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I work Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays as a general rule.  Occasionally I can offer sessions on Mondays from time to time, usually during school holiday periods.

People come to counselling for many different reasons. You may be struggling with anxiety or low mood, finding yourself repeatedly putting other people’s needs before your own, feeling less confident than you would like, or experiencing difficult patterns within your relationships. Sometimes there is no single problem, but rather a sense of feeling stuck, uncertain about your direction, or wanting to understand yourself better.

I’m Martin, a degree-qualified Integrative Relational counsellor and an Accredited Member of the ±«ÓãÊÓƵ I work with adults from a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences, offering a confidential space in which we can explore what is happening for you and begin to understand some of the patterns that may be contributing to your difficulties.

A significant part of my work is with men, both gay and straight. This may involve anxiety, confidence, people-pleasing, relationships, masculinity, identity, fatherhood or questions about direction and meaning in life. I also work with women and with people experiencing a broad range of emotional and relationship concerns.

My way of working is open, thoughtful and straightforward. I will listen carefully and without judgement, but I also see therapy as an active process. Alongside support and understanding, there may be times when I invite you to look differently at a situation, consider your own part in a recurring pattern, or think about what might need to change.

You do not need to arrive at counselling knowing exactly what is wrong or what you want to talk about. Our first session gives us an opportunity to explore what has brought you to therapy, what you might like to gain from it and whether working together feels right for both of us.

I offer both shorter and longer-term counselling from my private practice in Brentford.

For further information about me and my counselling practice, please visit:

www.relationalwellbeing.co.uk

I am also a registered provider with Cigna Healthcare.

I offer individual and relationship (couples) counselling from my private practice in Brentford. Individual sessions are available either in person or online, while couples and other relationship sessions are conducted in person.

Relationship counselling is not limited to romantic partners. I can also work with two family members, for example siblings or a parent and adult child, who want to explore difficulties between them, understand recurring patterns and improve the way they communicate with one another.

My approach is relational, which means that the relationship we develop together forms an important part of the work. I am often described as straightforward and down-to-earth, and I try to communicate in ordinary language rather than relying on jargon or ‘therapy-speak’.

I see counselling as a collaborative process. I will listen carefully and without judgement, but I will also ask questions, offer observations and, where appropriate, gently challenge you to consider things from another perspective. My aim is for the relationship between us to feel genuine, grounded and useful rather than overly formal or clinical.

At the beginning of our first session, I will ask you to complete a small amount of basic information, such as your contact details and date of birth. This usually takes no more than a few minutes.

After that, we can get straight into talking about what has brought you to counselling. You do not need to arrive with a prepared explanation or know exactly what you want from therapy. We can explore what has been happening, what feels difficult at the moment and what you might hope to gain from our work together.

The first meeting also gives us both an opportunity to see how it feels to work together. Finding a therapist you feel comfortable talking to is important, and I believe the fit needs to work from both sides. Towards the end of the session we can discuss whether continuing together feels appropriate and, if so, what ongoing sessions might look like.

Although this first meeting may sometimes be described as an ‘assessment’, I do not approach it as a test or judgement of you. It is simply an opportunity for me to understand more about you, for you to experience how I work, and for us to decide whether continuing together feels right.