Steve Gray

Working Days: Monday to Wednesday 

If you are only available outside my usual working hours, please contact me to discuss your availability. Where possible, I will do my best to accommodate you.

Finding the right counsellor can feel like a daunting first step. It is not always easy to know who will be the right fit, so I hope this gives you a sense of who I am and how I work.

Life may feel hard. You may be facing difficulties, feeling lonely or disconnected, uncertain about where you are in life, or simply wanting a space to reflect and understand yourself more deeply. Perhaps you have been carrying difficult thoughts or feelings for some time, and it feels hard to do this alone.

I offer person-centred counselling in a warm, reflective and supportive space where you can speak openly about whatever is important to you.

My approach is based on the belief that, given the right conditions, people have the capacity to understand themselves more deeply and find their own way forward. Rather than offering advice or directing the process, I work alongside you, offering empathy, acceptance and genuine understanding as you explore your experiences at your own pace.

While I work with adults experiencing a wide range of life's challenges, I have particular experience supporting people through bereavement, grief and loss, including the impact of significant life changes. I also work with the deeper questions that sometimes arise in life, such as who you are, what matters most to you, and where you are heading.

Alongside my private practice, I bring over 20 years' experience working in the voluntary sector and higher education. I hold an MSc in Counselling from Keele University and am a registered member of the BACP. I have worked within a hospice setting, supporting people and families through bereavement and end-of-life care, and taught on the MSc Counselling and Psychotherapy programme at Keele University. I welcome the opportunity to work with trainee counsellors as part of their personal and professional development.

Whatever has brought you to counselling, I hope to offer a relationship in which you feel heard, understood, and supported to find your own way forward. 

My work is grounded in the person-centred tradition developed by Carl Rogers. I believe that the therapeutic relationship itself can provide the conditions for growth, healing, and greater self-understanding.

Rather than focusing on diagnosis or advice, I aim to create a confidential, accepting, and non-judgemental environment where you feel heard and respected. Together, we can explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences at a pace that feels right for you, helping you make sense of your life and discover your own direction.  

Choosing a counsellor is an important decision. Before committing to counselling, I offer a free telephone 20–30-minute consultation where we can talk about what has brought you to seek support and explore whether working together feels right for you. This is also an opportunity for you to ask questions and get a sense of how I work before arranging a first session.

If you decide to proceed, the first counselling session is an opportunity for us to begin getting to know one another in more depth and to explore what has brought you to counselling. We will discuss what you hope to gain from the process, any questions or concerns you may have, and the practical aspects of working together, including the counselling agreement.

There is no pressure to share more than you feel comfortable with. You are welcome to take things at your own pace, and counselling can develop in a way that feels right for you.