Matthew Ridley

I am taking on new online clients. 

If you struggle to afford the full amount and are on benefits or a low income, I may be able to offer you a reduction in the fee. 

I will work with you to help you find more self-awareness and with that can come more self-acceptance. The more we notice about ourselves the more opportunity there is for change.

As an Integrative Counsellor I have been trained to select a small handful of different theoretical approaches to develop my own distinct way of working. 

I am also a qualified yoga teacher and use a lot of my knowledge of breath and body awareness in my work. 

I use a “psychodynamic” approach to investigate the past to help understand where there might be unconscious influences that can have a detrimental impact on your life in the present. These tend to manifest as difficulties in relationships with others, or a difficult relationship with oneself.

I really love working with the "Transpersonal" (if it is relevant to you). This is about working towards a healthy spirit through using guided Imagery/meditation /body awareness/breath work/inner child healing/developing the imagination and intuition/creative art work. Connecting to your higher self that can serve as a witness to your ego can be incredibly transformative.

“Polyvagal theory” underpins my understanding of neuroscience and is a vital tool when working with trauma. Learning to relax the body through ‘soothing’ oneself is important to help regulate the body, mind and emotions. I have many tools at my disposal to help this to happen, which include breathing/grounding exercises, developing awareness of triggers and more.

I believe that the thinking mind can easily become confused and believe it is necessary to work with it directly sometimes. To do this I use aspects from Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Some clients prefer to work this way and it can be a very useful tool.

Regardless of theoretical approach, I believe the relationship between counsellor and client is the constant that exists in all forms of therapy and ties in my varying philosophical approaches. 

If you’re reading this, you’re probably ready for a change. Perhaps life hasn’t turned out as you expected, or something has happened to you that you just can’t make sense of or move on from. Maybe you don’t even know why you’re not ok and just want to figure things out…

Whatever the reason, therapy can offer you the time and space to offload, express yourself and work towards finding deeper levels of self-awareness and heightened levels of self-fulfilment.

I can provide a compassionate and safe environment for this exploration over short or longer periods of time with varying levels of depth. All dependant on what you want or need at this moment in your life.

There is no one else quite like you. Only you have experienced your life, felt your joy and cried your tears. You are unique! I believe in encouraging you to be you, helping you to be become freer from life’s conditioning and expectations. For this reason, I am very flexible in my approach to therapy and offer a wide range of research and evidence based tools and interventions that can really work.

I particularly enjoy working with gay/bi men and women and have a lot of lived experience to offer in this area. More info: https://www.mattridleycounselling.co.uk/gaymenandwomen

I see the first session as an opportunity to connect and get a sense of how and if we may work well together. There is no obligation to continue if it doesn't feel quite right.

I do charge for the initial appointment but am happy to have a 15 minute phone call at no charge to speak things through first if you'd like. 

I have availability to see clients face to face and online. 

If you struggle to afford the full amount and are on benefits or a low income, I may be able to offer you a reduction in the fee. 

I see clients Monday - Friday 9am - 7pm. 

Evening and late afternoon appointments are very popular and may require a short wait. 

I will work with you to help you find more self-awareness and with that can come more self-acceptance. The more we notice about ourselves the more opportunity there is for change. 

As an Integrative Counsellor I have been trained to select a small handful of different theoretical approaches to develop my own distinct way of working...

I use a “psychodynamic” approach to investigate the past to help understand where there might be unconscious influences that can have a detrimental impact on your life in the present. These tend to manifest as difficulties in relationships with others, or a difficult relationship with oneself. 

I really love working with the "Transpersonal" (if it is relevant to you). This is about working towards a healthy spirit through using guided Imagery/meditation /body awareness/breath work/inner child healing/developing the imagination and intuition/creative art work. Connecting to your higher self that can serve as a witness to your ego can be incredibly transformative.

“Polyvagal theory” underpins my understanding of neuroscience and is a vital tool when working with trauma.  Learning to relax the body through ‘soothing’ oneself is important to help regulate the body, mind and emotions. I have many tools at my disposal to help this to happen, which include breathing/grounding exercises, developing awareness of triggers and more.

I believe that the thinking mind can easily become confused and believe it is necessary to work with it directly sometimes. To do this I use aspects from Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Some clients prefer to work this way and it can be a very useful tool.

Regardless of theoretical approach, I believe the relationship between counsellor and client is the constant that exists in all forms of therapy and ties in my varying philosophical approaches. 

More info here: http://www.mattridleycounselling.co.uk

I have my own office in the heart of Exeter, it's a very relaxing and private space which clients often describe as being homely and calm. Or, I offer appointments to work exclusively online. 

