About me
Hi, my name is Sam, thank you for taking the time to read my profile. It can be a daunting experience trying to find a suitable counsellor, so please have a read and see if you feel that I am a fit for you.
I am a fully qualified Counsellor and Psychotherapist registered with the BACP and NCPS which means you have assurance that I am working to an ethical code of conduct.
I use an integrative approach with person-centred therapy being at the heart of my practice. This is a type of talk therapy, where together we build a positive therapeutic relationship, facilitating your self-discovery process, exploring your own issues, feelings, beliefs, behaviours and worldview.
I tailor my sessions to each individual client's needs and offer techniques from other counselling approaches, should I feel these would be of benefit to you.
I am also a neurodivergent-affirming counsellor, working with autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, OCD and more, helping clients to understand themselves and find their way in the world. I offer reasonable adjustments and work with individuals and/or families to seek the correct support in high school, college or the workplace.
What you may be going through
It may be difficult to explain exactly what is going on for you, or you may be unsure if you need therapy. I can tell you that you don’t need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. What you may be going through could be:
- Anxiety taking over you life - worrying, overthinking, racing thoughts, catastrophizing.
- Worrying about a chronic illness diagnosis
- Sadness over a loss - loss of a person close to you, loss of a job, miscarriage
- Struggling to cope with change - relationship breakdown/divorce
- Frustration regarding infertility journey
- Overwhelmed parent - mum/dad guilt
- Insecurities about your appearance
- Unhealthy eating habits
- Overthinking that is interfering with everyday life
- Insomnia and fatigue that is having an impact on all areas of life
- Feeling like you are failing at life - comparing your life to others
- Panic and anxiousness in social settings
- Feeling different or misunderstood - ADHD and autism diagnosis
- addiction - substance abuse/gambling/work
- Work related stress
Whatever it is you may be experiencing, maybe it’s something completely different to the above, I am here to listen.
What to expect
I am a warm, compassionate individual and I provide a relaxed, none judgmental, fully accepting, space for you to be heard and validated in your experience. There is no such thing as ‘too much information’ in the room, every thought is welcomed, even if you think it is silly or stupid. I encourage you to bring every part of you to the sessions and together, we can explore, work through, understand and process any unpleasant thoughts, feelings and/or experiences. This can create more self-awareness, helping you to find the resources needed to move through life more comfortably.
What I offer
I offer one-to-one counselling sessions online, over the telephone or face-to-face, which will take place in my private and confidential therapy room located in Bryn, Ashton-in-Makerfield. These sessions are 50 minutes long and the amount of sessions you may require will be dependent on your situation, which can be discussed when we meet.
Should you find verbal communication difficult/overwhelming, please let me know in your enquiry, as I can offer text or email counselling as an alternative, if this feels more comfortable for you.
Given the pressures of finding a suitable therapist for you, I offer a FREE 30 minute, ‘get to know me’ session, which can be face to face, online or by way of telephone. Just let me know which you would prefer, and if verbal communication is not for you, then this can be done by email also.
EMAIL is the best way to contact me however, please check SPAM/JUNK folders for my response to your enquiry, as quite often they end up in there.
Training, qualifications & experience
Training & Qualification
- Bsc (Hons) Counselling and Psychotherapy: Professional Practice (Level 4, 5 & 6) - The University of Salford
- Certificate on counselling skills (Level 3) - St Helens College
- Certificate on counselling skills (Level 2) - St Helens College
- Certificate in working therapeutically with Autistic clients
Experience
I have a background in sports massage therapy, where I have helped people with their physical pain and also build confidence in their appearance, which also feeds into mental health. I believe in the mind-body connection and that one ultimately affects the other. This experience helping individuals to grow physically and mentally pathed the way for my career as a Counsellor. I have had the privilege of working with many children and adults over the years with greater experience in identity crises, autism and ADHD, chronic stress, anxiety, depression, chronic illness, manipulative relationships, parent/child relationships, chronic shame and/or guilt, and toxic family systems, but not limited to these client experiences and happy to work with whatever it is you are finding difficult at the moment. I absolutely love what I do and it is my passion to help people of all ages to find their voice and reach their full potential.
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.
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.
The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations. In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. 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.
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
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£30.00 - £60.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
My fee is £45 for the session. I am aware that this is an expensive commitment for some, therefore if you are struggling financially, please get in touch and we can discuss this, as I do offer some concession slots. Please check your SPAM folder for my response to your enquiry as they sometimes get lost in there.
When I work
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | |||||||
| Afternoon | |||||||
| Evening | |||||||
| Night |
I am flexible with my working hours and I will do my best to accommodate you where I can. Feel free to contact me directly to discuss this further.
Further information
Having experienced therapy myself, I understand it can feel really daunting to find the right therapist and then attending the first session. The first session is always the hardest with the fear of the unknown, not knowing myself or what to expect, but rest assured I am a warm and welcoming individual and there is no pressure or expectations on you to know what to say. All you need to focus on is attending the session and everything else will just happen naturally.
Thank you for taking the time to read my profile fully, I really appreciate it.
