Some comments written by my Clients - in their own words.
“…now I’m doing really really well and to be honest a lot of that is because of your help.”
“Hi Peter,
I’m just messaging you to say thanks. It’s been a year since I first spoke with you, at that point I couldn’t face the thought of going out for a meal. But now I’m doing really really well and to be honest a lot of that is because of your help. I’m settled in my job which I’ve been in for 9 months now, I’ve got a girlfriend and a new car. I regularly go out for meals now and a year ago I would never have imagined this happening. So thank you so much for your help with my anxiety I really can’t express how much happier I am now.
Thanks J. Age 19.
“Despite any previous reservations about counselling, the sessions were something I would look forward to....”
Peter has helped me over the past year since my mum died from cancer. This in turn brought on anxiety amongst other issues and coincided with the breakdown of my relationship with my girlfriend along with stresses at work.
Peter has always been very calm and level headed in his approach and he's always made talking to him quite effortless. Despite any previous reservations about counselling, the sessions were something that I would look forward to as it was not only an opportunity to talk about my thoughts, feelings and any issues I had, but also it was like talking to a friend.
While Peter, is not a judgmental person, he will challenge you on certain things if you're not sure why you have thought a certain thing or acted in a certain way. This has been really important in the process as it's not just a case of 'talking about your problems' but it's also a case of self improvement and understanding yourself better. The majority of sessions would end with me going away with either a positive task to set myself before I saw Peter again or just a more positive way of thinking.
Personally, I'm really grateful for the support Peter has offered in difficult times. Everybody could do with someone to talk to about major problems they have had / are having in their lives and Peter is definitely somebody who can help in a variety of ways.
S. Age 29.
“To receive support from another man was a valuable experience...”
Last year I found myself at the end of an unsettling and upsetting sequence of events in my life, including divorce, bereavement and addiction, which left me in a desperate and self destructive state of mind. I found Peter's website and he seemed approachable so I got in contact, he quickly replied and we organised a session for a few days later.
Reaching out in the first place is one of the hardest things. Peter's calm, friendly and non-judgemental demeanour helps to make that as easy as possible.
Over the next few months Peter patiently helped me come to terms with everything and slowly begin to put things in order so that I could start to enjoy life again. He would mostly listen but was happy to give an opinion when asked, I found this useful to break out of my own ingrained thought and behaviour patterns, and get an outside perspective.
To receive support from another man was a valuable experience and something that is perhaps missing for many people besides myself. I would to thank Peter for his help and would recommend him to anyone who finds themselves in a similar position as I did.”
R. Age 37.
“I always left our appointments feeling validated and like I had been given the mental tools to fix challenges in my life...”
“I started counselling sessions with Peter as I had suffered a traumatic experience and needed to talk through it with a professional to comprehend what had happened. Peter is approachable, engaged and emotionally intelligent, and I maintained our appointments even after the effects of the trauma had started to subside. He provided an empathetic ear for me to discuss life’s hurdles, some trivial, some major, and I always left our appointments feeling validated and like I had been given the mental tools to fix challenges in my life, and take on new ones. He also encouraged me to step back and look at the bigger picture, and also to be kinder to myself, which was invaluable to someone who tends to be overly self-critical.
I highly recommend Peter’s counselling services.”
A. Age 29.
“I was going around in circles...but being a grown man I was too scared to seek help.”
”I first started counselling back in January. I was going round in circles with my drinking and taking drugs, I was in denial. I realised I had a problem but being a grown man I was too scared to seek help. I phoned Pete and it’s the best thing I have done this year. He made me feel at such ease, he never judged me and it was so easy talking to him even tho I have a great family. He is so understanding and very caring, he is a wonderful person. Its now November and I am back working. Business is thriving, my personal life is better than it has ever been. I have a buzz about my self again, the old me is back. So if you have any issues in your life phone Pete. Like I said it’s the best thing I have done this year. Without him I probably wouldn’t be here today.”
S. Age 34.
“Peter is very calm and exudes a quiet strength of character...”
