Tony Palmer Counselling Services

Welcome to Tony Palmer Counselling Services

"My lifelong belief is that an individual’s personal growth is continuous and contributes directly to the richness and quality of their relationships at home and at work."

Hello, I'm a qualified person-centred therapist and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

Most of my 40 plus year working career has been in Information Technology and Senior Executive Management in a corporate environment where I trained in staff mentoring and coaching. I also took my coaching expertise into sports and achieved my FA Level 2 Football qualification.

My lifelong interest in people and their behaviour led me to explore psychology and start an open university psychology degree which I was unable to complete because of personal issues. I, however, had the opportunity to reboot my interest by studying and qualifying for my CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling.

I've been practising as a person-centred therapist since 2022, working across various issues. It's such a rewarding experience working with clients and witnessing their growth and recognising the change within them.

My extensive experience in business and my Masters in Business Administration (Elective Module in Leadership) puts me in great position to offer coaching for business, career, executive, leadership and personal development.

Starting therapy can feel daunting...

But there are times when we all feel we can no longer cope with life's challenges - and need to reach out for help is normal. As a qualified person-centred therapist with an integrative approach, I can work with you across many issues in an environment where you can feel valued and heard. Every person has untapped potential and the capacity to grow, so change occurs when you are ready.

I will support you through your journey to help you reach your own decisions and outcomes in a non-judgemental space. You are entirely accepted and appreciated, and you can share and explore aspects of yourself in a safe and secure environment. You'll develop concepts such as deeper self-awareness and self-acceptance to make choices that are ultimately true to yourself.

Person-centred therapy, also known as client-centred therapy, focuses on maximising your ability to find your solutions with the right amount of support from me. It is a humanistic and non-directive approach that requires you to actively take the lead during each therapy session.

Using an integrative approach at times, drawing upon different modalities to suit your individual needs, I act mainly as your guide and source of support. I offer short and long-term online sessions for individuals, couples and families.

Common difficulties that can be supported through counselling:

Anxiety, Anger Management, Loss, Relationship, Bereavement, Bullying, Depression, Personal Development, Self-esteem, Loneliness, Mentoring, Identity Issues, Life Coaching, Cultural Issues, Stress, Social Anxiety, Trauma, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Abuse and Couples Counselling.

How client-centred therapy was developed:

In the 1930s, American psychologist Carl Rogers developed client-centred therapy to serve as a contrast to the practice of psychoanalysis, which was widespread at the time. Rogers believed that no other person's ideas could be as valid as one's individual experience. Exploring these experiences in a supportive, non-judgmental environment is necessary to achieve a positive therapy experience.

The benefits of Person-Centered Therapy:

The theory behind this therapy is that it centres you more positively and inclusively, providing deeper insight into your complex or challenging situation while maximising your ability to resolve it independently. This type of humanistic therapy supports a therapeutic process that encourages positive change within you.

How Does Person-Centred Therapy Work?

Person-centred therapy requires the therapist to focus on your needs. Rather than giving an in-depth analysis of your difficulties, the person-centred therapist listens to you in a safe and confidential environment so that you can make decisions independently. As your person-centred therapist, I accept you fully - without judgement in what is known in this field as 'unconditional positive regard.'

Person-centred therapy requires me to understand how the world works from your point of view. I may ask questions for clarification and bring empathy to each therapy session. Person-centred therapy helps you get rid of the idea or feeling that external factors beyond your control are influencing you. The goals of this practice include increasing self-awareness, improving your ability to use self-direction to make desired changes, increasing clarity, improving self-esteem, and boosting self-reliance.

The person-centred approach to counselling includes a set of fundamental principles or conditions that person-centred therapists closely follow. These principles help therapists understand your life experiences from your point of view. A vital component of the person-centred approach is that the therapist does not act as an expert on your life but instead supports and motivates you towards your potential for personal development and change.

Empathy is an essential part of the person-centred approach. Empathy is the ability of one person to understand and respect another person's life experiences, feelings and choices. Through empathy, person-centred therapists maintain an unconditional positive regard for their clients, and effective therapy takes place within this critical framework of empathy and acceptance.

Person-centred therapy focuses on the present rather than the past and encourages you to think about what's going on emotionally and psychologically.
The person-centred approach trusts in your capacity for self-development and self-fulfilment.
The person-centred approach encourages self-awareness, authenticity, honesty, self-acceptance and self-trust.
The person-centred approach is less formal and less structured than other therapy types.
The person-centred approach allows you to set goals and move at your own pace.

Genuineness: Open communication between the person-centred approach therapist and you is established where sharing feelings and being engaged in honest conversations takes place.

Unconditional positive regard: Person-centred therapists create a climate of unconditional positive regard, where you are free to express your thoughts and feelings without fear of judgement.

