CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

Before I came to Chris I was suffering heavily with CPTSD and was self medicating with alcohol. I was extremely co-dependant with a history of abusive relationships, whether that be family, friends or romantic. Chris was extremely patience and took the time needed to gain my trust. Every week Chris was able to access my emotional and mental state and was able to shape our sessions to suit. This took an incredible amount of awareness and skill on his part. Not once did Chris falter or let me down. I was provided with the stability and help that I needed. I am now happy to say that because of our sessions my PTSD symptoms are minor in comparison to what they were. I am now able to hold down an education and my hobbies. I no longer have toxic people in my life and am in a stable romantic relationship.  I will forever be grateful to Chris for the help and support he provided, I was not living before the sessions. My whole life, I had been surviving and everyday was hard. I know feel I am living the life I always should have. Chris helped me to cross the bridge from surviving to thriving Gemma, Canterbury 2021.

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I’ve had a few councillors and therapists in the past but none that i felt that i could stick with. Chris has been the first where I’ve genuinely been excited to have sessions. I always feel a weight lifted afterwards and feel as if I can discuss anything I need to with him without any judgement. Although I don’t have regular sessions currently, I feel comfort in knowing I can rely on him for a session or online advice if I need to. Since having sessions I feel as if I have a much better understanding of myself and my relationships which has really helped me. Miss E.E. 2021

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Chris made me feel alive again and helped my connect with my senses, he has a real spiritual side, over a few months he helped straighten my thinking in a methodical way that allowed me to move forward with my life, I see Chris as a very motivating and inspiring person, I felt that Chris was completely compassionate, if you let him he really goes deep into your history to help rewire your thinking patterns and old habits that could be stuck from childhood or past traumas, I got to a point in life where I was stuck in the corner with no way out, I realised education was key and I needed a professional to help me change. Chris is more than a professional he is a philosopher and a very intelligent educated man, after many family troubles and self-doubts Chris helped me flip these problems into positives and stood by me while he’s energy helped me manifest a great future that has unfolded since talking to him, he was able to rewire my thinking and restart my optimism about myself and life in general. Chris is very honest but does allow you to choose a level in which you feel comfortable to talk as in he will dig deep but at your pace whilst supporting you every step of the way, the best thing about Chris is that you can feel he truly cares about people and is one of those people that will help change and shape the world to be a better place while sharing he’s success and findings with you totally from he’s heart along the way, as a conclusion: if you’re looking for someone who understands the brain and human behavioural patterns from decades of education and expertise while having amazing techniques that change your life Chris is the man I recommend, mental wellbeing is key and this man has dedicated he’s life to helping people in need, don’t miss out on him because he’s rare, I have tried to talk to many people in my life and I can happily say Chris was the best professional I have come across and has changed my life, I class Chris as a healer and a real god send.  Mr. R. Smith Nov, 2021

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‘I had a few sessions with Chris following separation from my husband. Having never had counselling before I was unsure what to expect but Chris was friendly and approachable making it easy to talk to him. His insights into my relationship issues were quick and very accurate. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him to anyone.’ Ms. N - South Canterbury May, 2022

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As promised, I wanted to send you a quick testimony following our sessions together.  When I first saw Chris, I was in a very difficult place. I’d had a significant health scare and as a result was suffering from quite severe anxiety. I had completely lost my confidence and was struggling to be the person I thought I was. My time with Chris has helped me to understand why I responded the way I did to this incident. I still have the same thoughts and feelings but the understanding I now have enables me to manage them in a positive way. I am more aware of who I am and what drives my behaviours and responses. I feel so much more able to manage the day to day in a way that is better for me my work colleagues and most importantly my family. John T, 2022

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I can’t say thank you and recommend enough...I have put off seeing anyone and battling on through..for years now, being lost inside my own head. A good friend found the Hope Foundation and pushed me to go , and I am so so thankful they did. Chris is such an amazingly kind person and his understanding and knowledge is incredible, I finally feel in control of my life and know who I am. Thank you Chris for getting me to where I am! Thank you for helping me to look forward to this Christmas being happy. I’ll be back to see you in the new year, and finally just vent about day to day life or just to talk. Kerry 2018