"We were recommended Peter by another counsellor who had also come highly recommended and whom we felt we could trust. We also felt Peter's website gave us an insight into his character and areas of expertise. Peter has worked with our teenage son for the last seven months or so; helping him with anger and self esteem issues. We've seen a great improvement in his behaviour and more importantly his general attitude. We feel it's made a huge difference but also knowing Peter is there if ever he needs him again. Peter is very calm and exudes a quiet strength of character. We've been very pleased and are more than happy to recommend him to other clients."
Parent of L. Aged 18.
"Being a guy it is hard to talk about things, but with Pete he makes it very easy to do just that."
"I have seen Pete for around a year now, at the beginning I was unsure about the whole "counselling" thing. Coming from a troubled childhood to an adult who struggled with addiction to Class A drugs and Anxiety on a daily basis. I picked up the phone to Pete.
He has helped me manage my addiction & anxiety - to see things differently. He has worked with me constantly & helped me to improve my anxiety & addiction massively. He is a great guy and without him I definitely wouldn't be where I am today. Anyone who is thinking about counselling should should talk to Pete. He is understanding and patient. He helped me throughout my journey, he truly is one of a kind. Being a guy it is hard to talk about things, but with Pete he makes it very easy to do just that."
J. Age 27.
“It was really helpful to be able to talk to someone that ‘got it.’”
”I decided to undertake a course of counselling after struggling with alcohol issues for many years, and chose Peter as he had described on his website how he had personal experience of addictions. It was really helpful to be able to talk to someone that ‘got it.’ I had previously tried being sober by going-it-alone and also through a recovery programme but hadn’t found that these really suited me. I found Peter easy to talk to, very kind and empathetic, nonjudgemental, yet with a firm word when needed! I had weekly sessions over the course of around six months and was able to explore many topics and emotions which we felt may be the triggers for my drinking. I feel I’m now in a much more positive emotional space and am looking forward to many more sober days ahead. I’m very grateful to Peter for his help and would definitely recommend him. Thank you.”
L. Age 43.
"If you are unsure about counselling then you should most certainly give it a try, you’ll be amazed......"
"When I began my sessions with Peter I was in a point in my life where nothing made sense to me. I’d always been able to see the positives of situations and help others through their problem but due to events in my life I’d found myself at my lowest and darkest point. An area of my mind where neither friends nor family were able to help get me out of. Peter created a safe space wherein which I was able to address the issues in my life and allowed me to explain my pain in detail without being judged or accused. I was able to start seeing the good that surrounded me and put me back on track with my personal and professional life. I’m not sure that I would have been able to pull through had I not had the guidance and direction of Peter.
I’d always thought counselling to be a positive thing to do, but I’d never envisioned needing it personally. I now see it to be a powerful tool and one that everyone should try as it can help you understand things that you weren’t even aware you didn’t understand. I’m in a much better place now and I owe that all to Peter. I’ll be forever grateful to him and will cherish the work and progress that we made.
If you are unsure about counselling then you should most certainly give it a try, you’ll be amazed at the things you’ll be able to achieve."
O. Age 21.
"I would happily recommend Peter to anyone looking for counselling."
"I saw Peter weekly over the course of several months to help me through some concerns with anger management. I got a great deal out of our sessions and found the environment extremely calming. He was always approachable, engaged, genuine and above all encouraging. He helped me to explore several areas with a positive outcome. I would happily recommend Peter to anyone looking for counselling."
B. Age 48.
"...we at long last managed to actually talk to each other properly for the first time in over 10 years."
"I came to see Peter after finding out that my husband had been secretly messaging another woman for many years. Our marriage was over and it was purely about finding a way to talk to each other without it becoming acrimonious for our children's sake. Peter worked with us for a while - both individually and together - turning a dead marriage around. Through his understanding, his positive caring and non judgemental attitude we at long last managed to actually talk to each other properly for the first time in over 10 years. He is unlike any other counsellor I have seen before, he is only looking to create a helpful environment from which healing can take place. Without him I am positive I would be in the process of getting a divorce."
Couple. Ages 41 & 44.
“Peter was a great help getting me back onto an even keel after a particularly traumatic year......”
”I was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the beginning of 2017 and thought that I was doing very well coping with the side effects of the initial treatment. However, a couple of weeks into radiotherapy I was really hit hard by a whole gamut of emotions which I recognised needed to be explored with help from the right person. As an out gay man it’s very important that I talk with someone who can both empathise and understand where I come from and I was very fortunate to find Peter with whom I immediately felt comfortable.
