About Me

Hi, I'm Paul
I'm so glad you're here.
Life hasn’t always been easy, and the challenges I’ve faced are a big part of why I do this work today. Like so many people in mid‑life, I’ve faced my share of painful moments — losing my dad when I was young, navigating relationship breakdowns, dealing with work pressures, and confronting my own mortality after a cancer diagnosis and later a quadruple heart bypass. I know what it’s like to feel scared, helpless and alone.
Those experiences shaped me deeply, but so did the world I grew up in. I was raised in a working-class family where money was tight, and I saw first-hand how stress, hardship, and addiction can affect people and their mental health.
These experiences made me realise just how important it is to have someone by your side when life feels overwhelming. That realisation is what led me to train as a counsellor, so I could offer others the kind of understanding and compassion I needed during my own difficult times. Before becoming a counsellor, I spent years working in customer services, helping people through stressful and emotional situations. Later, I moved into the charity sector and worked for Mind, supporting people with their mental health. All of these experiences — personal and professional — led me to where I am now. As a fully qualified, insured therapist, registered with the BACP, I support people from all walks of life through grief, anxiety, depression, addiction, low self‑esteem, and major life changes.
These days, I live in Manchester with my partner and our two rabbit “fur babies,” who keep us endlessly entertained. I bring all of who I am — the lived experience, the training, the compassion — into the work I do. My aim is simple: to offer a warm, understanding space where you feel heard, accepted, and supported. I'm here. Not because I have all the answers, but because I've walked through the dark and come out the other side - and I believe you can too.
You're not alone.

How I Work
My approach is person‑centred, which simply means that you lead the way. Your pace, your experiences, your needs. I’m here to offer a calm, supportive space where you can talk openly about whatever you’re going through without judgement— whether that’s anxiety, grief, addiction, low self‑esteem, depression, or the impact of major life changes.
I won’t give you quick fixes or instructions. Instead, I’ll sit with you, listen carefully, and help you explore what’s really going on beneath the surface. Together, we can look at patterns that might be causing you pain — things like self‑doubt, worry, old coping strategies, or unresolved loss — and gently make sense of them. Through careful listening, reflection, and gentle challenge, I aim to help you understand yourself more clearly.
As we explore the patterns in how you think, feel, and respond, you may begin to make sense of your experiences and discover new ways of relating to yourself and the difficulties you’re facing. As we work together, my aim is to help you build a deeper understanding of yourself, feel supported enough to explore difficult feelings and empowered enough to make choices about anything you would like to change to move towards a life that feels more fulfilling.
I’m fully qualified, insured, hold an enhanced DBS, and bring both professional training and real‑life experience to the work we do together


What to Expect
Step 1: Get in Touch
Get in touch by phone or email to share a little about what you'd like support with. I'll get back to you as soon as I can to schedule a free initial consultation with you. This is normally online, but can be on the telephone if you prefer.
Step 2: Free Consultation
The initial consultation is an opportunity for you to tell me what has brought you to therapy, for you to ask any questions and for us to decide if working together feels like a good fit. If we both feel happy to continue, then we'll book our first session together. If you don't feel ready or feel like I'm not the right fit for you then we can leave it there or I can refer you to another counsellor who I think might be a better fit for you.
Step 3: Therapy Sessions
Sessions are client-led so you're in control of what you want to talk about and how much you want to share. I won't tell you what to do, but I'll provide a warm, supportive space where I will listen to whatever feels important to you, with no judgement. Together we'll explore your experiences, thoughts and emotions, at your own pace and try to to make sense of whats happening for you, giving you the insight and confidence to make changes that feel right for you.
