Gareth Dawes

We live in an ever complicated world where we seem to be constantly bombarded with messages of wellness that often conflict with the way we are able to navigate the world. We are constantly being told what is good for us in a very universal way without first exploring who we are, what we have experienced and what we need to thrive.

There seem to be things in life that happen frequently to us, repetitive patterns that appear in our relationships, the way we behave, the way we think of others and, I think most importantly, the way we think about ourselves. These patterns can often be healthy and impact our life in a positive way, however, there are also patterns that are negative and become harmful to ourselves and those around us.

In order to make sense of this I offer an integrative approach to counselling, meaning that I utilise humanistic and psychodynamic frameworks that allow us to explore your personal history and patterns of relating in a deeper more meaningful way.

Our work together, first and foremost, involves building our relationship so that we can safely and compassionately be curious about your life and the things that have impacted you. We will take into account your patterns of relating and your personal history, exploring both your significant human and societal relationships in order to achieve growth and understanding. I will work at your pace, with you always being in charge of the direction of our work. You hold the most information about your life, and know the most about what you have experienced and how you relate to people. My role is to help you find the keys to the knowledge and experiences you have kept locked away, to unlock it with you, and be your companion as we put it together in a way that helps you make sense of where you find yourself right now.

I believe that for a counsellor to be truly empathetic we must advance our awareness and understanding of difference and diversity. An intersectional lens is necessary to recognise how power impacts different groups in different ways and to identify the power we hold as individuals. When we work together, it is important for us to consider the systems of oppression you exist in, whilst considering the identities and characteristics you inhabit. For instance, when working with female clients I will recognise patriarchy, for those racialised as Black/Brown, I recognise racism, and for those who have neuro-divergent brains, I recognise ableism. We can then consider the trauma of this oppression, or the power we hold, alongside your personal relationship experiences. This knowledge enables us to see you wholly and to validate your lived experience in a more informed way. Couples & Relationship Therapy

The process starts by us having a free 20 minute telephone consultation where we will explore your needs and reasons for seeking out counselling as well as exploring whether what I offer fits with your needs. If you agree to counselling together we can meet online or in person and we will spend the first session exploring your needs further, any questions you may have and to again consider whether you feel I am the right fit for you.