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About Me

I've worked in the higher education sector for over 20 years supporting young adults. I began training as a therapist after deciding to seek therapy myself 18 years ago. I felt unhappy and lost in my life, anxious and low in confidence. Therapy was hugely supportive and transformative for me. I knew it helped me grow as a person and I became interested in training as a therapist. I continue to be committed to developing as a person and in my therapy training. 
I provide a warm, non-judgemental and supportive presence to clients.
As a registered member of the United Kingdom Council of Psychotherapy (UKCP) and Accredited Registrant with the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS), I abide by their respective ethical codes of practice. Being registered is an assurance to you that I meet a minimum standard for safe and ethical practice. I am able to offer the reassurance of having an up to date enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check in place, which helps prevent unsuitable professionals from working with vulnerable people. I also have Professional Indemnity Insurance. 
 
I have experience of working with a range of issues. (please see the FAQ section for further details and for other helpful information on the service I provide) 

Matthew Lee BSc (Hons), Cert. Couns., UKCP Gestalt Psychotherapist
 
Training, Qualifications & Experience: 

  • Advanced Diploma in Gestalt Psychotherapy (Masters level, passed with Distinction) Welsh Psychotherapy Institute (WPI), Cardiff, 2023

  • Also 3 prior years of post-graduate study completed on MSc Gestalt Psychotherapy programme, Metanoia, London (2009 - 2012) 

  • Certificate in Humanistic Counselling Skills, The Gestalt Centre, London (2009) 

  • Working as a counsellor since 2011 at Coping with Cancer, Leicester and at Cedar Counselling, Birmingham and in private practice 

  • Over 2000 hours one-to-one experience in working with clients 

  • Visiting speaker on MSc Health Psychology programme at Coventry University delivering workshops in Key Skills in Gestalt Counselling & Psychotherapy 

  • Have completed Developmental Somatic Psychotherapy training in London and 'The Living Body in Gestalt' with Julianne Appel-Opper in Birmingham. Julianne is world renowned in the field of embodied Gestalt Psychotherapy 

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Professional memberships:

  • National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS) Accredited Registrant Member

  • UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy) Registered Member 

  • UKAGP (UK Association for Gestalt Practitioners) 

  • WPI (Welsh Psychotherapy Institute)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do you work with clients and what is gestalt?

Gestalt therapy involves a one-to-one relationship and not a collection of techniques and methods which are practised on a person or which have to be learnt and taken home by the client to implement. 

With the focus on developing awareness, it is a ‘here and now’ therapy, with an emphasis on what happens at the present moment in the therapy room.  It gives you the client, the opportunity to understand more fully your current situation and who you are as a person. Our relationship is at the heart of the work, i.e. how we relate to one another. By exploring your experience – your thinking, feelings and emotions, I pay attention to my own experience when I am with you too and use it to inform what may be going on between us.  By relating in this manner, patterns of your behaviour and how you are in the world become clearer. These can then be addressed and explored more deeply, and through this process possibilities to bring about change can then become clearer. 

What is the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?

You may have noticed that both terms are often used interchangeably. Both are intended to support you and they have similarities between them.  The work I do as a counsellor tends to be based on particular issues and/or challenging life events e.g. bereavement. My training as a therapist allows me to work with deeper emotional issues and how long-standing behavioural patterns can be a part of current difficulties experienced. 
 
Through discussion and research, the UK Government has moved toward defining Psychotherapy as a profession that requires a post-graduate qualification and Counselling as requiring a standard degree level of qualification. My psychotherapy training was to a post-graduate level.

What issues are you able to help with?

Abuse
Addiction - e.g. pornography, gambling, internet
Adoption
Anger management
Anxiety
Bereavement
Bullying
Cancer support
Career issues
Depression
Dissociation 
Domestic violence
Eating disorders
Emotional abuse
Family issues
Feeling lost
Gender dysphoria (GD)/ gender identity disorder (GID)
Generalised anxiety disorder
Help with self-development/personal growth
Loneliness
Low self-confidence
Low self-esteem
Obsessive compulsive disorder
Panic disorder
Passive aggressive behaviour
Phobias 
Physical abuse 
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 
Pregnancy, Abortion, postnatal depression
Redundancy 
Relationship issues
Sadness
Self-harm
Separation and divorce
Sexual abuse
Sexuality
Spirituality
Stress
Suicidal thoughts, suicidal ideation
Trauma
Work related stress

If what you may be struggling with is not listed, please feel free to contact me to further discuss your needs.

How often do I need to attend and how long will it take?

Our sessions together are 50 minutes long, normally on a weekly basis, on the same day and time where possible. This has been shown to be beneficial for establishing a good working relationship and supporting change. 
Some clients come for therapy for fixed periods of time – say 6 -12 sessions – and others prefer open-ended ‘contracts’ where they have a space for as long as they need. We can discuss this when we first meet. 

Are our sessions confidential?

Yes the content of the sessions is confidential but there are some exceptions to this which mainly revolve around you, or someone else being at risk of serious harm or in the case of serious criminal offences. Should I feel circumstances are such that I need to break confidentiality I will always aim to discuss this with you first. 
All psychotherapists are required by the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) to attend regular supervision. This is to allow me to reflect on how I work. My supervision sessions are also fully confidential. Please feel free to ask me about this when we meet.  

How much will it cost and how do I pay?

Each session costs £60. I currently accept cash or payment by bank transfer (BACS).  

What if it isn't for me?

You may realise after starting counselling that it’s not for you. This could be due to a variety of reasons. You can stop your sessions any time you want although it may be helpful for both of us and our work together if we can discuss this first.

Is your counselling room wheelchair accessible?

Unfortunately my office is located on the 3rd floor at Digbeth Court and is not wheelchair accessible.

FAQ
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