If you’re reading this, you’re probably ready for a change. Perhaps life hasn’t turned out as you expected, or something has happened to you that you just can’t make sense of or move on from. Maybe you don’t even know why you’re not ok and just want to figure things out…

Whatever the reason, therapy can offer you the time and space to offload, express yourself and work towards finding deeper levels of self-awareness and heightened levels of self-fulfilment.

I can provide a compassionate and safe environment for this exploration over short or longer periods of time with varying levels of depth. All dependant on what you want or need at this moment in your life.

There is no one else quite like you. Only you have experienced your life, felt your joy and cried your tears. You are unique! I believe in encouraging you to be you, helping you to be become freer from life’s conditioning and expectations. For this reason, I am very flexible in my approach to therapy and offer a wide range of research and evidence based tools and interventions that can really work.

I see the first session as an opportunity to connect and get a sense of how and if we may work well together. There is no obligation to continue if it doesn't feel quite right.  

I do charge for the initial appointment but am happy to have a 15 minute phone call at no charge to speak things through first if you'd like. 

I am taking on new supervisees, both face to face and online. 

I am a clinical supervisor in training and am offering supervision at a lower rate. Get in touch for more details 

I am an experienced counsellor having worked in the profession for a decade and a half,  I now offer clinical supervision to therapists and those working closely with people. From trainees to experienced practitioners, I can provide a supportive and reflective space to explore client work, professional development, and the emotional impact of your work.

I work relationally and ethically, guided by the BACP Ethical Framework, and use the Seven-Eyed Model of Supervision to deepen awareness of professional practice, interpersonal dynamics, and systemic influences, supporting reflective growth and ethical decision-making across a range of helping professions

With over 15 years’ experience as a counsellor, I have worked across a wide range of presenting issues and settings. I offer both online and in-person supervision, and I am happy to work flexibly at a frequency that meets your individual needs and professional requirements.

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Professions I can work with include:​

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Counsellors (including trainee and qualified)

Psychotherapists (all modalities: CBT, psychodynamic, integrative, etc.)

Psychologists (e.g., clinical, counselling, educational)

Mental Health Nurses / Psychiatric Nurses

Social Workers

Occupational Therapists (mental health focus)

Addiction Workers / Substance Misuse Practitioners

Trauma Practitioners 

Art, Music, or Drama Therapists (if relevant)

Other allied mental health professionals

As an Integrative Counsellor I have been trained to select a small handful of different theoretical approaches that resonate with me and my view of the world to develop my own distinct way of working. The approaches I have chosen mirror my own personality and allow for me to work to my strengths. I believe in working with the whole person, this includes your emotions, past, thought processes, beliefs, family, life situation etc. I will adapt the use of these methods depending on you and your needs.

As a supervisor, I bring these similar elements but will work in a more focused way using the seven eyed model as a framework

I see the first supervision session as an opportunity for you to get a sense of how we might work together, with no obligation to continue if it doesn’t feel like the right fit. The session length will be agreed before hand and is charged at the usual supervision rate. It’s also important for me to ensure that I’m the right supervisor for you, so we can both feel confident moving forward.

I am taking on new supervisees online.

I am a clinical supervisor in training and am offering supervision at a lower rate. Please get in touch for more details 

www.mattridleycounselling.co.uk/clinicalsupervision

I am an experienced counsellor having worked in the profession for a decade and a half, I now offer clinical supervision to therapists and those working closely with people. From trainees to experienced practitioners, I can provide a supportive and reflective space to explore client work, professional development, and the emotional impact of your work.

I am also a yoga teacher and bring many elements of breath and body awareness into my work, as well as deep relational depth and a focus on compassionate self awareness.

I work relationally and ethically, guided by the BACP Ethical Framework, and use the Seven-Eyed Model of Supervision to deepen awareness of professional practice, interpersonal dynamics, and systemic influences, supporting reflective growth and ethical decision-making across a range of helping professions

With over 15 years’ experience as a counsellor, I have worked across a wide range of presenting issues and settings. I offer both online and in-person supervision, and I am happy to work flexibly at a frequency that meets your individual needs and professional requirements.

​

As an Integrative Counsellor I have been trained to select a small handful of different theoretical approaches that resonate with me and my view of the world to develop my own distinct way of working. The approaches I have chosen mirror my own personality and allow for me to work to my strengths. I believe in working with the whole person, this includes your emotions, past, thought processes, beliefs, family, life situation etc. I will adapt the use of these methods depending on you and your needs.

More info here: www.mattridleycounselling.co.uk/about-me

As a supervisor, I bring these similar elements but will work in a more focused way using the seven eyed model as a framework

I see the first supervision session as an opportunity for you to get a sense of how we might work together, with no obligation to continue if it doesn’t feel like the right fit. The session length will be agreed before hand and is charged at the usual supervision rate. It’s also important for me to ensure that I’m the right supervisor for you, so we can both feel confident moving forward.