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About Me

Hi, I’m Rob and I’m a qualified and UKCP accredited Psychotherapist and Counsellor from Nottingham, UK. I currently run a successful independent practice which I started in 2015. I previously worked at the University of Nottingham Counselling Service for 5 years (working with students and staff), the NHS Nottingham City Hospital (Dundee House counselling service) and was also a support worker for adults with ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) in my previous career. I am also a freelance Illustrator and Artist.

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Although general attitudes towards mental health have greatly improved in recent years, there is still unfortunately a stigma about going to see a counsellor or psychotherapist. Many people falsely assume that there must be something "wrong", or that "only crazy people need counselling". This simply isn't true. Most of us visit the dentist to check-up on our oral health fairly regularly, or the GP when we intermittently feel unwell throughout life - why not apply similar principles to our mental health?

Counselling is a very personal decision and everybody comes for different reasons. There is no right or wrong. Sometimes there is a very specific concern or issue; other times it's more a general 'feeling'; perhaps of sadness or being unable to cope that may not make much sense to us.

We may even have great support around us (family, friends etc.), yet still experience an overwhelming sense of isolation. This isn't uncommon! Those we love might have the best intentions, but talking to someone completely removed from our lives can be hugely beneficial.

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Whatever your reasons for seeking counselling, it can be life changing.

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My Qualifications, Experience & Areas of Interest

I have an MSc in ‘Person-Centred Psychotherapy and Counselling’, having trained and qualified with the Sherwood Psychotherapy Training Institute (SPTI) in 2015. I am a fully accredited member of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapists (UKCP).

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I previously worked at the University of Nottingham Counselling Service for 5 years, working with students, staff, lecturers etc. I previously worked in a multi-disciplinary NHS hospital environment as a counsellor for almost 3 years providing open-ended psychotherapy for individuals with serious chronic health conditions (primarily diabetes). Before this I worked for East Midlands Autism (Previously NORSACA) as a support worker for adults with an Autistic Spectrum Diagnosis (ASD) - I also have a brother who is diagnosed with Autism, so lots of personal experience too!

I have a lot of experience with staff and students from a higher education setting, working with themes such as anxiety, depression, self-harm, bereavement, perfectionism and procrastination - I also work with trauma (+ PTSD and CPTSD), socio-cultural diversity issues among others.

 

I have supported individuals through complex bullying cases (sometimes institutional) and helped manage those situations as best they can. Another area of interest, which often overlaps with bullying, is what is commonly now known as 'Narcissistic abuse'; whilst Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a psychiatric diagnosis, I do believe that 'narcissism' is separately a valid descriptor of a set of unhealthy and often potentially dangerous human behaviours that the general psychology field has made leaps and bounds in understanding this past few years. I believe it is important to help clients, who are in relationship with individuals (or even some groups, churches or organisations etc.) displaying significant narcissistic traits, to recognise the often subtle and covert signs of abuse (sometimes known as 'red flags'); to hold sufficient boundaries, stay safe and contact the correct legal bodies if/when ready and/or necessary, and 'detoxify' situations as much as possible.

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I also have an interest in the area of family estrangement and do not judge those that have chosen to detach from members of, if not all, of their family system. I believe making such decisions are often incredibly painful grieving experiences and not made lightly, but can also often be the most significant factor in personal healing and growth.

 

I have worked with individuals from all across the globe, from all walks of life and met some absolutely fantastic people along the way - and hoping to meet many more!

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A quick summary of my areas of experience include, but is not limited to:

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  • Clients with diabetes and other chronic health conditions

  • Student counselling

  • Autism and Asperger's (ASD)

  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD)

  • Past childhood abuse (physical and domestic violence, emotional abuse, neglect and sexual abuse)

  • Suicidal thoughts and/or ideation

  • Self-harm

  • Stress, Anxiety and Depression

  • Relationship issues (although I do not do couples therapy, sometimes it might be appropriate for partners to join one off sessions)

  • Bereavement and loss

  • Bullying and/or narcissistic abuse

  • Family estrangement

  • Transpersonal themes (such as Jungian depth psychology, dreams, spirituality etc.)

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