Matthew Starritt

I offer therapy sessions both in person and online via a secure video platform. I am currently accepting new clients and have availability on Monday afternoons and evenings and Thursday mornings and afternoons.

Please note: At present, I am accepting online clients only. If you are interested in in-person therapy, please feel free to get in touch, as face-to-face availability may become available in the future.

I am a BACP-accredited counsellor and psychotherapist with over five years’ experience providing therapy for adults and young people aged 16 and over. My approach is integrative-relational, which means I draw on a range of therapeutic approaches to meet your individual needs rather than working from a single model. My work is informed by humanistic, psychodynamic and cognitive behavioural therapies, and is underpinned by Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT). I have a particular interest in supporting people experiencing psychological distress, trauma, grief, OCD and neurodiversity.

I take a holistic, integrative approach, tailoring therapy to your individual needs. Alongside talking therapy, I can draw on EMDR and mindfulness where appropriate, supporting greater self-awareness, healing, reconnecting with your strengths and values, and finding a way forward that feels authentic and meaningful.

My interest in psychotherapy is rooted in personal lived experience with mental health. I offer an authentic and compassionate approach that recognises the uniqueness of each person’s experience. I don’t believe people are broken or need fixing. Instead, I walk alongside you, offering perspectives to help you reconnect with your authentic self.

I specialise in psychological distress, trauma, OCD, neurodivergence, relationship difficulties and grief. I tailor therapy to your individual experience, drawing on approaches including EMDR stabilisation and reprocessing, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and mindful self-compassion to support acceptance, healing and meaningful change.

Whatever brings you to therapy, my aim is to offer a warm, compassionate and non-judgemental space where you can feel welcome to explore your experiences at your own pace.

The therapy process begins with understanding you – your experiences, challenges and goals. Your first session is an opportunity for us to get to know one another, explore what has brought you to therapy, and consider how we might work together.

Together, we'll explore the nature of your difficulties, the experiences that may be contributing to them, and what you hope to gain from therapy.

During the assessment, we may talk about:

What has been happening for you and when your difficulties began.

Any previous experiences of therapy and what was or wasn't helpful.

How things are affecting different areas of your life, such as your relationships, work or day-to-day wellbeing.

Your hopes and goals for therapy.

There is no expectation that you share everything in your first session. You are always in control of what you choose to talk about, and we'll work at a pace that feels comfortable for you. If you've experienced trauma other difficult life events, it may take time before you feel ready to explore these experiences. We will always prioritise creating a safe, supportive and non-judgemental space.

Towards the end of the session, we'll discuss the next steps together, including whether therapy feels like the right fit, how often we might meet, the fees, and some initial goals for our work together.

There is no pass or fail in an assessment session. It is a chance for us to explore whether working together feels right for you and whether therapy is the support you need at this point in your life.