I found him very easy to talk to and I liked the way that our work together was in some ways more like a conversation between friends in which I did most of the talking. His insights were perceptive and occasionally he said something which really struck home, and for this I am particularly grateful.
Peter was a great help getting me back onto an even keel after a particularly traumatic year and I look towards 2018 with renewed optimism and a sense of possibility.
Thank you Peter.”
R. Age 72.
"...........I am excited about life and its possibilities for the first time in my adult life."
"I contacted Peter after the breakdown of a relationship. At that point I felt very low and like there was no way out of what felt like a cycle of broken relationships throughout my adult life. Peter understood me from the first session and over a period of four months has helped me to understand better who I am and what I want for myself. This has been revelatory and I am excited about life and its possibilities for the first time in my adult life. I would highly recommend him, even if you feel a bit skeptical or nervous, as Peter is a very perceptive, empathetic person to talk things through with. Most importantly, if you're willing to take the time, it could be the best thing you do for yourself- it was for me."
A. Age 40.
"I felt comfortable with Peter because of his calm and informal nature........I felt I could be completely honest and open with him."
"I chose Peter from his website because I felt he had a kind and honest face and the informality of his text. I was not wrong. Although I only had a few sessions with Peter, I found our talks very helpful. I felt comfortable with Peter because of his calm and informal nature. Also, because he is non-judgemental, I felt I could be completely honest and open with him. I would definitely recommend Peter to anyone and I feel I could book a session with him if need be in the future."
A. Age 57.
"My confidence has grown and I feel empowered to move forward and improve my life"
"I would just like to say a big thank you for all your help these past 3 months.
This is the first time someone has truly listened and understood my situation. My confidence has grown and I feel empowered to move forward and improve my life."
J. Age 43.
"We noticed we always left each session feeling that little bit happier and stronger......"
"Peter helped us through a difficult time in our lives. He was very understanding and he always listened to us. He made us both feel comfortable and at ease, which made it easier for us to open up. We noticed we always left each session feeling that little bit happier and stronger. If we had trouble seeing him, he would always make the time to fit us in when the time suited us.
We have just completed our sessions with Peter and we can honestly say our relationship has strengthened and he has made a big difference. I would highly recommend him! Thank you Peter you're a star!"
Couple. Ages 24 & 28.
"I feel like I have a much better understanding of why I feel the things I do......."
"I contacted Peter after being recently bereaved. My father died and it hit me like a ten ton truck, with a maelstrom of emotions coming up that I had no idea even existed. Shock led to sadness which led to anger and thats where I became *stuck* in my grief.
I initially contacted Peter because I liked his approach to therapy - it was person centred and seemed like a very safe, gentle and non threatening way to examine my feelings and how I could begin to let go and move on with my life.
Peter really listened to me. I thought I wouldnt have much to say but it came rushing out and it felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Simply being able to express feelings and thoughts that I have actually never told anyone before because I thought they would judge me for them was extremely powerful.
Peter is an excellent listener and he challenged me in moments that I really needed to be challenged, but in a kind and safe environment. He was also very honest with me and I really needed to hear that and it has caused me to look at aspects of my childhood through a completely different lens. I feel like I have a much better understanding of why I feel the things I do, where they came from and how best to go about dealing with them in the future. I am very grateful that Peter was with me on this journey to healing and I would really urge anyone who is struggling to seek help - there is no need to suffer alone. Thank you Peter."
A. Age 41.
"If you're not sure about counselling, ignore the stigma and take the time to think about what is important to you."
"For me, the thought of having counselling came with a stigma, but I'm glad I visited Peter when I did. I have been suffering from anxiety for several years now due to my dad having Lewy body dementia. My anxiety arose in new situations where I felt incapable and led to a lack of confidence. Which is not me!
Peter has taught me that everyone experiences these anxious feelings sometimes in their lives and it's ok. I have become able to recognise the things that trigger my anxiety and have developed ways of acknowledging and being comfortable with it.
Now I feel more myself, often still feeling the anxiety but feeling happier on a daily basis. I can now get on with moving forward with my life and have my confidence back. Peter is a great listener and should be given the credit he deserves for helping me through this time in my life.
