Elders (65+) Counselling in Canterbury

I don't have a typical client. Everyone is unique and complex and if you have found yourself drawn to the idea of counselling I will do my best to build a trusting relationship, offering a safe, non judgemental space and ring-fenced time just for you to talk about the issues you want to bring. I work with adults both short and long term to strive to help you reach the goal you had in mind from it. I have found these reasons can be very diverse, from dealing with past or present events, fears, traumas, anxieties, grief. My aim is to help you get a deeper understanding of yourself and help you bring about the changes you want to see.

I offer counselling and therapy in Canterbury and have 20 years of NHS experience. I’ve managed an NHS crisis team and a liaison psychiatry service so can bring added value to your psychological therapy. I’m based in central Canterbury but also work online. I originally trained at Goldsmiths College, University of London, on their postgraduate training, and with a Jungian training group. I have many testimonials as a psychological therapist in GP surgeries and privately. I offer long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy, EMDR and internal family systems therapy.

Therapy usually begins with a problem or a personal difficulty, but it usually finds traction when it becomes an exploration of the client's personal experience. My approach is based on developing a relationship of trust with my clients so that they can reach a deeper self understanding and find better possibilities for themselves. It's a process of self inquiry that leads the client to find the commitment to make meaningful change. While everyone's issues, needs and goals are unique, finding a way of reflecting on these matters can be helpful to anyone.

Anxiety, stress, confusion, grief, and anger are just a few of the feelings that I have seen clients finding relief from, during our work together. I support you in addressing difficult or painful issues from your past and present. By listening to what's going on beneath the surface and through new insights, whatever gets in the way of you reaching your full potential will be brought to light.

Sometimes life can feel too difficult to handle on your own and that's where counselling can help. You might not even know exactly what the problem is, but things just don't feel right or it might be an issue that has been troubling you for years but you have never known quite where to start in making a change. Counselling can provide a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space to explore what is troubling you. I will listen without judgement and together we can try to work out a way forward so that you can begin to live the life you want to be living.

Relationships can at times be a great source of distress and anxiety; sometimes it’s easy to feel stuck and unable to move forwards. You may be having difficulties with communication, infidelity, intimacy, sexual difficulties, or perhaps you just can’t seem to get along anymore and you’re not sure why. Whether you are experiencing difficulties within your relationship, or find it difficult to form lasting relationships, counselling can give you the space you need to explore and understand these issues. I offer sex therapy and relationship/couple counselling from my base in Canterbury (Kent) and online.

It can be really difficult to ask for help so as a counsellor I take your interest seriously. I offer a safe, confidential and non judgemental relationship within which we can explore your thoughts and feelings. A place where you will be heard, understood and where I can help you find a way forward from the difficulties you may be experiencing. Whether it be relationship issues, low self esteem, abuse, depression or something you just can't put your finger on, by contacting myself for counselling is the first step to positive change.

Recent times may have had a negative impact on your mental wellbeing or your self-esteem. Existing issues may feel harder to manage, or you may feel an increase in stress or anxiety? Your relationships with your partner, family or friends may have suffered, or you may feel lonely or isolated? Perhaps you feel overwhelmed or stuck? Do you want to make changes in your life but feel unsure how to start? Whatever is happening for you, our counselling sessions will be a safe, supportive space for you to process your feelings, make sense of things and begin to move forward again. I’m here for you and will be with you each step of the way.

Are you struggling to cope with a bereavement (or need one off support to cope with a funeral), finding it difficult to overcome stress and anxiety, living with trauma's you have experienced or are experiencing? Are you not getting a good night's sleep; feeling that others do not see or hear you; have low self-esteem/confidence? Are your feelings impacting on your physical health? Are you wondering why you feel you are overreacting to minor issues and looking for a reason why this is happening to you? I want to help you navigate your way through these struggles and to transform your life, not just to cope, but to thrive. ​

I am an Counsellor, Trauma informed Therapist and EMDR Therapist. I am based in Canterbury area as well as being an ACTO approved Cyber/Online therapist. I work with a wide range of issues specialising in Trauma & Loss, with a special focus on Women’s health and the Menopause. I work with clients on a short and long-term basis. Whether your concern is in relation to recent events or to do with past experiences I offer a safe and confidential environment to explore and reflect and manage your issues. I am a BUPA and EAP recognised Therapist.

Coming to counselling is an adventure! It can be immense fun and incredibly inspirational. It can also be hard and will certainly make you take a good look at yourself! If you want to make changes in your life then counselling is one of the most effective ways to do it... and I will help you along the way, walking alongside you, giving you support. It is a great privilege for me - and I deeply value the vulnerable person (within all of us) that counselling helps to find the courage to reveal. I work with kindness, warmth and respect, and our relationship will become strong - yet I will challenge you - but in a caring and gentle way.

Are you finding every day tough to get through, feel trapped, overwhelmed or hopeless; feel you’ve lost your sense of self and confidence? Do you want someone to listen to you and feel able to say out loud what’s going on without feeling awkward or judged? My clients say I'm empathic and calming and allow them to make sense of everything, safely at their own pace. I'm qualified to work integratively which enables me to work in a way that suits you best. Experience includes 20 years with a leading UK emergency service and volunteering for a community counselling service. Introduction session free .

Counselling and self-reflection is the opposite of selfishness. It is a tool that helps us to be able to take responsibility for our own feelings and allow us to have better control over the direction of our lives. So that we can be better functioning and content for ourselves and those around us.

Too many people still think they need to "suffer in silence". There's a strongly-held belief, especially among men, that it's not OK to talk about emotions, about problems in relationships, or about those moments when we feel overwhelmed. I've worked with many clients who come to counselling as a last resort, not really believing it can help them. But thousands of people out there have found that talking does make a difference. If you've been wondering whether it could make a difference for you, contact me for an introductory appointment, to see whether counselling is right for you.

As a UKCP registered psychotherapist with over 15 years experience, I am also an accredited EMDR practitioner. See my website: myembodiedpsyche.com.

Psychoanalytical Psychoanalysis and Integrative Counselling: "The speed and accuracy by which Chris was able to work out our personalities and provide genuinely useful insight was, quite frankly, incredible.  This insight, hard as it was to digest, proved to be so profound to me that I was finally able to unpick what had being going on in my relationship.  His ability to sum up the relationship in one stark metaphor was a watershed moment for me.  Through his insight and continued support I have managed to start to discover myself again and to regain my confidence which had been systematically dismantled."  Mr. M, 2019, Canterbury.

Are you struggling with yourself or life right now? You may be feeling stuck, overwhelmed, anxious or depressed, or even struggling with a life/work balance. Recent times have been challenging and negatively impacted many people. Sometimes, speaking to family and friends just doesn't seem enough. However, with the right support, you can definitely thrive, discovering your strengths and forge a more positive way forward. Imagining being the driver of your life, where you are in control, instead of a back seat passenger of your life.

Therapy can be a catalyst for change helping us to regain a sense of control in our lives and begin to live life more towards our true potential. I have experience of working with a wide range of issues that impact on clients' wellbeing, offering support, empathy and a safe space to share their concerns. I work with individuals, couples, families, children, young people on short and long-term contracts in Canterbury and Waltham. I use different approaches and techniques that are tailored to clients' needs, believing that we are all individual and that ‘one size does not fit all’. I have also lived and worked extensively overseas.

I am a chartered Health Psychologist providing individual therapy to adults in Kent and London locations. I have many years experience working as a psychologist in the voluntary sector, civil service, NHS and independent practice. I work with a range of therapeutic approaches including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing.