UKCP.
I regularly engage in CPD to ensure my training and skills are up to date.
Professional Career
I have held front-line and management roles in community development and public health, served as a trustee, and contributed to educational advisory bodies. Most recently, I led programs to alleviate poverty in some of the most disadvantaged communities in the UK. Working with people from diverse backgrounds has given me valuable insight into how personal, social, and political forces intersect.
Meditation, Mindfulness and Spirituality
I'm an ordained Buddhist with the Dharma name Vidyapala, meaning Protector of Wisdom. With 20 years of practice, I integrate mindfulness, meditation, and compassion-based approaches into my work.
I also bring many years experience of teaching and participating in intensive meditation, study retreats, courses, and groups into my therapy practice.
You do not need to be Buddhist, spiritual, or interested in meditation to work with me. These practices are simply part of what informs the way I work: paying attention carefully, meeting experience with kindness, and creating space for things to be seen more clearly.
Therapeutic Experience
In addition to my private practice, I have provided therapeutic support within hospice settings, assisting individuals who are bereaved or facing profound, life-limiting illnesses. Many clients have expressed that our work together has helped them process complex emotions, difficult memories, and deep-seated patterns. By fostering practical skills, resilience, and a renewed sense of confidence, I help each person discover a way forward.
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 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
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
I have experience and a particular interest in working with people who may be confronting spiritual or religious problems or crises, encountering difficulties in their spiritual practices, or who may be struggling to integrate a significant spiritual or anomalous experience into their daily life.
Photos & videos
Fees
£65.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Sessions are 50 minutes long. I also keep a small number of concessionary spaces for people who need some financial flexibility. If finances are a concern, please feel free to mention this when you contact me. If these spaces are currently full, I’m happy to add you to my waiting list or recommend other options for affordable counselling.
I also work with selected health insurers. Insurance-funded sessions are billed according to the insurer’s authorised rate
When I work
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Further information
This is a welcoming, LGBTQ+ affirming space.
