Psychotherapy in Hampshire & Dorset

 

Psychotherapy & Counselling for Individuals and Couples

About me

I am a BACP Accredited Counsellor / Psychotherapist as well as being registered on the United Kingdom Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists. I have been a practising psychotherapist since 2005.  My practice is based in three locations and these are The Romney Centre, Southampton, Hampshire and in Dorset within Oracle Psychotherapy at the Wimborne Therapy Centre and at The Zen Zone, 2a Davis Road, Parkstone, Poole.

About Psychotherapy and Counselling

This may be the first time you are considering entering into counselling or psychotherapy and you may have a number of questions. Hopefully these will be answered as you look through this website but please get in contact if there is anything else you would like to know. Alternatively the BACP website and the UKCP website have excellent information about therapeutic models and information on how to find the right therapist for you.

I work with individuals and couples offering psychotherapy and counselling on an open-ended basis or for a time limited period and I am committed to providing counselling and psychotherapy in a safe, confidential and non-judgemental environment. My practice is informed by psychoanalysis, phenomenology and existential theory.

I have experience of working with clients with many problem areas in their life. Some of these are as follows: 

  • Stress
  • Depression
  • Anxiety / Panic Attacks
  • Bereavement / loss
  • Abuse
  • Self confidence
  • Redundancy
  • Pregnancy
  • Termination issues
  • Relationship difficulties
  • HIV+ / AIDS
  • Terminal illness
  • Sexuality related issues
  • Bullying

For me existential psychotherapy is not just about coming to therapy to work through a particular problem or issue.  I work in a way that explores what your experience of Being is.  I aim to provide a space to explore your world in order to enable a clearer understanding of why you make the decisions and choices you make in life.  Therapy is a conversation but it is not just a conversation.  It is a conversation where you reflect on where you are in your life without my telling you what you should do.  I may offer suggestions to try and offer new ways of looking at your experiences but this is not an attempt to get you to change your thoughts, merely it is an attempt to find the many possible interpretations of what has happened or is happening in your life.  This will hopefully bring new possibilities to light and offer new paths to 'try out'.

Within this way of working there are moments of sadness and despair but also moments of laughter and joy.  I hope that being in therapy with me will enable you to have a clearer understanding of who you are which may enable you to live a more informed life. A life where you are more comfortable being yourself.

Locations

As well as the locations listed below I am prepared to conduct a therapy session at a venue of your choice.  I do not offer home visits but it may be that you have a favourite place to be when reflecting on life.  Alternatively you may feel that it would be useful to have a therapy session in a particular location that has a memory or connection for you.  For example, you may be grieving for a loved one who has died and a significant date may be coming up so you may like to have the therapy session in a place that is important for you at such a time.  My approach to existential psychotherapy is to be along side you as you explore the difficulties that are present in your life and so hopefully find a way to become aware of new or different possibilities to the ones that may be present in your life.

It is important when considering therapy sessions in a particular location that the space is still confidential and you cannot be overheard by a member of the public who may be visiting the same space. Some suggestions for locations are as follows:

  • In a particular park or public garden
  • On a bench by the sea / water
  • By a relatives graveside
  • Walking along a favourite path
  • Any significant place for you
  • Locations / situations that may cause you difficulties

 

See Me Online »

Southampton, Hampshire (Mondays)

My practice in Southampton is based at the Romney Centre, conveniently located on The Avenue.  The Romney Centre is centrally located in Southampton and there is good on street parking availability nearby which is free for up to two hours.  The address for the Romney Centre is 61 The Avenue, Southampton SO17 1XS.

Being based on The Avenue means that the Centre is located just a short walk from Southampton train station and is served by a regular bus service.  I am also within easy reach of colleges and universities within the city.  For a map of the location and surrounding area please see my 'locations and fees' page of this website.

Parkstone, Poole. (Wednesdays)

My practice in Poole is located at The Zen Zone, 2a Davis Road, Parkstone, Poole.  Being based at the Zen Zone means my consulting room is easily accessible as it is situated between Poole and Bournemouth Town centres.  It is just off a main bus route between Bournemouth and Poole and Branksome train station is only a 10 minute walk.

Having the use of such a conveniently situated counselling room means I am easily accessible by public transport as well as for people travelling by car.  Branksome is on the main railway line between Weymouth and London Waterloo so it is easy to get to me at the Zen Zone from Brockenhurst to Wareham and beyond. 

For a map of the location and surrounding area for my practice based in Parkstone please see my 'locations and fees' page on this website.

Wimborne, Dorset (Tuesdays & Fridays)

I have a consulting room at the Wimborne Therapy Centre in Dorset which means my practice is within reach of Bournemouth, Poole, Ferndown, Corfe Mullen, Bearwood, Broadstone, Lychett Matravers, Christchurch, Dorchester, Ringwood, Swanage, Wareham and Wimborne Minster. For Wimborne Therapy Centre's address details please click here to visit the Wimborne Therapy Centre website. The therapy centre is a short walk from Wimborne Square and the main bus stops for the town.

A map detailing the location and surroundings of the Wimborne Therapy Centre can be found on the 'Locations and Fees' page of this website.
 

Making contact

To arrange an initial appointment please contact me on 01202 808798, 07968 622585 or email kevinmartin1@live.co.uk.

In order to promote your confidentiality and to promote a safe space to explore your issues I ask that you do not arrive early for you appointment as there is no suitable waiting area. 

If you telephone me you may need to leave an answerphone message but if you leave contact details I will ensure your confidentiality is maintained when returning your call. Please let me know how to introduce myself if someone else should answer. For example just to give my first name or no name at all.

Please visit my listing on the Holistic Hub.

 

Registered with Counselling Directory