Sam Gardner

I am currently working remotely, online and by phone. Please get in touch about availability. I will update this when I can offer in person counselling again, however feel free to contact me to express an interest in this.

I am a person-centred therapist, and this approach aligns with my belief that you, the client, are the best person to determine the direction of your own life. This means that although I will be active and engaged in our work together, I will be led by what is meaningful and significant for you, and we will work with this at your pace.

I will attune closely to you in all the ways you bring yourself to our sessions, and I will also maintain this level of connection with myself, noticing my own feelings and sensations throughout. I consider both to be valuable guides to support your therapeutic journey.

Sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start, but often things unfold in their own way as you create this space to be with yourself. A therapeutic relationship can help interrupt circling thoughts and release mental clutter, as well as gently loosen stuck emotions. This can help you to hear yourself more clearly and bring more flexibility and movement into your life.

It is my hope that our sessions will feel collaborative, a place to work together and help you find the right way forward for yourself.

In addition to private practice, I have worked in community-based counselling services and health agencies. In all these environments, I have gained experience with a diverse client group who bring a wide range of issues to therapy. These include:

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Stress and burnout

• Low self-esteem

• Family conflict

• Relationship difficulties

• Abuse

• Trauma

• Loss

• High sensitivity

• Hiding/masking your true self

• Lack of purpose and meaning

My background also includes ESOL Teaching in the UK and overseas, and training and development for a community education charity. I am a passionate life-long learner and I view counselling as a process of learning, growth and renewal.

I enjoy working with those who wish to life more authentic and fulfilled lives by getting to know their inner worlds and outer lives with curiosity, reflection and gentle enquiry. 

The first session is an opportunity to talk about what brings you to counselling more fully and to get a sense of how I work and whether this feels a good fit for you.

I will listen closely and help you to explore what is going on for you, and give you my sense of your experience as you share it with me. 

We can discuss moving forwards and how we might work together.

As a person-centred therapist, my intention is to walk with you in your world, getting to know you and your experiences. In doing so, I can help you to explore your thoughts, feelings and sensations, gently inviting you to get to know parts of yourself in greater depth or with more clarity. This encourages self-awareness/understanding which can help to reduce inner conflict.

Alongside my professional training, I have experienced this process in my own counselling which helps me to accompany you sensitively and support you in the difficult moments you may encounter.

You may be feeling anxious, overwhelmed, upset or depressed just now, and perhaps you’ve been feeling this way for some time. Settling into a safe therapeutic relationship can help reduce the isolation of being alone with your experience. Being warmly understood and accepted just as you are can bring renewed hope and more movement and flexibility in your life.

It is normal to feel anxious and uncertain about counselling. I will gladly talk through any concerns you have and do my best to give you a sense of what to expect if you choose to work with me.

I have experience working with clients with a range of difficulties and issues. These include, but are not limited to:

• anxiety and depression

• burnout and work stress

• family conflict

• relationship problems

• abuse and trauma

• low self-esteem

• high-sensitivity

• loss of identity or purpose

• hiding their real/true self*

*You may feel you wear a mask, conceal parts of yourself that feel ‘weird’ ‘unacceptable’ or ‘unlovable’. You may feel that you don’t have permission, or the right to be a certain way in the world. You may feel you have stay small, fit in or be invisible. The struggle to be your authentic self, whatever that means for you, is an area of particular interest to me.

I currently work online and by phone. I am happy to discuss what feels the best fit for you.

If you would like to work in person, please do get in touch. I will take into consideration the current guidelines and discuss with you how we might work safely together.

Sessions are £45 for 50 minutes, usually on a weekly basis.

I offer a free 15 minute telephone call where we can discuss what brings you to counselling and how we might work together. From there, we can arrange a first session.

In the first session, I will briefly run through some guidelines for working together safely, which I will also send to you to read in your own time. Then I will invite you to explore with me what you may be struggling with, at your own pace.