Stafford Wilson

My practice hours are:

Mon 9.30 - 7

Tue 12.00 - 7

Wed 9.30 - 7

Thur 9.30 - 7

I am a qualified integrative counsellor practising in Bristol since 2013. I currently practice from my home in Southville. I work with a wide range of issues and specialise in addiction, shame-based issues, trauma and related mental health. I have also helped clients with depression and anxiety. I focus on the quality of the client-counsellor relationship in order to create a therapeutic partnership of trust and compassion. My approach is mainly person-centred and also informed by psycho-dynamic, Gestalt and Jungian theory.

My background is in support work and mental health services. I have over 15 years experience of working with very vulnerable clients (mainly ex-homeless) with common problems such as addiction, depression, personality disorders, trauma, OCD, ADHD, sexual abuse, etc...

My own personal history and experience of facing shame related issues has also significantly influenced my counselling approach. I have great respect for your autonomy and the coping skills that may serve an essential role in protecting something inside from being overwhelmed. I believe you are the expert on yourself!

I am also a qualified holistic masseur and have always been interested in the relationship between mind, body, spirit and soul. I do not incorporate any physical touch in my counselling practice but I encourage connection to the body to help work through difficult emotions.

I have also received training in 'Men's work' and was a member of a men's group for more than 10yrs. I found those experiences extremely rewarding and supportive of both my personal and professional development. Supporting healthy development of qualities such as assertiveness, vulnerability, creativity and leadership, and uncovering unconscious patterns through jungian/gestalt based group process work.

Counselling is a safe space where you can talk about problems and share difficult emotions without shame or judgement. We often feel that we should be able to deal with our problems without others help. But it is often through sharing and opening up to others, that we can find the way to heal ourselves. Trauma, mental or emotional problems, disconnect us from ourselves and others. Sharing our pain and our story (in a relationship where it can be held safely) can allow us to value, respect and have compassion for all parts of ourselves (especially the parts that are hurting). This re-integration unblocks our creative/healing potential and our sense of purpose and meaning. Allowing us to accept where we our right now in our lives and transcend stuck or painful patterns of behavior, emotions and beliefs.

Counselling can provide opportunities for healing which are often difficult to find in our normal relationships with friends and family. An opportunity to share things in confidence which may not be possible to share elsewhere. A safe non-judgemental space where any blocks or negative patterns in relationships can be brought to light and explored. And a place where difficult, intense or painful emotions can be felt safely, helping you to listen to, accept and move through them.

My aim is to provide you with a healing space where you can have full awareness, acceptance, and compassion for your experience, and therefore unblock the creativity and courage to heal and grow.

I offer an initial 50 minute consultation (preferably in-person) at a reduced fee of £25. This is an opportunity for us to meet, to discuss what you are bringing to therapy, your goals and my approach. If you decide to go ahead, we can then begin weekly sessions from the following week.

My standard weekly session fees are:

Daytimes (before 5pm) = £58

Evenings (after 5pm) = £65