Hi, I’m Owen.
I offer integrative therapy, which means I can draw on different ways of working rather than expecting you to fit one particular approach. We can start with whatever has brought you through the door — perhaps anxiety, low self-worth, self-doubt, relationship patterns, grief, or simply a sense that something isn’t working — and work out together what feels important, what you’d like to be different and what might actually help.
I’m interested in how people come to see themselves the way they do, the expectations they learn to live by and what happens when those expectations begin to crowd out their own needs or choices. Our work can be a chance to notice those patterns as they happen, question what no longer fits and begin experimenting with different ways of responding — with more room for your own needs, choices and sense of self.
What brought me to this work
For much of my adult life, I worked as a professional poker player and later as a coach. It was a world shaped by uncertainty, pressure and constant decision-making, and it sparked an early interest in confidence, self-doubt and what happens when a great deal feels at stake.
What really changed things for me was becoming curious about my own inner life. Reading How Emotions Are Made by Lisa Feldman Barrett gave me a different way of understanding myself. I started to recognise that things I had thought of simply as part of my personality — overthinking, negative self-talk, people-pleasing and pushing down my own feelings and needs — made more sense when I looked at them in the context of my own experiences.
Through my own therapy, I began to see these patterns more clearly and, just as importantly, to experience that I could respond differently. Some had once helped me feel safe or connected, but I gradually realised that I did not have to keep relating to myself and other people in the same way.
That experience led me to train as a psychotherapeutic counsellor at the Northern Guild. What continues to draw me to this work is seeing what can shift when someone relates to themselves with more compassion and has more choice about what happens next.
Beyond the therapy room
Away from work, much of my time is spent with my wife and our two daughters. We live in Northumberland, and being outdoors, whether walking, exploring somewhere new or simply getting some fresh air, is an important part of our family life.
I also enjoy reading, football and badminton. After many years in a world focused on performance and results, I’ve come to value the quieter, more ordinary parts of life: time with the people I care about, being outdoors and having space to slow down.
Training and professional background
My training gives the work a clear professional foundation, while ongoing supervision and professional development help me keep reflecting on and developing my practice.
Professional registration
I’m a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP 415196) and work within its Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions.
Training
I hold a Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling from the Northern Guild and am continuing my training through its Diploma in Psychotherapy. My approach is integrative, with Transactional Analysis as an important influence.
Ongoing practice
I attend regular clinical supervision and continue developing my practice through further training and professional development. This supports me to reflect carefully on my work and the needs of each person I meet.
See if working together feels right
You’re welcome to request a free 15-minute introductory call. It’s a chance to ask any questions, tell me a little about what has brought you to therapy, and get a sense of whether I might be the right therapist for you. There is no pressure to continue afterwards.