Something about me and about counselling

I hold a foundation degree in person-centred counselling from the University of Brighton, endorsed by the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP).

I currently support two local charities by providing my counselling services to unpaid carers and people affected by brain injury.

In addition to my counselling work, I work voluntarily with Eastbourne abandofbrothers. I help run and provide a meaningful rites of passage program to disenfranchised young men in our community.

Why counselling?

I offer you a safe and welcoming space where you can be yourself. You may want to make use of the counselling relationship by talking about things you might otherwise avoid or are hesitant to talk about.

How does counselling help ?

I will listen and help you make sense of things. I certainly won’t judge you, shame you or make you feel inadequate about the way you are or because of the thoughts and feelings you have.
The focus is on you, helping you to move forward as you make sense of your experience. Counselling is sometimes said to be ‘a place where we meet ourselves’. It’s a process of acceptance, empowerment, adjustment and growth.

Is counselling effective ?

Research has shown counselling to be effective in a number of life situations. My experience is counselling can be instrumental in helping people with many issues.

Person-Centred Approach

I am qualified person-centred counsellor.

American psychologist, Carl Rogers (1902-1987) developed the idea of the person-centred approach in the 1940s. He believed listening deeply to another person to be one of the most powerful forces for growth he knew.

Rogers proposed that growth and healing occurs as our self-awareness expands. Be it around feelings, bodily sensations, thoughts or the way we behave. He found that if people perceived a genuine, empathic and accepting relationship – they would become more self-aware. He believed self-awareness paved the way for growth and healing.

Personal background

My ethnic and cultural roots are Chinese, English and Irish. I am partnered, and father to a teenage son and daughter.

As a young man I trained in hospitality management. My work and sense of adventure prompted me to explore Europe, Asia and New Zealand. My experience taught me that ‘everybody lives their lives differently’.

As I became a father, I felt an urge to connect with the earth. I went on to train and work as a gardener for 14 years. To this day I still take great joy in my work and even today I hold a small space in my life, tending to the gardens of some long term and valued clients.

Qualifications and training

I hold a BACP accredited Foundation Degree in Person-Centred Counselling. A two year full-time course of rigorous and soulful counselling training.

This course focussed on the work of Carl Rogers’ person-centred therapy who believed that therapy occurs within an empathic, non-judgemental relationship with an authentic therapist, who is fully present.

I was also taught about Eugene Gendlin’s focussing. Gendlin, a close colleague of Rogers, focussed on the bodily felt-senses and the part they play in telling us something about our well-being.

Creative therapy was also taught throughout the course and I was able to develop a creative approach to therapy using sand-trays, drawing and psychodrama.

TA-101: Foundation training in Transactional Analysis – a humanistic mode of therapy pioneered by Eric Berne. He looked to increase awareness around the way that people interact and communicate with each other.

Positive Outcome for Dissociative Survivors (PODS) training for therapists working with survivors of child sex abuse – including ‘Child Sexual Abuse – Hope for Healing’ and ‘Trauma, Dissociation and Recovery – Healing the Brain’.

As a part of my work with local charity abandofbrothers I have had impactful and extensive leadership training around group facilitation, psychodrama, non-violent communication and coaching. Again and again, the work and training challenges me to look closely at my relationships and that which stands in the way of connection and personal expression.

National Coalition-Building Institute (NCBI) Diversity Training. A rich gathering of people from diverse background and superbly facilitated – this training offered me a way of exploring my prejudices and assumptions whilst also creating a healing space for connection and understanding.