I'm Peter. I'm a Person-Centred Counsellor working face to face with people in Kintyre, Scotland and online anywhere. 

I am Diploma Qualified, supervised, insured and a regulated member of COSCA, Scotland's Counselling Regulatory Body. 

About me:

I’ve been interested in counselling since my 20s when my own circumstances led me to look for help. I began studying counselling in 1997, and eventually completed a Diploma in Person-Centred counselling at Strathclyde University’s amazing counselling unit in 2009.

I began as a volunteer counsellor in a drug and alcohol service in Bath in 2000, and spent over 20 years working in addiction recovery. I began private practice after completing my diploma, and have worked to support people with a wide range of problems, including anxiety, depression, bereavement, addiction, life change, trauma, relationships.

As a person-centred therapist, I aim to provide a warm, safe, non-judgemental space in which we can explore your situation, your life past or current and look at things from a new and different perspective by highlighting themes and patterns and exploring and planning change.

Throughout the last 25 years in counselling, I have also trained in using cognitive behavioural approaches, and other techniques for planning and making change.

I have been lucky enough to be involved in teaching counselling and personal development.

I also teach surfing, and love to surf here in beautiful Kintyre whenever I can.; rain or shine.  I enjoy being out with my dog every day.

About Person Centred Therapy

“Person-centred counselling is one of the humanistic modalities or approaches. It was founded in the 1940s by the American psychologist Carl Rogers who believed that, given the right conditions, a person can reach their full potential and become their true self, which he termed ‘self-actualisation’. This actualisation process is innate and accessible to everyone.”    BACP website

Person centred counselling acknowledges that you are the expert on you and your life, and that you have the innate ability to heal, change and grow. A person-centred therapist will aim to provide the optimum conditions for you to achieve this by offering:

Unconditional Positive Regard, accepting, valuing and not judging you.

Empathic understanding, seeing your world from your point of view

Congruence, being honest, transparent and genuine

It is led by you, the client, and not directed by the counsellor, through the development of an open, trustworthy and confidential relationship. Rather than solving your problems for you, the counsellor will help you to explore your issues, feelings, beliefs, behaviour, history and world view, helping you to greater self understanding, autonomy, to make change and solve problems.

FAQ;

How long does counselling last?

As long as you need. Some people will need only 4 or 6 sessions, others will spend several months working with a counsellor, and in rarer cases, years.

How long are sessions?

Between 50 and 60 minutes

How often will we meet?

Weekly meetings provide an ideal momentum and intensity for counselling, although we can meet more or less frequently. You can chat with me to decide what you think is best.

Where does counselling take place?

I work online via Google Meet, on the phone, or in person in a private therapy room in Campbeltown

What if you can’t help me?

If I think I can't help you, I'll let you know.  I'll tell you why I think so and try and help you find a service or person who I think might be able to help. 

To book an appointment, please see below for contact details.