Meet the Therapist: Anthony Pearson
Anthony Pearson is a counsellor in Cambridge and Bedford
What attracted you to become a therapist?
During my childhood I experienced family break up, bullying, emotional abuse and was isolated. I found counselling helpful and wish to pass on the useful experience of counselling to others.
Where did you train?
I received a diploma in children and adolescent counselling at the University of Nottingham. I followed this with an advanced certificate in counselling practice.
Can you tell us about the type of therapy you practise?
I practice as an integrative counsellor. This enables me when working with young people to use the appropriate counselling model geared to their individual needs.
How does integrative counselling help with anger issues?
This type of therapy, for example, helps clients with anger issues to express their feelings and understand the triggers for their behaviour.
What sort of people do you usually see?
I usually see young people, individually, between the ages of 11-25 with common difficulties, i.e. anxiety, stress, worry, anger, self-harm, low self-esteem, depression, loss, trauma, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), eating disorders, bullying, panic, abuse, relationship problems.
What do you like about being a therapist?
I like as a therapist being able to help empower young people, enabling them to take control of their lives and make a positive difference for them. I also like being able to show compassion and empathy.
What is less pleasant?
Listening to clients’ painful stories, and the impact of the trauma they are experiencing.
How long you’ve been with welldoing.org and what you think of us?
I have been with welldoing.org for a year. They are very focussed on young people’s problems and understand the young person’s world. They offer positive, helpful feedback from their newsletters, training courses and support counsellors.
Do you ever suggest books or apps to clients?
I often give out helpful handouts and suggest books, mostly to over 18s.
What you do for your own mental health?
I like creative art, sport, reading, travel and theatre.
You are a counsellor in Cambridge and Bedford. What can you share with us about seeing clients in those areas?
I offer counselling in the Cambridge and Bedford areas. Young people find it easy to access counselling but are often isolated and have no one to listen to them where they live.
What’s your consultation room like?
My consultation room is welcoming, very friendly, safe with comfortable chairs.
What do you wish people knew about therapy?
I wish people knew that therapy is not about giving advice or a quick fix. It is about helping people to understand themselves, see what triggers their problems, and enable them to help themselves.
What did you learn about yourself in therapy?
I learnt in therapy how to take my feelings seriously, recognise my limits in what I can achieve, learning to set boundaries and say ‘no’, learning to laugh at myself and not take myself too seriously.
