About me
Hello. I have over 20 years experience as a counsellor and therapist.I am here to help you, my speciality is anxiety and depression. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you think you could benefit from therapy, especially CBT. It is best to use email to contact me to set up an initial consultation. I am now offering consultations via Zoom or Skype (subject to suitability)
I am an experienced BABCP accredited and UKCP registered psychotherapist. First we we have an initial face-to- face consultation (same rate as subsequent sessions) when you will tell me about what you would like help with, I will tell you how I work and we will decide whether we are a good fit for each other. Usually we will then try to understand your problems in a new way. We will then work together, drawing on your knowledge of yourself and my experience and knowledge of psychology and philosophy.
I draw mostly on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which is an evidence-based approach that can help with many issues. I can also draw on Existential Therapy and Philosophical Counselling as well as my range of life experience including being a published author of 2 books, being a parent and graduating with a first-class degree from Oxford University.
Amongst the problems I can help you with are :
- Anxiety
- Generalised Anxiety Disorder
- Depression
- Worry
- Stress
- Perfectionism
- Low self-esteem
-
Decision-making
- Social Anxiety
- Performance Anxiety
-
Wanting to lead a more satisfying life
-
procrastination
-
Low self-confidence
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Generalised anxiety and worry
- Anger management
- Panic attack
This list is not exhaustive, but it gives some idea of the sort of problems I have helped people with before.
How can counselling help?
Counselling is the one place where we can explore our issues in a way we can't on our own or with friends. I offer the opportunity to first of all understand your problem in a new way and then to explore new ways of breaking old patterns of thinking and behaviour. In such a way counselling is no a "quick-fix" but a profound exploration of our response to life and how we can improve it. My own background and experience allows me to draw on a range of ideas from psychology and philosophy to help you achieve your goals and solve your problems.
If you are interested in getting help with any of these problems, please feel free to contact me now. Please note I only work face-to-face.
Training, qualifications & experience
About Me
I originally studied at Oxford University, where I gained a first class degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE). Back in the 1990s I studied psychotherapy and counselling at Regents College where I specialised in existential psychotherapy. Later I drew on this experience to write my first book Wise Therapy (Continuum, 2001) which describes how philosophy can be of use to the counsellor. More recently still, I returned to Oxford where I undertook advanced training in Cognitive Therapy and gained a distinction in the highly-regarded Msc level diploma from OCTC.
How my Experience Can Help You
This background allows me to bring a broad range of experience and ideas to my practice. I know how to help you using the evidence-based methods for anxiety and depression. I am also sensitive to questions of meaning, purpose and values. My specific areas of expertise include difficulties in decision-making and low self-esteem. I also work with anxiety problems including stress, worry, panic attacks and obsessions and also help those suffering from low mood and depression. I started seeing clients for counselling and psychotherapy back in 1995 and so have many years experience. I was one of the main figures in this country in helping use philosophy for the purposes of counselling, which I have done since the late 1990s. More recently I have trained in other approaches including the Human Givens Approach and advanced training in CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) and mindfulness-based CBT approaches. I am also a founder member of the Modern Stoicism Project, aimed at providing an evidence-base and disseminating ideas about Stoicism and ancient philosophy.
As well as my private practice I also work part-time in the NHS as a psychotherapist. I am also a lecturer and trainer in psychotherapy and counselling. I very much enjoy offering supervision to other counsellors and psychotherapists especially those wanting to develop their CBT skills.
Member organisations
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.

UK Council for Psychotherapy
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

Accredited Register Scheme
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
anxiety disorders, GAD, health anxiety, career issues, decision-making, procrastination, social anxiety, social phobia, coaching, philosophical counselling, values clarification, mindfulness, existential crisis, meaninglessness,compassion focussed therapy (CFT), Stoicism, integrative therapy, philosophical life coaching, positive psychology, happiness, OCD, Pimlico, supervision
Therapies offered
Fees
My rate is £90 for a 50 minute session for counselling clients.
For clinical supervision I charge £80 per 50 minute session.
Further information
My work has been positively featured in the National Press including Independent & The Observer. I have written two books relevant to therapy and have many years experience.
Sessions are normally held in Central London in my Pimlico (also nr. Vauxhall and Victoria) or Temple (Fleet/St Chancery Lane) offices.
After your initial contact (email preferred) , I will let you know my availability and ask you what you would like to work on. If it seems we are a good fit, I aim to set up an initial consultation as soon as possible, often within the next few days.
I look forward to working with you.