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I am very grateful for the sessions I had with Chris. He offered a safe space to talk through things I had been carrying with me for a long time and it is good to have finally unpicked and released some of the burden and have the tools and confidence to carry on unloading the rest. I am thankful to know I have somewhere I can go to talk and get support if I feel I need it going forward in this unpredictable world. Even when broaching topics that filled me with dread, but needed to be discussed and worked through, Chris’s attitude and professionalism made the experience as smooth as possible to share how I was truly feeling without feeling judgement or dismissal. Megan 2021

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I came to Chris in the midst of a crisis, I was not coping with the pressures of family illness and impending bereavement. This had led to a breakdown in my marriage and family life, and so I sought help. Having only had some small experiences with therapy so far, I didn't know how to start such a process. Chatting to some good friends to try and find out what to look for, I started looking for a Psychotherapist with good qualifications, and then contacted several to arrange initial discussions.

From the start, Christopher was a very clear communicator, and responded promptly to my messages. We arranged for an initial session, and the process of that was straightforward and reliable. After meeting with a few others, I came to the conclusion that I needed someone who I could empathise with, someone who would be open with me, and someone whose strength of character would provide me with shelter.   When I met Christopher, he was warm, personable, honest and open. I immediately felt a bond of trust with him, and that particularly was essential for me to open up and we faced my problems together. 

The sessions were tough, but always kind, and always with empathy. Christopher is very skilled at walking the line between pushing me enough to be honest about my feelings, giving me practical strategies to manage my more difficult traits, and offering me love and support. 

After a period of several months, we reached a point where I felt like I needed to try life without therapy for a while. I use the tools that Christopher has taught me to improve my relationships on a daily basis. My  family and friends can see the change, and it's something I try to work on every day. My therapy has opened my eyes, and started me on a new direction in my life which I am incredibly thankful to Christopher for. And the knowledge that I can call on him in the future is a great comfort.  

Nick, May 2020

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My partner and I really appreciated your time.  You helped us in massive ways I can't properly explain. The impact you had in our lives was so important and we are forever thankful.  L & S, Couple, Ramsgate, 2019

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When I first went to the Hope Foundation I didn’t know where to turn.  I felt unable to make decisions, lacked confidence and felt very low.  This impacted on my family in a very negative way. I was amazed how Chris tapped into my inner psyche, he discussed with me how I could improve things by understanding more about my unconscious mind.  During the sessions  he showed me by understanding the science of psychology this can enable me to use the premise in my day to day life and in the future so I can realise my true potential.  Chris uses a non judgemental, kind approach which really brought out the best in me and made me feel comfortable and eager to learn. 

I would thoroughly recommend the Hope Foundation and their approach. Juliette, Birchington, 2020. 

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"In difficult times,  finding someone who can help may be one of the hardest jobs. Somehow Chris’s advert stood out so I called. Could I have been luckier? I doubt it. I once saw a councillor when my bother died, twenty years ago. My current situation may have been more difficult. Chris’s warmth, skill and pragmatic approach may have literally saved my life. I cannot recommend him enough. In a world that to me has lost it’s way, Chris remains a rock of common sense with enormous skill. See him and decide for yourself." Stuart B, 2020.

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"It's difficult to put into words exactly how much you helped me." Jaime, Canterbury 2020.

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Thanks Chris for guiding me to the light at the end of a very dark tunnel.  Your thought provoking sessions have helped me gain confidence in myself and given me the tools to resurrect what I felt sure was a situation I was unable to turn around.  Wholeheartedly recommended. John, Rural South Canterbury, April 2020.

