Counselling in Basingstoke & Online : A Down-to-Earth Approach
If you are looking for a classic, passive therapist who sits in virtual silence, nods every few minutes, and just asks “how does that feel?” – I am not the right fit for you.
My approach to counselling is transparent, honest, and absolutely real. There is no fluff and no predictable therapy clichés but make no mistake: I am entirely on your side. At the core of my practice is a complete professional dedication to getting you where you want to be.
You don’t need to put on a brave face or hold anything back. Whether you’re angry, sad, overwhelmed, broken or exhausted, this is where you can let it out without having to worry how it looks. Clients book a session with me because they’re exhausted by constantly editing what they say, managing everyone else’s reactions, or feeling like a constant source of worry to the people closest to them.
The Reality of Therapy: How We Actually Work
Therapy isn’t about wallowing in problems; it’s about figuring out what’s actually going on beneath the surface. We look at what’s got you to this position in life, why you might be staying and where you want to go.
Whether you’re trapped in a frustrating rut or dealing with something brutal like grief or illness, the goal is the same: to give you a place to process the weight of all that and find your bearings amongst it.
Getting Started: What to Expect
Our starting point is figuring out exactly what has brought you through the door, what you need right now and whether we are the right fit to work together. From there, the focus is on raising your levels of self-awareness, examining the choices you make, and deciding how you want to be in the future.
To see a bit more about me and see who you’ll be working with, take a look at Simon Cook.
You don’t need to have ever stepped foot in a gym to work with me but alongside my general practice I also focus on a group of people who are often completely misunderstood by traditional therapy: people who are into sport, fitness, exercise, gym enthusiasts, runners and athletes – Sports Counselling.
I exercise myself, so I know firsthand that keeping active is a massive part of maintaining your sanity and mental clarity. But I also look at how fitness and life naturally affect each other.
- When the Exercise Stops Working: When you realise you can’t just run away from things anymore, it’s about shifting focus. The gym is a great tool but our work is to make the rest of your life function just as well as your training, so you can enjoy both.
- Using What You Already Know: Taking the focus and consistency you already use to hit your goals in your exercise and figuring out how to channel that same discipline into sorting out your thoughts and feelings.
- The Outside vs. Inside Split: The reality of looking strong, fit and completely on top of things to the rest of the world but dealing with stress, anxiety and relationship issues at home and work.
- When the Exercise Stops Working: When you realise you can’t just run away from things anymore, it’s about shifting focus. The gym is a great tool but our work is to make the rest of your life function just as well as your training, so you can enjoy both.
I am not a sports performance coach – that’s something different. I am not here to tweak your gym metrics or coach you on winning a competition. As a counsellor, I am here to help you sort out your head so the rest of your life works properly – and when you get your head straight, you’ll be in a better place to focus on your training and performance.