Rate Garon Sheppard

Welcome, I’m Garon.

Reaching out for counselling can feel like a big step, especially when you’ve been trying to manage things on your own for a long time.

You may be dealing with anxiety, low mood, grief, relationship difficulties, addiction or recovery, anger, low self-esteem, stress, or simply feeling overwhelmed by where life has taken you.

You don’t need to have everything worked out before coming to counselling. Sometimes the starting point is simply being able to say, “Things aren’t okay at the moment, and I need somewhere to talk.”

I’m an **Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counsellor** with 9 years of counselling experience and around 16 years of experience working across addiction, homelessness, housing and social care.

At the heart of my work is the belief that you are a person, not a diagnosis or a label**.

My approach is warm, grounded, honest and non-judgemental. I want counselling to be somewhere you can take off the mask, speak openly about what is really happening and be met as the person you are — without judgement and without feeling that you have to pretend everything is fine.

I work from a **Person-Centred and integrative foundation**, drawing where appropriate on **CBT- and DBT-informed approaches, mindfulness, psychoeducation and practical therapeutic tools**. Rather than expecting you to fit a particular model of therapy, I adapt the work to you and what you need.

Sometimes that means having the space to talk, reflect and genuinely feel heard. At other times, we might explore patterns in your thoughts, emotions, behaviours or relationships and look at practical ways of helping you move forward.

My experience includes supporting people with:

* Anxiety and low mood

* Grief, bereavement and loss

* Addiction and recovery

* Relationship difficulties

* Anger and emotional regulation

* Low self-esteem and confidence

* Stress and overwhelm

* Attachment and relationship patterns

* Difficult life experiences and their emotional impact

* Men’s mental health

* Life changes, identity and personal development

I have a particular interest in **men’s mental health**, while welcoming people from all backgrounds.

I also bring lived experience of significant challenges in life. Those experiences can inform my empathy and understanding, but **your story is not my story**. I won’t assume that because I may understand aspects of struggle, I automatically know what something feels like for you. Your experiences, choices and understanding of your life remain at the centre of our work.

I am an **Qualified Registrant with the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (MNCPS Acc.)** and work within its professional and ethical framework.

Most importantly, I don’t believe the most difficult chapters of your life have to become the definition of who you are.

**You are more than your anxiety. More than your grief. More than your mistakes, struggles or difficult experiences.**

If you’re ready to take that first step, **I’m here to listen, without judgement, and we can begin from wherever you are.**