Peter Askew

I offer face to face and online therapy on Monday - Friday,  mornings, afternoons, and evenings.

I’m Pete Askew, a Â鶹ԭ´´ registered psychotherapeutic counsellor. I work with people who are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure about where life is heading, and I have over twenty-five years' experience in the helping professions.

I provide a calm, grounded, and warm space to work through the challenges that you bring to therapy, whether recent or long-standing. You don’t need to know exactly what’s wrong or where to begin — reaching out is already a meaningful first step.

I will listen to you with respect, care, and without judgement. Together we can explore what is happening for you, at your pace. By gaining a deeper understanding of what is going on beneath the surface, we can begin to open up new perspectives and create meaningful change. This might include feeling less overwhelmed, understanding patterns in your life and relationships, or having more confidence in the choices you make.

Clients tell me they value the safe and confidential space I offer, where they feel able to slow down, reflect, and speak openly about their concerns, which are wide-ranging and have included:

• Anxiety, depression, shame, anger, grief
  
• Stress, burnout, and loss of direction
  
• Life transitions (parenthood, divorce, retirement, bereavement)
  
• Relationship and identity issues
  
• Men's issues
  
• Trauma and abuse (past or recent) 
  
• Questions of meaning, purpose, and well-being

My approach is integrative and person-centred, meaning I adapt how I work to suit you rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model. I draw thoughtfully on Transactional Analysis, Gestalt, Jungian, CBT, and Existential therapies where helpful. You don’t need to be familiar with these approaches — we’ll work in a way that feels understandable and supportive for you.

I offer both short-term and long-term therapy, in person in Morpeth and online via Zoom. If you’d like to find out more, or to talk about what you’re looking for from therapy, you’re very welcome to get in touch for an initial conversation, with no pressure or obligation.

Psychotherapeutic counselling is a positive investment in your personal growth and wellbeing, and to get the most out of it you will need to be able to commit to regular weekly sessions, at the same time each week.

Following an initial assessment, I usually suggest an initial six sessions, which can often help with symptoms of anxiety or depression. During this time, or at the initial assesment, it may become apparent that longer-term work might be helpful, and we will discuss this based on your needs and hopes for the outcomes of therapy.  

Throughout your therapy I will provide regular opportunities for us to review where you are at with it, so you can decide what you want to focus on, and when you feel that you have what you need.

Therapy sessions are either in person in Morpeth or online, and last for 50 minutes.

Your first session will give us the opportunity to meet for the first time, and it will  last for up to 50 minutes, either in person or online.

The first part of the session will be an introduction to myself and the way I work, this usually takes about 10 minutes. After this, you decide if you would like to become my client. If you do, the session becomes chargeable at the usual rate. If you don't want to continue with therapy, there is no charge and the consultation ends.

If you decide to become my client and continue into therapy, I will talk you through an informed consent form - a document you sign agreeing to enter into therapy. This will include information about fees, limits of confidentiality, cancellation and no show policies, and privacy information about how I hold any information I keep about you.

I will then make an assessment of your therapy needs. This will include some questions about your medical, mental health, and family history, and time for you to share about what is troubling you, and why you are wanting out of therapy.

You are very welcome to ask any questions you may have at any point.