Gary Walton

Counselling has the potential to be life changing. Meeting the right counsellor at the right time can offer an opportunity to make sense of, and work through, issues that may have been hindering you for some time, or one's that are currently coming to the fore.

Sometimes your personal relationships can feel strained or work can feeling overwhelming, and that's where a meaningful therapeutic experience can offer insight and understanding with the potential to foster meaningful change.

I am a psychodynamic counsellor based in Bushey, Hertfordshire who offers short term and open-ended counselling sessions, in person and online.

My practice is based in the grounds of a Grade 2 listed building and offers a calm and peaceful environment to explore what has brought you to counselling at this point in your life.

I work towards developing a deeper understanding of yourself and creating an exciting and challenging space for personal development, growth and exploration.

I trained at the UK's longest psychodynamic training facility, Highgate Counselling Centre, and continued on beyond my training for many years as a Staff Counsellor.

I have experience of working with a wide range of issues including depression, anxiety, work related challenges and difficulties in everyday relationships.

I also have an interest in working with those who are at a point in their life where they are unsure of what the future holds, possibly concerned that it may be the same as their past, and are looking to understand themselves on a deeper level, and therefore foster a change in their present and their future.

I adhere to the BACP’s ethical code and am committed to its high standards of practice and continued professional learning.

As mentioned earlier, my practice is in Bushey, Hertfordshire which allows me to see clients from North London, Watford, Stanmore, Harrow, Elstree and Borehamwood. 

I am also trained to work online which allows me to work with many clients beyond my practice location. 

In our initial sessions I would look to garner an understanding of what has brought you to counselling and also an understanding of your history and current circumstances. 

As I offer both short and long term options we would decide in these initial sessions which may be most beneficial for you. 

If short term is preferable we will decide on a specific issue to focus on and spend 12 sessions focusing on it, anticipating a developing understanding of the issue, which will relieve the associated symptoms.

If long term is a more suitable option it will enable us time to understand just how much of your current struggles are linked to past experiences and explore these often neglected feelings in a space that is both understanding and challenging. 

Although the bulk of my training is in psychodynamic theory I also have training in person centred theory which allows me to lean on whichever approach may be most beneficial in relieving your suffering. 

Overtime, as familiarity grows there can be an opportunity to enrich your inner emotional world, and develop self awareness which in turn can lessen behaviours and habits, which may in the past have brought about difficulties in your personal and professional life. 

I do offer the opportunity to meet online for a free 10 minute session where I can answer any queries and we can decide whether you would like to book an initial session. 

The first full session will be 50 minutes in length, and can be conducted online or in person, and this session will allow us the opportunity to ascertain whether working together will be beneficial. You may also have questions you would like to ask regarding what can be expected from working together moving forward. 

Unlike regular sessions I may take notes just so I can develop a picture of your history, current circumstances and what you may be hoping to achieve through counselling .