Choosing a Therapist
Choosing the right counsellor often comes down to how well you can work together and whether there is a connection, rather than the type of therapy or symptom you need help with. This site will hopefully help you establish if I might be the right person to help you.
Welcome to Jack Roberts Counselling
My counselling approach is person-centred which means it’s based on what you need and what might work for you, rather than focused on a specific technique or set of symptoms. I also work with cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), solution-focused brief therapy, mindfulness and coaching/mentoring in whichever ways might help you. I currently provide online counselling via video (normally Zoom but I’m happy to work with other platforms) and email counselling.
I have an MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy from Keele University and am a qualified mindfulness meditation teacher with Mindfulness Now.
My working career was in business and self-employment but during this time I’ve realised that I am naturally a teacher, guide and mentor – hence why I am now a counsellor, therapist and coach.
But I’m also deeply compassionate and empathic. Coming to therapy can feel scary and it can take a courageous leap to come forward and seek help. I know this, as I’ve been there too.
So I won’t ask you to reveal anything you don’t want to, or discuss things you aren’t comfortable with. Person-centred counselling is done at your pace, discussing only the things you feel ready to discuss, when you’re ready. It’s about listening and helping you develop understanding, not telling you what to do or making you suffer more than you already are. We can take things slowly and gently, if that’s what works for you. Alternatively, some forms of therapy allow you to move faster and are more solution-focused and we can look at that too.
The video below has a brief overview of my approach and background.
How I Can Help
As well as working with symptoms and feelings such as trauma, anxiety, depression, grief and generally ‘not feeling good’ or struggling, some of the specific areas in which I can help include:
Coaching & Mentoring
Counselling and therapy are often about finding help in times of need or struggle but sometimes we want to learn and develop new things. I can help with coaching, mentoring and personal development to help you grow and achieve.
Using and Learning Mindfulness
Mindfulness, or becoming more aware, is an essential skill for counselling, therapy and coaching. I can help you learn how to use and apply it, or help you find ways to use it more effectively.
Therapy for Men
Men are often taught to endure and tough it out rather than engaging with how they feel, but this damages mental health. Counselling specifically for men can help you learn how to live a happier, more fulfilled life.
Changing Behaviour & Thinking Patterns
If you’re stuck in a rut of unhelpful behaviour and thinking patters, CBT and solution-focused brief therapy can help. You don’t have to identify the causes, but you can find ways to help you think and feel better.
Neuroaffirmative Therapy
Neuroaffirming therapy and counselling means accepting how people are without trying to change them. It is particularly useful with neurodiversity where people are often diagnosed and ‘treated’. Learn how to celebrate who you are and live from it.
Corporate Training & Support
My 35 years in the business world means I can put together packages for staff wellbeing, mindfulness, coaching and emotional intelligence and communication skills training.
In-person sessions are £50 per hour with online sessions via Zoom at £40 per hour (I’m happy to discuss this – please don’t let price be a barrier) and I have a flexible approach to session length, number of sessions and the methods used to help you. As the best way of choosing a counsellor is to talk to them to see if you would be a match, I also offer an initial free 30-45 minute discussion. Complete the contact form if you are interested in seeing how I could help you.
I also offer an Email therapy and email counselling service which can be useful where online or in-person is not possible or desirable. For example, travel or speech and hearing problems, or where you prefer to write and reflect rather than answer in real-time.
My Background
I’ve been drawn towards counselling and support ever since I volunteered with Niteline (a university listening and information service) aged 18. I then spent over 30 years pursuing a business and management career before becoming a self-employed marketing consultant and project management trainer. But I was always drawn towards roles providing guidance and support, hence becoming a counsellor and therapist.
My life has been spent juggling obligations and commitments and I have experienced trauma and difficulties, both in childhood and as a working adult, leading to experiences of the following;
Living in a World Not Suited to Us
For example, Highly Sensitive Persons and Empaths plus other forms of neurodiversity including autism, ADHD/ADD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, synaesthesia and Gifted Adults. My approach to this is explained in more detail in Neuroaffirmative Therapy.
Mid Life Crisis, Burn Out & Overwhelm
This is what often brings us to counselling and can lead to major changes in our life. Examples of this could include redundancy, moving home, new family, caring for elderly parents and health issues. I know what it’s like to live a life with pressure, stress and obligations without having been taught how to deal with it.
Childhood Issues
Many of us had less than idyllic childhoods which have left us with a legacy we take into adulthood, e.g. bullying, trauma, parental separation, living with alcoholic parents, etc. You can read more about how I can help with this at the Counselling for Childhood Emotional Neglect page.
My own therapy involved a lot of journaling which has helped me understand my own feelings and emotions around what happened in the past, and continues to shape my life decisions. I’ve turned some of these experience into a book called Finding Peace which details my journey, what helped, and what didn’t. If you’re interested, follow the link to read a free Finding Peace sample chapter.
My Approach to Therapy
Are you coming to counselling thinking that there might be something wrong with you, or that you are broken and need fixing? Well, maybe there isn’t anything wrong with you, maybe it’s actually other people that are the problem. There might be some skills you can learn to help you cope, but sometimes it’s about learning our strengths and how to live from them.
Being told how to behave and act in childhood means we lose our true self. We learn to seek the approval of others, rather than what works for us. So as an adult we struggle to know our real self and what works for us. Has anyone ever really taken the time to help you know yourself and see what’s right about you, rather than what’s ‘wrong’? I will.
I believe that all forms of therapy, counselling and coaching need personal awareness. Without seeing, observing and understanding our thoughts, feelings and actions, no approach is likely to be successful.
Many therapies aim to eliminate or reduce something perceived as a ‘problem’. Nothing wrong with that of course, but sometimes we actually want to look at how to make our lives happier, more joyful or peaceful and lighter. We want to make our hearts and souls sing. So I like to help with both – the challenges that need resolving and building a life that works for you.
Our life circumstances are made of two elements:
- how we respond to the actions of others or the things life presents to us,
- the conscious choices we make and actions we take.
We are experiencing the consequences of decisions and responses made 5, 10 or even 30 years ago. Similarly, how our life looks in a few years will be based on the responses and decisions we make now. This is where mindfulness and understanding our thinking patterns helps as we can get a better grasp of what we do and the consequences of it.
Seeing the world in different ways and thinking flexibly means we can navigate the world better. We can make decisions that help bring more happiness, less unhappiness and ultimately more satisfaction and peace. If we do less of what makes us unhappy and more of what does make us happy there can be only one possible outcome; a more peaceful, happier life.
Contact Details
I can provide therapy from my premises in Shavington (between Crewe and Nantwich), online using Zoom, or email counselling and have good availability including daytimes, evenings and weekends. I also offer flexibility around session times and lengths.
You can get in touch using the form below or my contact details.
My Journey of Finding Peace
I’ve always been drawn towards writing and journalling and found it a big help in my own journey. I’ve written a book about my experiences but it also contains guidance on ways to live and thinking patterns. Creating it has helped me and reading it may also help you too.