Massimo Rinaldi

I work on Zoom Monday to Friday, 8am to 9pm if you reside in UK. I can see client in person, in my home studio, outside Cagliari, location, Foxi La Collina, Quartu Sant'Elena, Sardegna, Italy. 

I can be flexible within limitation. I am very happy to acocmodate weekly sessions, or fortnightly appointments. However, a longer gap may be discouraged if there is a desire to see some long term progress

I am a qualified Humanistic Counsellor, with a specialist Post Graduate Diploma in Psychosexual and Couple Therapy, with over 25 years of experiences of working with a variety of difficulties. 

I provide short-term, solution focused counselling and long(er) term counselling, psychosexual & couple therapy to individuals (eg addictions, sex & sexuality etc) and groups.

My private counselling practice is based on line or in person in Italy. Over the past 25 years I have accumulated a significant amount of counselling experience, working with a wide range of issues including:

lack of interest/motivation,

cultural conflicts,

depression,

loss & bereavement,

anxiety,

relationship & psychosexual difficulties,

stress,

addictions,

sexuality, HIV

It may help you to know that I have worked in different settings such as a Sexual Health Counsellor, a Group Facilitator and as a Senior Practitioner in residential settings in charitable foundations and NHS services.

 My training has been within a Humanistic field in which I use the principle of the “here and now” concentrating on the present circumstances to understand any conflict.

Therapy Approaches.

My counselling techniques draw upon a variety of theoretical approaches tailored to the client’s needs as well as employing approaches such as:

motivational interview techniques,

gestalt,

cognitive behavioural,

existential,

personal centered counselling,

solution focus.

My counselling approach always considers the influences of the past and how they have affected the individual’s life experiences.

The decision to embark on a counselling experience may cause one to experience a sense of distress, confusion, anxiety or feeling overwhelmed. However, in my practice I create a safe and warm environment where I offer opportunities to confidentially explore these emotional and psychological feelings. My aim is to enable the client to reflect, clarify and work towards living in a more harmonious and resourceful way.

I have worked extensively with clients of different gender, sexuality and culture with a variety of issues, including addictive behaviours, sex and sexuality and I apply existential theories and working on the 'here and now' to enable my clients to obtain positive results and outcomes.

I am currently working with a variety of issues within a short term or long term, on going contract. I have also worked as a High Intensity Counsellor for the NHS - IAPT service addressing issues related to anxiety and depression, and its impact.

I believe that we should try to accept that our physical identity, our self-esteem, our values, our ideas, our emotions and our relationships are forever moving in different direction. We are constantly challenged by change, and yet it is perfectly normal for us to fear the unknown and to desire stability.

Counselling can offer the opportunity to grow and learn so that we can be fully present, in the mist of difficulties that challenges us. I believe that this can be achieved in a safe and confidential environment where, possibility for being can be explored and, if desired, learning to be present at your own pace.

Addiction:

I have considerable experience in counselling clients with addictive behaviour i.e. substance misuse, alcohol dependency, sex addiction or compulsive tendencies and consequences of these in their lives.

Sex and Sexuality:

Sex and sexuality is an intrinsic aspect of our identity and to deny its full expression may cause an inner struggle. Such internal conflict may arise when one suppresses true feelings about our sexuality, or relationship with sex, in order to avoid having our identity stigmatized.

I have worked with individuals or couples with the issues on sex, sexuality, gender and intimacy and the impact it has for several years.

This has provided the client with the opportunity to explore in detailed ways to successfully manage, process, accept and integrate any change towards gender, sex, sexuality and intimacy desired.

I can offer a free 20 minutes consultation to provide you with an experience of what it may be like working with me, and provide you with any questions you may have, if new to the counselling process.  This can be offered via zoom or a telephone consultation. A series of documents, including the contract, will be emailed in advance to offer the opportunity to read more about what may be required if you wish to embarking on a counselling journey. 

The brief consultation may also offer the opportunity to decide if I may be a right fit for you. Ultimately, a counselling relationship can be successful as long as there is an alliance established based on trust and giving you the opportunity to see me, hear about my work and ask me any question to demystify doubts is the least I can do to provide you with a sense of what I may be like.