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Before the start of my psychotherapy sessions I was frustrated, exhausted and struggled to imagine things getting better. But with the help and encouragement of the Canterbury Hope Foundation I have increased confidence in my own ability to craft the direction that I want to take in life. I feel that I'm now capable of vocalising my thoughts and feelings in a way that's more constructive to my friends, family and colleagues; because of that, my inter-personal relationships have dramatically improved and I gained the courage to apply for a new role which I am starting at the end of next month.  Six months ago, I was overwhelmed by the circumstances that I found myself in and felt like the rug was constantly being pulled from underneath. Canterbury Hope Foundation gave me the tools to help accept the situation, stabilise the aspects that I could and then build upwards."  Mr. C - Medway Towns, Feb 2020.

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My world had, and was, falling apart around me, and I didn’t even know it. Chris helped me see the truth of my situation and worked with me to help recognise, understand and learn. This brought clarity, lifting the fog of depression, tackled the low self esteem, lack of trust and anger at the world around me. From there I was able to bring about true and permanent positive change to my life and those of my wife and children.  It's not easy, if fact it’s very tough, but with Chris navigating the rewards are immense. 

If you’re reading this and considering whether to work with Chris my advice is simple; put your whole self into Chris’ hands, his way of working and the process, and you will be writing feedback like this." Mr and Mrs T, South Canterbury, 2020.

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"I came to Chris feeling as though I was stuck and felt constantly out of control, with my confidence at an all time low. I can honestly say that following my sessions with Chris, I have completely changed my outset. I’m also looking forward to utilising all of the techniques he’s shown me to combat situations in which previously would have knocked me and left me again feeling helpless again. I would 100% recommended him and know that I can rely on advice or help from him in the future whenever I need it.

James PS, 2020, Canterbury.

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"It had been more than ten years since I last had psychotherapy and I didn’t feel that it helped a great deal. But I thought I’d give it another go as I was struggling with aspects of my life. I got in touch with Chris after reading some of the testimonials on the site and I am very glad that I did. I found his ability to get to the heart of things and his insight were remarkable. After just a few sessions I was beginning to understand myself so much better. I’ve gained the confidence and have been given the tools to make the changes I wanted in my life, and I am excited about that. I’m also a lot less anxious! I recommended my sister and a good friend and I know they are really happy with the journey they have started! Thank you Chris. " Mr. S, Westgate 2019

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"My wife and I started seeing Chris when our marriage was on the brink of collapse. Immediately he put us both at ease with his engaging, open and warm persona.  We met with Chris as a couple once a week at first. Over the course of the first few months, he was able to help us put in place coping mechanisms to come to terms with the trauma we had gone through and ways to talk to each other without all of the emotion taking over.  As we progressed we underwent 1-2-1 therapy to start to explore the underlying unconscious drivers which caused the behaviours which led to the situation we were in. This then fed back into the couples therapy we needed to have on a less and less frequent basis.  Chris has an extensive knowledge of his subject and is able to explain sometimes complex ideas in a straightforward and accessible way. Always open and welcoming, he was also not afraid to push when I resisted being honest with myself.   Now my wife and I are in a much better place than we ever were; we can talk without falling into the old traps of victim-hood and blame. Without Chris I hate to think where I would be right now."  Couple Mr, S&J, 2019.

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"The speed and accuracy by which Chris was able to work out our personalities and provide genuinely useful insight was, quite frankly, incredible.  This insight, hard as it was to digest, proved to be so profound to me that I was finally able to unpick what had being going on in my relationship.  His ability to sum up the relationship in one stark metaphor was a watershed moment for me.  Through his insight and continued support I have managed to start to discover myself again and to regain my confidence which had been systematically dismantled."  Mr. M, 2019

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"My husband and I felt extremely relaxed and comfortable in couples sessions." Laura M., 2018 

 

"Chris valued me for who I am; he drew on what gives my life meaning and value in a non-judgemental way to support my progress." Stephen, 2017

 

"The complete councillor; Chris is always present, focused and unshakeable in his determination to see us succeed." Simon, 2017

 

"Keen to set up treatment sessions immediately to make a quick impact- it did! Within a few sessions, we had our happy, confident and funny little boy back!  We would definitely use Chris’s services again!" Family W., 2017

 

"Thank you Chris for helping me understand what my underlying issues were and how to process them. You have really enabled me to truly feel better in myself. If anyone is thinking of seeing Chris for whatever reason; please don't hesitate!"  Hugo, 2018

 

"I'd like to say Chris has been a great help to me over the last 6 months with helping me to deal with my depression and taught me different coping mechanisms. I would have no hesitation in recommending and also using him again if i needed in the future." 

