Welcome,
my name’s Tom

Counselling is a talking therapy, which takes place in a safe, non-judgmental space where you can explore and process your thoughts, feelings and experiences.

Counselling can help to make connections, recognize patterns, increase your awareness and understanding of yourself, as well as your relationships to others and the world around you. It can also help to develop coping strategies and greater self-acceptance. Ultimately, as your counsellor, my aim is to help you to find your own answers and to make decisions, choices and changes that align with your values and beliefs.

I’m a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I work within the BACP Ethical Framework and good practice, with your best interests at the heart of our work together. As part of my ethical commitment, I am required to upkeep continued professional development and attend regular Counselling Supervision. This is to ensure that I’m working ethically, safely and effectively.

I have regular Supervision with a qualified Supervisor, which involves discussing and reflecting on my process, theoretical understanding and approach to supporting my clients with what they have brought to counselling. Therefore, this involves discussing some of the content of our sessions. However, no personally identifiable information such as your name is used, and Supervision follows the same procedures for confidentiality as counselling.

For sessions, I use a secure, encrypted online meeting room provider, or a regular telephone call. I use a secure and encrypted email provider for email communication. The content of our counselling sessions is confidential apart from in the following exceptions:

• Risk of serious harm. I may need to break confidentiality and speak to relevant agencies or services if I’m concerned that you or someone else is at risk of serious harm. Where possible, I would aim to explore this with you first, however, I may need to prioritise safety and risk of harm.
• Legal requirements. I’m legally required to break confidentiality if information is disclosed about involvement in or knowledge of an act of terrorism, money laundering or drug trafficking. I have a legal requirement to report concerns of harm or abuse to a minor or vulnerable adult. I'm also legally required to release notes upon court order from a judge.
• Clinical Supervision. Supervision involves exploring and reflecting on my client work with a qualified counselling supervisor, this involves discussing some of the content of our sessions. Supervision is anonymised and follows the same procedures for confidentiality as I've outlined.
• Accounting purposes. It may be necessary to provide my accounting information to official organisations (e.g. accountancy firms, banks, HMRC) which may disclose a record of your name and payment to me.

Your personal information is kept safely, securely and confidentially, either stored in locked cabinet or password encrypted on a computer. You can find out more about this in my privacy policy here. Email correspondence is encouraged through a secure mail server.

I provide a contract that outlines the framework of our work together. Once we’ve discussed and explored this together, and you have read, understand and agree the terms explained, I will ask you to sign the contract to show that you agree to these terms and consent for counselling sessions to begin.

Ultimately, I will be led by you, however we can either work to an agreed short-term number of sessions, or long-term ongoing counselling, going at your pace and ending counselling when you’re ready.

To arrange to start counselling, please fill out the secure web form at the bottom of the page. Please note that I aim to respond to queries within 24 hours.

I understand that it’s important that you find a counsellor who is the right fit for you, so I offer a free, no obligation, online video or telephone consultation. In this, we can explore what's brought you to counselling, go through any questions that you might have, discuss how I might be able to support you and any reasonable adjustments that you might find helpful.

Session one is a bit different from the other sessions that follow. Its useful for me to get a bit more of an overview of your life, what has brought you to counselling and what you would like to focus on. Therefore, in our first session, I may be asking more questions than usual, and about specific things. There’s no pressure, and it’s just a chance for me to get to know you better. Otherwise, our counselling sessions are your time to use as you want, whether that be exploring the same topic each week, or whatever you feel like talking about on the day.

Yes. I’m able to offer a reduced cost for trainee counsellors for the duration of your required personal counselling hours. This can be explored together.

Yes. I’m an Autism-Informed Counsellor and I’m passionate about supporting neurodivergent clients with the unique challenges and difficulties that you might face. I have personal experience in neurodivergence, and I focus on Autism and ADHD as key areas in my continuous professional development and training.

I’m currently not offering face to face counselling. Please check back in the future to see if this has changed.

No. I currently only work with clients who are 18+.

No. I currently only offer individual counselling.

No. I currently only work with clients who live within the UK.