- Integrative approach
- Bereavement support
- CBT elements
About Peter
Peter Plaistowe is a BACP counsellor practising in the United Kingdom with eight years' experience. He works with common difficulties such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and grief, and also focuses on issues like guilt and shame, forgiveness and feelings of isolation. Peter offers both shorter-term and longer-term work depending on what a person needs.
He describes his starting point as building a respectful relationship so people can talk about difficult thoughts and feelings. He encourages reflection on past events to help clients understand why they feel the way they do. That understanding is presented as a first step towards change rather than an instant fix.
Peter is an integrative counsellor and draws from a number of approaches to suit each person. He lists person-centred work, psychodynamic thinking, cognitive behavioural techniques and transactional analysis among the methods he uses. Sessions typically explore patterns in thinking and behaviour and look at practical steps people can try between meetings.
He has worked a lot with bereavement, including loss linked to substance misuse, and with problems that arise from work and motivation. He also helps people who are re-evaluating their life purpose or going through midlife shifts and financial stress.
To begin, Peter offers a 20-minute free phone call to discuss needs and whether his way of working feels helpful. He asks people to complete a short matching questionnaire and then to book a first session using the online options provided.
Therapeutic approaches and working online
Peter uses integrative methods and draws on a few evidence-based approaches. Person-centred work focuses on listening and helping people put words to their experience, which can suit those who need space to reflect. Cognitive behavioural techniques look at unhelpful thinking and practical steps to try between sessions, useful for anxiety, low mood and persistent guilt. Psychodynamic ideas explore patterns from the past and how they show up now, which can help when feelings are rooted in earlier relationships.Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the collaborative process. Peter will discuss options with clients, try methods together and adjust the plan as needs and goals become clearer. He aims to match the way he works to what a person prefers and what helps in the short and longer term.
The biography does not specify particular session formats, so please confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when that helps. It can also allow people to work from quieter surroundings or choose sessions that fit around work and family commitments rather than needing a long trip for every appointment.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Experience
8+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does he work with?
He works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, low self-esteem and related problems such as guilt and shame and life purpose questions.
How would he approach feelings of guilt or shame?
He uses an integrative approach, encouraging reflection on past events and exploring thinking patterns to help understand why the guilt or shame persists.
How much experience does he have?
He has eight years' experience as a counsellor, practising since 2017 and working with a range of issues including bereavement and work-related difficulties.
What credentials and location are recorded?
He is listed with the BACP and is based in the United Kingdom.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people from other countries work with him?
He is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats are provided?
Session formats are not specified in the biography; please confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees and starting steps handled?
Costs vary with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time; to start, complete the short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session via the online booking button.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.