Andrew, 2018

 

"I am incredibly grateful to have been recommended Chris. He has provided a service which has guided and allowed me to overcome several personal issues in a caring, understanding and informative way.  He makes his clients feel comfortable and safe, to speak openly and to experience emotions that can be painful in a supportive place."

"Chris has helped me understand behaviour and emotions and how to cope with them in the future. I am back to my happy and content self and am extremely grateful to Chris for this. I highly recommend his services which are tailored to each persons individual needs. Thank you Chris."  Lady  - Anon., 2018

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"Chris has changed my life and enabled me to accept myself just the way I am. I will always be grateful for everything he has done for me. He is a massive inspiration to me and I cannot recommend him enough." Stacey 2019

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“We met Chris at a very difficult time for our family when our son couldn’t get to sleep at night. It was causing huge arguments between us all, we were falling apart. Chris saw us, and our son, and helped us establish what the problems might be. He then guided us individually to find solutions. It felt a complicated issue, that needed time and patience from Chris to unravel. We can not thank him enough for the help he has given us and we all agree that we are better people, happier people and, most importantly, a happier family as a result. Wether it’s for your child, for your relationship or for yourself - we cant recommend Chris highly enough."  

Family from Deal 2018. 

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"Chris is a dedicated, knowledgeable, motivated and inspirational counsellor.  I contacted him at a time in my life where I couldn’t find any resolve with the issues that had been thrown upon me.  I came away from counselling with my potential unlocked, having the confidence and knowledge to get through my difficulties to the extent that I was given the tools to deal with other issues that were haunting me, resulting in a stronger, more resilient person with the confidence to cope with future issues, leaving me with a sense of hope, tranquility, a more fulfilled life and healthy state of mind."  Carmen, 2020.

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"Towards the end of 2019 I had the good fortune of being able to attend a block of therapy sessions with Chris Kidd from the Canterbury Hope Foundation. Originally I thought that my issues at the time stemmed from difficulties within my marriage. What I found with Chris's guidance was painful experiences from my childhood that I had carried with me my whole life. The deep inner personal transformation that I was gifted with because of my sessions with Chris, have positively impacted not only how I feel within myself, but how I relate with friends, family and most importantly my husband. While the therapy sessions were challenging – as any emotional healing work is – I really enjoyed my time with Chris and I will definitely be returning at some point in the future." Mrs LL, 2020.

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"Chris was a huge help at such an incredibly difficult time. He was able to help both myself and my wife during the early stages of our separation navigating us through all extremes of emotions, which from a personal perspective would have been impossible otherwise to cope with. He was able to deliver fair and balanced impartial advice and support which continues to contribute towards the step by step rebuilding process. Always helping to check and defuse raw emotions offering a sense of reason and focus on being kind during the times when it was most necessary. It’s now a constant reassurance to know that I have someone to turn to for support."  Family T, Canterbury, 2020. 

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"I want to say thank you to Chris for making a massive difference to my marriage and my life. I went to Chris initially to explore what I thought were some small issues of my own, but after a few sessions we realised that I needed to come with my husband as there were underlying issues in my marriage that needed urgent addressing. Chris worked with us individually and together and helped us restructure our marriage into something far better than ever before. He helped us understand the dynamics between us, the reasons behind these and how they got us to the place we were in. I hadn’t realised how much our day to day interactions and a lack of healthy boundaries had gradually impacted our relationship over the years until we started making changes for the better. Chris helped us understand what would be necessary to create a positive shift and gave us suggestions as to how we could do that. After just one session, my husband began opening up to me and sharing his innermost feelings- something I had never ever experienced or seen from him before. Chris gave him the courage and support to do that and I am deeply thankful to him for unlocking my husband’s heart and allowing me to see inside. Our marriage is now stronger than ever before, because we know and understand each other on a far deeper level. With Chris, we both felt really listened to and he was compassionate and kind, always acknowledging and validating our feelings yet at the same time he also challenged us to look deep within ourselves. He was non-judgemental and made it clear that he was here to support our choices and decisions, whatever they may be. We learned so much from our sessions and we continue to maintain these new relationship patterns that we established in order to keep our marriage strong and fulfilling.  I would highly recommend Chris to anyone looking to change themselves or their relationships and in fact I always do; several of our family/friends also went to see him. It’s been an amazing journey with Chris and we are both eternally grateful for the priceless gift he gave us."  Mr and Mrs P, Kent 2020

