Graham Mason Counsellor
Welcome
Taking the first step towards counselling can feel difficult. Simply deciding to look for support can take courage, so if you have found your way to my website, you have already taken an important first step.
I am a counsellor and psychotherapist practising primarily in Cardiff and South Wales. I am an Accredited Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and an Accredited Professional Member of the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS).
Throughout my experience as a therapist, I have worked with clients of different ages, backgrounds and life experiences, supporting people through a wide range of emotional and psychological difficulties.
How I Can Help
My role is not to tell you how to live your life or to make decisions for you. Instead, I offer a supportive, confidential space where you can talk openly about what is happening in your life, explore your thoughts and feelings, and begin to understand yourself and your experiences more fully.
Together, we can look at where change may be possible and where acceptance may help you move forward. Therapy can provide an opportunity to develop a greater sense of balance, understanding and choice in your life.
I believe that change is always possible when the right conditions are created for it to develop and become established. Central to my work is providing a therapeutic environment in which you feel safe, valued, accepted and treated with compassion.
My Approach to Counselling
I am a systemically trained counsellor, which means I pay particular attention to what is happening in your life now and to the relationships, circumstances and experiences that may be influencing how you think, feel and respond.
I am particularly interested in the impact of relationships on our lives. This can include relationships and experiences from childhood and earlier stages of life, as well as the people around you today. Those relationships can have a powerful influence—both positive and negative—on how you see yourself, how you relate to others and the decisions you make.
The relationship we develop together as counsellor and client is also an important part of the therapeutic process. I aim to create a relationship built on trust, respect, openness and compassion, allowing you to explore difficult or sensitive issues at a pace that feels right for you.
An Integrative Way of Working
My approach is described as integrative, meaning that I draw upon a range of counselling and psychotherapy theories and techniques rather than following one approach for every client.
My work is informed particularly by:
- Person-Centred Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Systemic Therapy and Counselling
This allows me to adapt the way we work together according to your individual circumstances, needs and preferences. There is no single approach that is right for everyone, and I believe therapy should recognise you as an individual rather than trying to fit you into a particular model.
Trauma
I have a particular professional interest in working with trauma and in understanding how difficult, distressing or overwhelming experiences can continue to affect the way we feel, think, behave and relate to others.
When working with trauma, creating a sense of emotional safety is especially important. My aim is to provide a confidential and compassionate environment in which difficult experiences can be explored sensitively and without judgement.
We will work at a pace appropriate for you, with the aim of helping you develop greater understanding, stability and choice in how you respond to the experiences affecting your life.
Taking the Next Step
Making the decision to seek counselling is often one of the hardest parts of the process. You have already taken that first step by looking for support.
If you feel that I may be the right counsellor for you, the next step is simply to get in touch. We can discuss what has brought you to counselling, what you would like help with and whether working together feels right for you.
With appropriate support, a strong therapeutic relationship and your own commitment to the process, counselling can create the conditions for meaningful and lasting change.
Employee Assistance Programmes and Bupa
I work with a number of Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) and also accept clients through Bupa Health Insurance.
My Bupa practitioner profile can be accessed using the link provided below.
