Neil Porter

I currently have availability for online and in-person counselling. My working hours are flexible, including some daytime and evening appointments. Please get in touch to discuss current availability.

I believe therapy should feel like a genuine conversation where you feel heard, understood and accepted. I work collaboratively and do not see myself as the expert on your life — you are. My role is to walk alongside you, offering a safe and compassionate space where we can explore what is happening together.

I am not a passive therapist. Where it feels helpful, I may gently offer observations, ask thoughtful questions, share relevant insights or help you explore practical ways forward. My aim is to balance deeper self-understanding with meaningful change, so you leave sessions feeling both supported and empowered.

My approach is integrative and person-centred, allowing me to adapt the way I work to your individual needs. My practice is also holistic and spiritually open, so we can explore questions of meaning, purpose or spirituality where these are important to you, while fully respecting your own beliefs and values.

I am an experienced integrative counsellor who has worked with a substantial number of clients and completed many hours of therapeutic work, supporting people with a broad range of emotional and psychological difficulties.

I also know from personal experience what it can feel like to seek counselling during a difficult period in life. That experience has helped shape the way I work and deepened my belief in the importance of feeling genuinely heard, accepted and understood.

I offer individual counselling to adults, both online and in person in Mickleover, Derby. I work with a wide range of difficulties, including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, relationship problems, stress, grief, trauma, life transitions and feeling stuck or disconnected from yourself.

Sessions last 50 minutes and usually take place weekly, although we can discuss what feels most suitable for you. My standard fee is £50 per session, with a limited number of concessionary places available at £40.

My aim is to provide a warm, honest and non-judgemental space where you can speak openly, understand yourself more deeply and begin to make meaningful changes. Therapy can be short-term or open-ended, depending on your needs and what you hope to achieve.

I welcome clients from a wide range of backgrounds and identities. You do not need to arrive knowing exactly what to say or what you need — we can work that out together.

Before booking a first session, I offer a free, no-obligation introductory call. This gives us an opportunity to talk briefly about what has brought you to counselling, what you are hoping for, and whether we feel comfortable working together.

The first counselling session is charged at my usual rate and lasts 50 minutes. We will begin by exploring what has brought you to therapy, any important background information, and what you would like support with. There is no formal assessment or pressure to tell me everything immediately.

We can also discuss confidentiality, how I work, practical arrangements and any questions or concerns you may have. Most importantly, the first session is a chance for you to experience how it feels to talk with me and decide whether you would like to continue.