Empathetic understanding: Empathy is a crucial quality in person-centred therapy. It fosters a positive relationship between me as your therapist and you - it represents a mirror that reflects your thoughts and emotions to help you gain more insight into the challenges or difficulties you face.

Another key feature of the person-centred approach is the notion of self, also known as the self-concept. The self-concept is essential to your total life experience and influences how you view yourself and the world around you. With person-centred therapy, you receive genuine support that helps you develop a more positive view of yourself.

How our online counselling

sessions will work:

I am based in London, but all sessions are held online. With online video counselling, you can choose the best time and place for you, so it offers the ultimate convenience.

You are sent a Zoom link to log in before the session starts. Find a quiet space to be reflective, uninterrupted and comfortable with good internet connection.

Arranging an initial (free) assessment:

We will agree on a day and time, then have an initial 20-minute free assessment. It's an excellent opportunity for you to ask me questions, too.

If we decide to work together we will arrange another time for your first online session. In this session we cover confidentiality and the contract of agreement on how we will work together.

Payment and cancellations:

Fees/Payment: My fee is £65 per hour. Please pay via BACS bank transfer before the start of your next session.

Cancellation: You must cancel your session within 24 hours of your appointment, or full charges are applied for non-attendance.

To book an appointment, call 07520 640933 or email admin@tonypalmercounselling.com.

Frequently asked questions

In addition to practising unconditional positive regard, genuineness, and empathic understanding, a person-centred therapist can help you achieve positive results from therapy sessions by employing the following techniques:

Boundaries — Setting clear boundaries to maintain a healthy and appropriate relationship, such as ruling out specific topics of conversation and making it clear how long each session will last.
Personal experiences — Remember that you are the expert on personal experiences.
Active listening — Listening actively to you and helping you work through your thoughts helps clarify your point of view, even to yourself.
Positive tone — Maintaining a positive tone of voice encourages you to communicate openly; knowing when to slow down the pace of the conversation or take short pauses can be helpful.

For most people, person-centred therapy is effective. The core conditions of the person-centred approach to therapy make it one of the most popular forms of therapy. It is often seen as a gentler approach to therapy and less formal than other types of therapy, where progress in person-centred counselling results from the unique relationship between you and the therapist. This healthy relationship is built on trust over time.

Through being non-judgmental, open and approachable, person-centred therapists can form warm and supportive relationships with clients in a private and confidential setting. Person-centred therapy sessions are conducted in a safe and conducive environment. The focus is mainly on the present rather than dwelling solely on the past and is an effective tool for managing challenging situations.

The non-directive nature of person-centred therapy encourages you to be less dependent on the therapist for answers. You become more self-aware and learn to understand yourself better. This unique, private therapeutic relationship enables personal development and change.

In person-centred therapy, the focus is on the person, not the problem. The goal is for you to achieve greater independence and self-sufficiency, enabling you to cope better with current and future issues.

Our relationship is vital in our work. To help develop a therapeutic relationship of trust, I will provide you with a safe, non-judgemental space where you can feel comfortable bringing up your difficulties and expressing your feelings. If you can explore complex thoughts and feelings in session, you may experience how life would be outside of therapy. If you feel heard and understood, you may feel more confident and empowered to move forward in life.

Each of us is a unique individual with different experiences and difficulties. I offer short-term and long-term work that can be open-ended, too. Most sessions start weekly or fortnightly to build momentum, enabling you to make gradual and steady progress towards your goals. Each session builds on the last, so keeping sessions frequent enables you to progress more quickly. We agree on a convenient time and day for each session with flexibility on appointments. Throughout the process, we work together to discuss your likely requirements.

No. You are free to access counselling whenever you need extra support. Please get in touch with me directly. To book an appointment, call 07764 350292 or email admin@tonypalmercounselling.com.

Everyone deserves support, especially when life becomes challenging and overwhelming. When you feel you're struggling and can no longer cope or move forward, you need to ask for help. Counselling is a gentle process where we work collaboratively at a comfortable pace for you with complete confidentiality.

It is common to feel a range of emotions during counselling sessions, which may continue after your sessions finish. You may feel relieved to talk openly and feel heard or understood. Sometimes, you may feel upset if a session has brought up painful or difficult memories. Try to create some downtime for yourself after each counselling session for some quiet reflection.

Couples Counselling
Business Coaching
Career Coaching
Executive Coaching
Leadership Coaching
Personal Development

Please contact me to discuss your needs for these services.

Get in touch

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how person-centred therapy works, or to arrange an initial assessment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to therapy and whether it could be helpful for you. You can also call me on 07520 640933 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first.

All enquires are usually answered within 24 hours, and all contact is strictly confidential.

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