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"The last thing I think before I go to bed now is not that I wish I wouldn’t wake up, but that I am thankful for the day and for what I managed to accomplish.  

I remember scrolling through websites, looking at thumbprints of photographs of different therapists in my area, and for some reason when I came across you. The profile said you covered Bipolar/ eating disorders etc...that ticked my first box.  Secondly, I felt safe. It sounds silly to write down and read it aloud, feeling safe when reading about someone, but when you're searching for the right counsellor, therapist, or psychiatrist, feeling safe is important. Well, to me it is. 

 I can’t remember when our first session was- sometime last year and since that moment you have seen most parts of me. Anything I was too afraid to face, you helped me through. You reassured me that my feelings mattered, that boundaries are meant to be set, and being selfish is sometimes okay. If it wasn't for you, I would have never had the courage to walk away from things that weren't meant to be in my life. You taught me that I was more than anything I ever thought I was, you made me believe in myself. There used to be nights where my mental illness made me feel alone, even though I wasn't, and all I could do was think about the things we worked on in sessions. That helped me millions.  At first I struggled in therapy but then I would come in and I’d say things few people would dare to say out loud. For an hour a week, I knew I had 1 hour to be in a place of true belonging where I could be vulnerable, daring and determined. Some weeks this was more painful than others. Some weeks it wouldn’t happen at all and I’d would pray for an ejector seat. But then you showed me that I do have true courage, I’d return again, to try again.   I hated the doctors for diagnosing me bipolar. I was in complete denial, I was angry and I felt like them and my family were personally responsible for ruining my life. I swore they were wrong and that I was ok. I made up excuses why I couldn’t be bipolar and why they didn’t know what you were talking about. After my release from the mental health ward I finally began to accept my diagnosis and go through treatment for it, I slowly began to forgive my family and the doctors. (Which was hard because I was basically tranquilised the whole time!). I realized my diagnosis didn’t just magically appear out of nowhere, and it was something I had been dealing with for a long time and something I had created. I had to own up. Take responsibility. 

 As soon as I listened to everyone I knew I couldn’t do it alone.   Everyone was crumbling around me and I had to get professional help. You are the one who led me into battle when I was ready and trained me to fight this. Thank you for equipping me with the skills I needed to live with bipolar disorder and not to become bipolar disorder. Unfortunately, it took too long to get to you, if the NHS was sprinkled with people like you then everything wouldn’t be so hard. And I wouldn’t have been so exhausted by the time I got to you.   And I swear by that. You have taught me how to control that up and down behaviour. Made me acknowledged the triggers and also made me aware of a better life where I wouldn’t have such a struggle. 

 When I first met you I had totally given up hope that things could ever be different from how they were. When I was younger I used to think that it was impossible for someone to feel so depressed and disconnected every day, I used to wake up with the hope that this would be the day the pain disappeared. But it never did and somewhere along the line, probably in my 20s, I started to believe that some people were just born like me and were doomed to live their lives like this. I knew bad stuff was happening and had happened to me but I thought it was some kind of karmic power punishing me. 

 By the time you met me I had developed quite a lot of unhealthy physical and mental coping mechanisms to either not feel anything at all in the face of unbearable emotions or to feel something and anything. I was self-medicating with alcohol and drugs whilst putting myself in strange and sometimes unsafe and vulnerable situations. You were there for me when nobody believed in me. Not even myself. You were my biggest supporter. No matter how alone I felt in the last year I knew you were with me every step of the way, waiting for me, and always being ready to catch me for the smallest trip or biggest fall.

