About me
You may be considering counselling because something needs to change. Perhaps you feel anxious, low, overwhelmed or stuck. You may be dealing with a difficult relationship, carrying something from the past or struggling to see a way forward.
I’m Simon, a warm and down-to-earth integrative counsellor working with adults, children and young people in Dartington and online. I offer more than a place to be listened to. We will work together to understand what is happening, recognise what may be keeping you stuck and find practical, manageable ways forward.
I won’t sit in judgement or tell you how to live your life, but neither will I leave you to do all the work alone. I will listen carefully, ask questions, offer reflections and help you explore different perspectives. Our work can be gentle and exploratory, focused and practical, or a mixture of both.
Counselling for adults
You might be struggling with anxiety, low mood, stress, burnout, relationship or family difficulties, low self-esteem, a difficult experience from the past or uncertainty about the future.
Some people come to counselling with a clearly defined problem. Others simply know that something does not feel right or that they do not want to continue in the same way. You do not need to arrive with the right words or a clear idea of what you need.
We can work together to understand what is troubling you, how past experiences may be affecting you now and what might help you move forward. Our sessions can be exploratory, practical or a mixture of both, depending on what you need.
Counselling for children and young people
I also work with children and young people experiencing anxiety, low mood, emotional difficulties, friendship problems, school pressures, family changes or other challenges affecting their wellbeing.
My experience as a teacher, together with my postgraduate training in mental health in education, helps me understand the wider world surrounding a young person—not only what happens inside the counselling room.
I aim to build a relationship in which a young person feels listened to, respected and able to express themselves without pressure. Depending on their age and individual needs, our work may include conversation, creative activities, practical strategies or simply having a safe space to explore what they are experiencing.
How I work
The relationship between counsellor and client is central to how I work. I aim to offer warmth, honesty and acceptance while also helping you look at things from different perspectives and consider what might need to change.
As an integrative counsellor, I draw from a range of therapeutic approaches rather than expecting one method to suit everybody. We will work at a pace that feels manageable and focus on the issues that matter most to you.
Finding the right counsellor is important. I offer a free initial 15-minute phone or video conversation so that you can tell me a little about what is happening, ask questions and decide whether working together feels right.
Training, qualifications & experience
I trained as an integrative counsellor at the Iron Mill College in Exeter and hold an Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling.
I also hold a Postgraduate Diploma in Mental Health in Education Settings from the University of Exeter and have undertaken further professional training in areas including compassion-focused therapy, obsessive-compulsive disorder and restorative approaches.
Before becoming a counsellor, I spent more than 11 years as a teacher. Prior to teaching, I worked in the commercial sector in a number of leadership, training and coaching roles. I have also trained with the Coaches Training Institute in the United States.
This varied background helps me understand the different pressures people can face at school, at work, within relationships and during periods of change.
I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and work in accordance with its ethical framework. I am also a member of the British Psychological Society.
Member organisations
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
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
Fees
£60.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Individual counselling sessions cost £60.
I offer a limited number of concessionary places for people on a low income and for counselling students. Please contact me to discuss current availability.
The initial 15-minute phone or video conversation is free and gives us an opportunity to consider whether I am the right counsellor for you.
Further information
I offer face-to-face counselling in Dartington, near Totnes, as well as online sessions across the UK.
To arrange a free initial 15-minute conversation, please email me or use the booking link. Let me know a little about what you are looking for and some suitable times for us to speak.
I welcome enquiries from adults and from parents or carers seeking support for a child or young person.
