Mark Esward

I qualified as a person centred therapist in 2023, gaining my PGDip Counselling and Psychotherapy from Salford University. This is a BACP accredited course with a focus on Person Centred Therapy (PCT), which you can find more about here.

I was pleased to be invited by Yorkshire Psychotherapy Ltd to work with them to offer support to clients with neurodiversity, whether formally diagnosed or not. A significant number of my past and current clients are neurodivergent, and my work emphasises understanding that present day experiences and challenges often have multiple underlying influences. With that in mind I also work with clients experiencing anxiety, depression, substance misuse, bereavement and loss, psychosis, suicidal ideation, low self esteem and terminal diagnoses amongst others.

In addition I have more than 10 years experience working within the NHS in the intensive care setting, which I still practice from time to time. Like many counsellors this is not my first career and that experience of working in a high pressure, fast paced environment has given me a great deal of perspective and insight into how humans operate. We are complex and one size does not fit all, my counselling style aims to see the individual first and foremost, it is that uniqueness which makes us human.

What does therapy look like with me?

Some clients need a space to share their experiences, to vent about work or offload the pressures life brings, others need help with self esteem or feelings of loss and bereavement. Some have traumatic and life changing events to carefully unpick, gaining understanding as we go along. Whatever it is that brings you to counselling, we can take the journey together, at your pace and on your terms.

Everyone’s experience of counselling is different but I hope you will:

• Feel listened to and heard
• Feel safe and able to share your experiences
• Feel that you are not judged
• Feel that you are understood and valued

I am happy to work with anyone over the age of 16, with any diagnosis or issue. All I ask in return is that you try to keep an open mind and genuinely want change and growth.

How many sessions will I need?

This too, is an individual thing, an open conversation that we will re-evaluate as we progress along your journey. As a starting point I suggest 6 weekly sessions and then we can decide together how to proceed.

I understand that face to face counselling can be difficult for some people. Building trust in the relationship is important so I offer online therapy if you need it.