Something about me and about counselling

My passion in life is to encourage us to connect with our higher purpose and to know an authentic connection with our world. My counselling work allows me to be generous with my gifts of empathy, sensitivity and my capacity to be in the moment – in a way that brings me great joy.

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 work in accordance with the BACP’s ethical practice for professional therapists.

I am also a member of the Brighton Person-Centred Community.

In addition to my counselling work, I work voluntarily with Eastbourne abandofbrothers as a mentor, leader, initiator and group facilitator. I help run and provide meaningful rites of passage programs to disenfranchised young men in our community.

I am also a transformational freedom coach, encouraging people to find out what it takes to be the best version of themselves; to not only discover their personal gifts but also how they might bring this out into the world.

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. Counselling can help you to lead a more fulfilling life.

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 occur 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’.

On becoming a father, I felt moved to connect with the earth. I went on to train and work as a gardener for 14 years and I continue to carry this grounding experience forward into my work.

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 focused 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 focusing. 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 challenge me to look closely at my relationships and that which stands in the way of connection and personal expression.

I am an abandofbrothers certified leader, coach, storyteller and initiator offering rites of passage to men of all ages.

I am a Reiki Master (teacher/instructor) and practitioner.

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.