If you're not sure about counselling, ignore the stigma and take the time to think about what is important to you. Everyone deserves to be happy and get through life being who they want to be. Thanks Peter I couldn't have done this without you!"
R. Age 30.
"I'd thoroughly recommend Peter to anyone who is struggling,......"
"Peter helped me in a time when no-one else around me could. I have never been a sufferer of depression or anxiety in my life, but I was regularly surrounded by it in my life, and had no answers or anyone to turn to. I felt very lost, unable to cope, and was turning to drugs and anti social behaviour to combat this. Peter helped me by beginning my understanding of myself, and furthering my understanding each week in and out. I've discovered so much about my life through the sessions, and I will be thankful for Peter for all my life.
I'd thoroughly recommend Peter to anyone who is struggling, and needs a kind, empathetic, trusting and caring voice to talk too. "
A. Age 23.
"Finally I can move on to a new chapter in my life........"
"Have you ever woken up frightened, knowing what you did the day before.... I felt like this daily till I meet Peter. Peter made me helped me uncover the root causes.
Making that 1 call for help was by far the best decision I have ever made in my life.
Peter saw me once a week, we connected from day one, he listened and could relate to me, at times it was emotional as I opened up further then I ever I thought I could with someone. I finally felt like I could open up and stop hiding away, no longer feeling isolated and meaningless.
Feeling the difference after having counselling with Peter in it self is amazing, I have my confidence back........
Having a connection with your councillor is key.
Thankyou so much Peter I truly couldn't of done this without you.
Finally I can move onto a new chapter in life and start living and looking after my family.
You have truly inspired me I'm finally free"
C. Age 29.
"Thank you for helping me to find colour and light in my life again."
"For 3 years I received Peter's support in my journey away from addiction to prescription medication. I owe a major part of my now solid recovery to the regular sessions I have spent with him. I have a clearer grasp of who I am thanks to Peter, a foundation through which I can confidently approach the world.
Apart from being a great listener, Peter has that blessed gift of intuition. He cuts through my distractions, diversion and confusion straight to the heart of the matter- but he does this with true compassion and empathy, gently allowing me to shine a light on my own issues and grow into the person I can be. Thank you Peter for helping me to find colour and light in my life again."
A. Age 55.
"Here I am now on the other side, a much happier, calmer and proactive person."
"I started my sessions with Peter after falling off a cliff with my gambling. Having spent the best part of 21 years gambling, it was such a part of me that I did not see it was such a problem. That was until I made the decision to stop - and wow, did I see how much of a hold on me it had. At first I was in a very dark place, in fear of losing everything-friends, family, life etc. so was keen to seek help wherever I could. I was very sceptical and unsure of how counselling could help. Gambling is not a physical thing, there is no tablet to help, so how can you stop it?
I started my sessions with Peter and from the very start I knew this was a good choice. Peter was an amazing 'sounding board' and coached me to open up as the weeks went on.
As time progressed, our conversations became much more about life and its ups and downs, the way we deal with these and how we move on. This helped me identify certain aspects of myself that I needed to change or tackle differently. I always said gambling was an escape, but Peter helped me see that it was an addiction that made me think that when life was tough, then gambling would take me away from it. But it didn't, it only made things worse.
Here I am now on the other side, a much happier, calmer and proactive person. The battles of life are still there, but thanks to Peter I deal with them in a much better way"
S. Age 38.
"...between us both we turned my life around!"
"I had entered a dark place in my life. Having been a subject of bullying at work, I became addicted to gambling. I lost most of my money and I hit rock bottom. I kept everything secret and felt so alone and depressed. I started counselling sessions with Peter and it was such a relief to open up and be honest with someone, Peter listened to me and made me feel so comfortable . I felt like a weight had been lifted. As the weeks went by my recovery went from strength to strength all thanks to the counselling sessions. I felt empowered to become a better person.
After each session I would feel so good I would be smiling and enjoying life again. I would feel like I had been given a new start in life . Who would have thought just talking about problems could make such a difference to recovery.
Thanks to Peter and our sessions together I no longer gamble. I have left the job I was getting bullied at and have started a successful business. I enjoy life now and have great relationships with people. I am no longer bullied as I have confidence in myself and my ability. I could not recommend Peter enough between us both we turned my life around!"
S. Age 30.
