Carl Argent

Monday to Saturday, starting at 09:00, finishing at 20:00

Hi, I’m Carl. I am a qualified integrative counsellor, relationship therapist and coach. I work with adults (17+), couples and families.

My approach as therapist and coach is person-centred so we can focus on you, understanding your distress or where you feel stuck through the lens of who you are and how you function. In therapy I work mainly with your inner experience, particularly anxiety, stress, depression, rumination, emotional turbulence, coping strategies and what lies beneath them. I also work with grief and loss, identity, trauma, and how you function in relationships.

As a coach I work through the lens of Positive Psychology which is about using psychology and talking to understand how to encourage thriving in your life.

In relationship therapy the focus shifts to the relationship itself, and I help each person to recognise their own communication patterns, their own emotional needs, and the ways you can unintentionally trigger each other. The aim of relationship therapy is for each person to truly hear the other so the relationship can move forward. Often as a couple you don’t lack love or commitment for each other, you are caught in patterns you don’t yet fully understand. Therapy brings clarity to your relationship and let’s you decide whether you want it to work or not. I work for the relationship itself. I do not take sides and I ensure you both have the time and space you need to express yourself so you are heard by your partner.

All types of therapy work best when you and couples feel safe enough to open up and be yourself.

If you would like to see whether working together as an individual or couple feels right, you are welcome to get in touch for a free 15-minute chat. For relationship therapy, this is used to arrange an introductory session so you can decide together whether you would like to begin the work.

I charge £60 for individual therapy sessions, and for couples it's either £95 for 90 minutes or £135 for 2 hours.

My practice is grounded in the belief that you are the expert on your own life. I offer a safe, confidential environment where we can gently unpick your story, integrate your experiences, and strengthen your sense of self. I work with adults on an open-ended basis or for a fixed number of sessions, typically finding that 12 to 24 sessions provide a solid foundation for change, though this is entirely flexible to your needs.

I offer in-person counselling at my therapeutic base in Shoeburyness, a quiet space located at the top of a house where we won't be disturbed. For those further afield or who prefer remote work, I am a certified online therapist offering video sessions via Google Meet, as well as telephone counselling. I ensure online work is delivered with the same care and safety as face-to-face sessions, using secure platforms and safety protocols.

My work is integrative, drawing on a Level 4 Diploma that combines person-centred values with CBT, Transactional Analysis, and psychodynamic theories. This allows me to adapt my approach to you. For example, we might use EFT to heal attachment ruptures or Positive Psychology to rebuild after burnout. I have specific training from CRUSE for bereavement and hold a deep compassion for those dealing with loss. I also have experience working with porn addiction.

I strive to make counselling accessible. My standard fees are £50 for 50 minutes, £60 for 60 minutes, and £80 for 90 minutes. I offer a sliding scale for those on lower incomes, students, NHS key workers, and those aged 65+, as well as a specific rate of £30 for 30 minutes for clients with Autism/ADHD. I am also a registered provider for WPA, Aviva, and VitalityHealth.

Ultimately, my practice is about connection. It is not about me imposing a psychological explanation, but about us collaborating to help you understand how your past shapes your present, breaking old cycles, and finding the resilience to bounce forward.

I offer a free, no-obligation 15-minute introductory chat before we book a full session. This is a light, informal opportunity for us to connect via telephone or video call to see if we are a good fit. It’s important that you feel comfortable with me, as the therapeutic relationship is the foundation of our work. You can ask any questions you have, and we can briefly discuss what brings you to counselling.

If we decide to proceed, our first full session will be about getting to know you better and establishing a safe space. We will discuss your goals and what you hope to achieve. There is no pressure to "perform" or have all the answers straight away. We will go at your pace. I may ask about your history and current situation to get a clearer picture of your world, but you only need to share what you feel safe sharing.

We will also cover the practical agreement for our work together, ensuring boundaries and confidentiality are clear. If you are using health insurance (Aviva, WPA, VitalityHealth), we will confirm those details. My aim is for you to leave the first session feeling heard, respected, and clearer about the path ahead.

Monday to Saturday, starting at 09:00, finishing at 20:00

Hi, I’m Carl, an integrative counsellor, relationship therapist and coach. I work with adults (17+), couples and families. My approach is person-centred: we begin with your experience and what matters to you, rather than expecting you to fit a particular way of thinking.

Individual counselling offers space to explore anxiety, low mood, grief, self-worth, identity, trauma and relationship difficulties. We can look at how attachment and earlier experiences may shape what happens now, without assuming that your past explains everything. I also work with the emotional impact of ADHD and neurodivergence.

My work draws on person-centred therapy, attachment theory, ACT-informed work and psychoeducation where useful. We may explore how you relate to difficult thoughts and feelings, what matters to you and the choices available in your circumstances. You remain the expert on your own life.

In couples and relationship therapy, we focus on the relationship between you: recurring arguments, emotional distance, trust, communication and each person’s needs. I make room for both perspectives and help you understand the pattern, without taking sides or assuming that staying together must be the outcome. We also consider whether joint work is appropriate and sufficiently safe.

You can come on your own about relationship difficulties, even if your partner does not want to attend. Individual counselling is support for you, rather than a way of assessing or changing an absent partner.

Coaching is a separate service for practical goals and change, informed by positive psychology. If you are unsure which support fits, a free introductory conversation gives you space to ask questions and explore whether working together feels right.

I offer in-person counselling in Shoeburyness, Southend-on-Sea, in a quiet room upstairs. I also offer online counselling across the UK and telephone sessions. Please let me know about any access needs so we can discuss a workable arrangement.

Individual counselling is £60 for 50 minutes, £70 for 60 minutes or £90 for 90 minutes. Couples and relationship therapy is £95 for 90 minutes or £135 for 120 minutes. We agree the session length and working arrangements together. Concessionary rates may be available; please ask about your circumstances.

You do not need to have a clear explanation of what is wrong before you get in touch. Counselling is a collaborative space to understand your experience, including how earlier experiences, relationships and present pressures may affect you. We work at a pace that respects what you feel able to explore.

You can read more about individual counselling and relationship therapy, current fees and introductory conversations on my website: https://carlargent.co.uk/counselling/ and https://carlargent.co.uk/relationship-counselling/

Before booking an individual counselling session, I offer a free, no-obligation 20-minute telephone conversation. For couples and relationship therapy, the free introductory conversation is 30 minutes on Google Meet. These are opportunities to ask questions, briefly discuss what brings you here and explore whether working together feels right. There is no expectation that you commit to therapy.

In the first full session, we make space for your experience, what you hope for and what you would like me to understand. You do not need to have all the answers or share more than feels manageable. If you are attending as a couple, each person has time to speak, and we consider the relationship pattern and the suitability of joint work.

We also discuss our working agreement, confidentiality and its limits, session length, fees and practical arrangements. If you hope to use insurance or employee benefits, please check your provider’s requirements and contact me to confirm the arrangement before booking. We review the work together as we go, without promising a particular outcome.