Gavin Reid

I offer flexible appointment times to try and fit around work, family life, study, or other commitments.

Sessions are available online and in person from my practice in Manchester city centre.

Hi, I’m Gavin. I’m an integrative therapist working online and in person from my practice in Manchester city centre.

Before training as a counsellor, I spent many years working in the corporate world. Over time, I became increasingly interested in people, relationships, emotional wellbeing, and the different ways life experiences can shape how we see ourselves and connect with others. My own experience of therapy also played an important part in my decision to retrain as a therapist.

I believe therapy should feel like a space where you can slow down, feel heard, and talk openly without fear of judgement. Many people come to therapy feeling emotionally overwhelmed, disconnected from themselves, or stuck in patterns they don’t fully understand after years of trying to cope alone.

The relationship between therapist and client is at the heart of how I work. I aim to create a warm, supportive and genuine space where you feel comfortable enough to explore difficult thoughts, feelings, experiences, or relationship patterns at your own pace.

My approach is integrative, with person centred therapy at the core. I also draw from trauma informed therapy, attachment theory, compassion focused therapy, and emotional regulation work where helpful.

Alongside my counselling degree, I hold a Postgraduate Diploma in Gender, Sexual and Relationship Diversity Therapy and am qualified in trauma work. I have experience supporting people with anxiety, relationships, emotional overwhelm, self esteem, shame, boundaries, and identity.

I try to keep therapy grounded, human and relatable rather than overly clinical. For me, therapy is about helping people better understand themselves, make sense of their experiences, and build a healthier relationship with themselves and others.

I work with adults experiencing anxiety, stress, low self esteem, emotional overwhelm, relationship difficulties, shame, trauma, and patterns that may be leaving them feeling stuck or disconnected from themselves.

Sometimes people come to therapy with a clear understanding of what they want help with. Others simply know that something doesn’t feel right. They may feel overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, anxious, disconnected, or caught in the same relationship patterns over and over again.

Many people spend years trying to manage alone, pushing difficult feelings aside or focusing on getting through day to day life. Therapy can offer the space to step back, reflect, and begin understanding what may be happening underneath the surface.

I have experience supporting clients with:

• Anxiety and overthinking

• Stress and burnout

• Low self esteem and confidence

• Shame and self criticism

• Boundaries and people pleasing

• Relationship and attachment difficulties

• Trauma and emotional regulation

• Identity and self acceptance

• Feeling stuck, lost, or disconnected

• Emotional overwhelm

My approach is collaborative and tailored to the individual. I understand that no two people experience life in exactly the same way, so therapy shouldn’t feel one size fits all.

Alongside talking therapy, I may also bring in psychoeducation around areas such as emotional regulation, the nervous system, attachment, trauma, and self compassion where helpful. I aim to make therapy feel accessible, supportive and grounded in real life rather than overly clinical or full of jargon.

Therapy can help you better understand yourself, build healthier relationships, develop stronger boundaries, and create lasting emotional change.

You may have found your way here through a recommendation or perhaps through an online search. Whatever the route, I’d encourage you not to choose a counsellor simply because theirs was the first profile you came across, or because their qualifications sound impressive.

Finding the right therapist is a personal process, and it’s important to think about what feels important to you. You may be looking for someone with experience in particular areas, a particular approach, or simply someone you feel comfortable talking to.

Therapists are as individual as the people we work with, and with so many different approaches and profiles out there, the process can sometimes feel overwhelming.

Alongside training and experience, it can be helpful to pay attention to how a therapist makes you feel when reading their profile. Do they sound like someone you could open up to? Do you feel safe, understood, or at ease?

The therapeutic relationship is one of the most important parts of therapy, and that begins with finding someone you feel comfortable working alongside.

I offer a free 15 minute introductory session so we can get a feel for whether we’re the right fit for each other.

I offer flexible appointment times to try and fit around work, study, caring responsibilities, or other commitments.

Sessions are available both online and in person from my practice in Manchester city centre. Online sessions can be a helpful option if you prefer the comfort and privacy of your own space or have a busy schedule.

I offer a free 15 minute introductory call so we can get a feel for whether we’re the right fit before committing to therapy.

Hi, I’m Gavin. I’m an integrative therapist offering affirming therapy for LGBTQ+ adults.

I know that many LGBTQ+ people grow up feeling different, misunderstood, judged, or like they have to hide parts of themselves in order to feel accepted. Over time, this can affect confidence, relationships, self worth, anxiety levels, and the way we relate to ourselves and others.

I offer a warm, supportive and non judgemental space where you can talk openly and be fully yourself without fear of judgement.

I have extensive experience working with LGBTQ+ clients and understand some of the unique challenges that can come with identity, relationships, minority stress, shame, discrimination, family dynamics, or coming out later in life.

My approach is integrative, with the therapeutic relationship at the centre of how I work. I also draw from trauma informed approaches, attachment theory, compassion focused therapy, and psychoeducation around emotional regulation and the nervous system where helpful.

I hold a BA (Hons) Degree in Counselling with First Class Honours, alongside a Postgraduate Diploma in Gender, Sexual and Relationship Diversity Therapy. I am also qualified to work with complex trauma.

If you’d like to get more of a feel for me and the way I work, you’re welcome to explore my LGBTQ+ mental health blog and social media pages, where I regularly share articles, videos, and reflections around LGBTQ+ mental health, relationships, shame, minority stress, attachment, boundaries, self worth, and emotional wellbeing. Many clients find this helpful in getting a sense of whether I feel like the right therapist for them

Facebook - Bee Proud Counselling

Instagram - bee_proud_counselling

Tiktok - bee_proud_counsel6

Youtube - BeeProudCounselling

I work with LGBTQ+ adults experiencing anxiety, shame, low self esteem, relationship difficulties, emotional overwhelm, identity struggles, and the impact of minority stress.

Many of the people I work with have spent years adapting to environments where they didn’t feel fully accepted or emotionally safe. This can lead to people pleasing, difficulty setting boundaries, self criticism, anxiety, or feeling disconnected from yourself and other people.

I have experience supporting clients with:

• Anxiety and overthinking

• Shame and self criticism

• Low self esteem and confidence

• Boundaries and people pleasing

• Relationship and attachment difficulties

• Coming out later in life

• Exploring sexuality or gender identity

• Chemsex and sexual wellbeing

• Trauma and emotional regulation

• Working affirmatively with trans and non binary clients

Therapy with me is collaborative, compassionate and paced around you. I aim to create a space where you can explore things openly, better understand yourself, and begin making changes that feel meaningful and sustainable.

You may have found your way here through a recommendation or perhaps through an online search. Whatever the route, I’d encourage you not to choose a counsellor simply because theirs was the first profile you came across, or because their qualifications sound impressive.

Finding the right therapist is a personal process, and it’s important to think about what feels important to you. You may be looking for someone with experience in particular areas such as LGBTQ+ identities, trauma, addiction, relationships, or emotional wellbeing. You might also find yourself considering whether a therapist’s age, gender, sexuality, or life experience matters to you.

Therapists are as individual as the people we work with, and with so many different approaches, qualifications, directories and profiles out there, the process can sometimes feel overwhelming.

Alongside training and experience, it can be helpful to pay attention to how a therapist makes you feel when reading their profile. Do they sound like someone you could feel comfortable talking to? Do you feel understood, safe, or able to be yourself?

The therapeutic relationship is one of the most important parts of therapy, and that begins with finding someone you feel comfortable working alongside.

I offer a free 15 minute introductory session so we can get a feel for whether we’re the right fit for each other.