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Current Availability. 

I work Mondays, and Wednesday-Friday 9am-5pm but can do some evenings and weekends. 

I have no planned holidays in the next 6 months.

Hi, I’m Mike.

If you’re used to holding things together on the outside while feeling anxious,overwhelmed, stuck or misunderstood underneath, I may be a good fit for you.

I specialise in working with neurodivergent adults and men who find it hard to talk openly about what they’re feeling. You might be living with ADHD, autistic traits, anxiety, burnout, panic, low mood, anger, self-doubt, or simply the sense that life feels harder than it seems to for other people.

Many of the men I work with are not short of feelings — they’ve just never had a safe or natural way to express them. Sometimes it feels easier to begin through things like music, football, or everyday life before getting to what’s really going onunderneath. I understand that, and I work with it rather than against it.

This is personal for me as well as professional. I’ve had my own struggles with anxiety and depression, and over time I came to understand more about my own neurodivergence. That experience shaped the way I work: with empathy, honesty and no judgement.

I’m an integrative, trauma-informed counsellor with 25 years in health and social care, and over 30 years of Buddhist practice and meditation. Where it feels helpful, I may also bring in relaxation, guided imagery, mindfulness, music, or walk-and-talk sessions to help you feel more at ease and more able to connect withwhat’s going on.

You don’t need to have the right words. You don’t need to explain yourself perfectly.  We can start where you are.

I offer one-to-one counselling in Darlington, Guisborough and Middlesbrough, walk-and-talk sessions in the Tees Valley, and online sessions across the UK.

I am person-centered and will base the counselling around your needs.

I am experienced in guiding relaxation exercises and guided imagery. I am very much into the 'here and now' therapies and have knowledge and experience in using Gestalt therapy and Existential Psychotherapy.

I am trained in Transactional Analysis and Attachment Theory.  I have experience in delivering CBT too - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

I offer a free first counselling session, to discover what your needs are and whether you would like to work with me.  To book an appointment just email, phone or text me.

Each counselling session lasts 50 minutes.  I am warm and friendly and will provide a safe place for your to discuss what ever you want to.

The first counselling session is different to others in that it is free, and we will complete a client assessment where I try and get a full picture of your life.  Then we agree what you would like to focus on during your counselling sessions i.e. a presenting issue, and we agree on the number of counselling sessions that you would like.

In future sessions, I ask less questions and listen more so that you can process what you have been going through, to find solutions to your problems and difficulties.