Paul Whitehead
Gestalt Counselling & Psychotherapy in Glossop, Manchester and online
“Forces beyond your control can take away everything you possess except one thing, your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation.”
Dr Viktor Frankl
Gestalt Therapy for Life Transitions, Trauma and Grief
Hi, I'm Paul (he/him), a UKCP-registered Psychotherapeutic Counsellor and trainer, specialising in Gestalt therapy – a creative, relational approach that goes beyond “just talking” and works with your whole self: body, emotions, thoughts, relationships and imagination.
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I specialise in working with adults who are navigating big life transitions, often as a result of trauma. I work with grief, loss, sexual trauma, anxiety, break-ups and burnout, and the big questions these experiences bring: Who am I now? What really matters? How can I live with more authenticity?
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You might be stuck in familiar relationship patterns, swinging between craving closeness and connection and then finding yourself overwhelmed and wanting to withdraw. You may struggle to set boundaries and ask for what you need, never feeling good enough or constantly comparing yourself to others.
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I know how deeply exhausting this can be. In my teens and twenties I struggled with depression, low confidence and a painful sense of not being “good enough”. I also lost a parent at this time. This set me on a long personal exploration, mainly through Buddhist practice. I now draw on around 20 years of Buddhist practice and teaching in my therapy work, using meditation, mindfulness and compassion-focused practices where they’re helpful. There’s no expectation that you have any particular beliefs – we’ll work with whatever is real and important for you.
What a session might be like
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We go at your pace and stay close to what’s happening in the room - what you notice in your body, emotions and our conversation. If you just want to talk, we can; if you’re open to it, we might also:
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Tune into your body to understand how trauma or emotion shows up physically
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Use gentle, creative methods - like meditation, visualisation or exploring an image or phrase - to shift stuck patterns.
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Give voice to quieter parts of you and hear what they need
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Engage in honest, two-way conversation that helps you reconnect to your own voice​
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Sometimes we’ll try small experiments - simple, creative ways to experience something differently. These are always optional. We decide together, and you can pause or stop at any time.
​​​This is a welcoming, LGBTQ+ affirming space.​
Who my approach works well with
I have found my approach works especially well with people who:
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Are self-aware but feel stuck in their head (loops of stories, “what-ifs,” overthinking)
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Feel anxious and caught in repeating patterns they can’t shift
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Are grieving or living with/alongside a life-limiting illness
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Are at a crossroads (after break-ups, burnout, or big life transitions) and want to explore the next step
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Struggle with boundaries, people-pleasing, shame, or a persistent “not good enough” feeling
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Are processing trauma or the after-effects of difficult relationships
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Are exploring meaning, identity, or spiritual questions
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Want an engaging, creative and dynamic approach to therapy that focuses on the "here and now."
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My approach can be especially helpful for those who have engaged in personal development or therapy before but are now looking to make deeper, transformative changes.
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See My Approach for more details of how I work and who I work with
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Start with a Conversation
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​II offer a free 30 minute initial call so we can get to know each other and see if this feels like a good fit.
What I can offer
Individual Therapy
I offer both short and long term individual therapy, in person and online. My main clinic is in Glossop, Derbyshire but I can also see clients in Manchester and online. Sessions are usually weekly for 50 minutes, though due to scheduling needs and other factors, this may vary.
Sessions cost £60. However, I really want therapy to be open to people of all incomes and offer a limited number of reduced-fee slots for those experiencing financial hardship. Please feel free to ask about current availability. If these spaces are currently full, I’m happy to add you to my waiting list or recommend other options for affordable counselling.
I am a full clinical member of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP),the official body of for the training and registration of psychotherapists. I am registered as a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor.
I am fully insured and work to the Codes of Ethics and Practice of the GPTI (Gestalt Psychotherapy Training Institute) and UKCP.
Get in Touch
If you're interested in exploring therapy with me, then please call me on 07921 823926 (leave a message if I don't pick up and I'll get back to you asap), email me at paulwhiteheadtherapy@gmail.com or contact me on the form below for a free consultation to explore how we might work together.
Paul Whitehead
Tel: 07921 823926
E-mail: paulwhiteheadtherapy@gmail.com
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