 Thank you for helping me work through my toughest battles, for helping me accept my past and learn from it, for supporting me. Thank you for everything you've helped me accomplish up until this point, I can't wait to see what I will accomplish in the future.   You helped me face my mental illnesses in a positive light. I don’t think you know how much you changed my life. An infinity of thank yous would never be enough. But a simple thank you for empowering me, for inspiring me, and for guiding me into being the better, happier, healthier, person I am today, will have to do." Abbey, May 2020. 

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Chris helped me and understood me as soon as we met, I was battling some depression & didn’t know where to turn. Chris was kind , understanding and let me speak openly without judgment. I’ve since reached out to people I had shut out of my life and can see a light and the end of the tunnel. I will be back in the future just to keep on top of handling my emotions and dealing with dark thought, but for now I finally feel content with where I am in life and know where I’m going, I can’t thank you enough Chris.  Nick, Maidstone, 2020.

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I found Chris via a simple Google search, I looked for 'best marriage counselor in Canterbury'.  Google was right. I was absolutely desperate to get help in understanding what was going on in my relationship with my wife.  After just a few sessions my wife ended our 13 year marriage. 

He could not save my marriage, as it transpired very quickly, that it have been over for sometime.  No-one could have.  I was absolutely destroyed by this, I was a physical and mental wreck.  The sense of loss was completely overwhelming at times, but for my children, my family and my work I had to cope and find a way to move on.  I continued to see Chris after the relationship ended.  So why am I writing a testimonial for what looks like a failure?  Simple, the speed and accuracy by which Chris was able to work out our personalities and provide genuinely useful insight was, quite frankly, incredible.  This insight, hard as it was to digest, proved to be so profound to me that I was finally able to unpick what had being going on in my relationship.  His ability to sum up the relationship in one stark metaphor was a watershed moment for me.  Through his insight and continued support I have managed to start to discover myself again and to regain my confidence which had been systematically dismantled . Chris does not follow a formula, you don't feel like you are going through a fixed process, he listened and always managed to come up with both practical and highly insightful ways to help. Whatever your problem, I highly recommend you see Chris.

Mr. M, Canterbury, 2019 

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I always looked forward to the sessions because Chris tested me and stretched me, and made me work hard to think about some uncomfortable issues, and their origins.  The rapport I developed with Chris allowed me to engage fully in the sessions and use my personality to navigate the sessions; this included use of humour and anecdotes. I was always impressed when Chris would refer to a story I had told weeks after I’d told it and use it to illustrate a new point or emphasise some progress we had made.  It may sound strange to commend a counsellor for listening, but I think this is one of Chris’ strengths- the ability to listen actively and develop new questions or techniques to try based on what I am saying.

I would recommend Chris for his person centred approach and the way that I felt that he listened to me and based discussions and techniques around my interests and personality.  Chris made references to stories I had told in earlier sessions and used some pop culture references I had made to introduce ideas and concepts to support my analysis of my situation.  I believe that Chris valued me for who I am and he drew on what gives my life meaning and value in a non-judgemental way to support my progress.  I feel that I am now equipped with the tools and confidence to evaluate future challenges and manage myself.

Stephen, Margate 2017

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Chris was great with our 4 year old and he immediately made him and us feel at ease. After spending time with our child, Chris was very quick to make an analysis of what he felt was causing him anxiety- this was very detailed and made a lot of sense when Chris went through it with us. Chris spent a great deal of time talking to us to help us understand what was going on with our child and what was the root cause of his anxiety and how it could be treated. We were given lots of helpful advice of things we could put in place at home and at school to support him. Our little boy was very sad, distressed and really struggling to cope at school.  

Chris was keen to set up treatment sessions immediately to make a quick impact- it did! Within a few sessions, we had our happy, confident and funny little boy back!  We would definitely use Chris’s services again! 

Family W, Westgate, 2017