Group therapy

​I have found that a traumatic event can often spill into many other parts of life.  Often, the clients I have worked with have experienced life events that have led to anxiety, feeling on edge, depression, irregular sleep patterns, low self-esteem, grief, inner conflict, self-harm, substance misuse, feelings of grief, poor relationships, dis-regulation and self-blame.  I have worked with people whose reality has been complicated by experiencing the world through a neurodiverse lens, and others who felt their identity was diminished by their social environments, when society had seemed to prescribe a way of being that did not fit with who they were inside. 

I work in a person-centred way, which means ​I do not see emotional distress as a medical issue, though you may be considering working with me to complement prescribed treatment.  I believe our personal response to trauma is all relative in the context of our own lives, and we cannot measure or assume how a person should respond.  So I work with the cause, not the symptom.  I seek to understand your experiences from your perspective.  I have no expectations for who you ought to be or judgments over who you are - I invite you to just be yourself. 

I work on the basis that issues often arise when we have been exposed to difficult or unsuitable environments.  I think that when conditions are hostile or do not meet our needs, we can lose sight of what we're capable of, what we deserve, and available opportunities.  When this happens, it might be overwhelming or make us feel like giving up. 

Just as we would not expect a plant to grow if it were starved of light, food and water; people cannot thrive if they do not have their practical, safety, love or recognition needs met. 

In aspects of life where you might feel dis-empowered, I can support you in navigating your path. Through working together in a relational way,  I believe you can change and live an easier and more fulfilling life.  The value of being fully and open and honest with an impartial individual cannot be underestimated.

My name is Tony Matthews, and I am the lead therapist/supervisor and Director of Toad Counselling Ltd.

At Toad Counselling we have two fully qualified therapists who work with children and young people, adults, couples/relationships and family issues. We also have a small team of students who can deal with many different issues around mental health, anxiety, depression, family problems, bereavements, bullying or even career/life changes, and much more.

We also offer Clinical Supervision

For a long time I believed in keeping emotions and feelings to myself because that's what I was taught to do, and if you cried, you were not considered a man. I have learned to let go and share the way I feel, and yes, I cry too, and without feeling ashamed.