Peter Hayward

When have you ever really felt that you have been truly heard? When have you ever been able to talk about your life, your experiences and your feelings without judgement or that there is any expectation of you?

In 2018 I retired from working for 30 years with the emergency services, prior to this I had spent 6 years in the military. During these 36 years I came to realise that people who work in these professions find it extremely difficult to talk about some of the experiences they might have had, and how these experiences may have affected them and their families.

This is also true for people from all walks of life. In many cases the simple fact of being able to talk to someone could do much to make life more comfortable, the ability to talk about issues and concerns can do much to alleviate stress and anxiety. This is what inspired me to become a therapist.

In many cases people cannot or do not talk to friends, colleagues, partners or family for fear of making them upset, angry, worried or burdened. As a therapist, I offer a safe space for people to talk, that is unconditional and confidential.

I hold the Diploma in Gestalt Counselling. Gestalt is a humanistic/existential therapy that believes that people are born with the resources and ability to lead a satisfying, creative life. However, often during childhood and sometimes later on, something interrupts this process and a person becomes stuck in fixed patterns and beliefs about themselves and the world. Gestalt aims to investigate and uncover how these patterns are still active and affecting a person’s present life. My task as a therapist is to support you to find new and more creative ways to resolve the problem or crisis you are facing.

Counselling - £60 for a 50 minute session and these are offered weekly.