Carl Argent
Counsellor in Shoeburyness

Hi, I'm Carl. I am a qualified talking therapist and I can help you explore and transform painful emotions and experiences like anxiety, low mood, anger, depression. Together we'll uncover what's behind them, reconnect with your inner resources, moving at your pace toward clarity, confidence and change. I practice humanistic person-centred therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFR), and Positive Psychology Coaching. I see your wellbeing as a spectrum of potential, growing from where you are, to where you want to be. It is my job to help you to get there on your own terms. Furthermore I offer ‘life after counselling', which takes the paradigm of growth even further to encourage you to really thrive in aspects of your life.

Background & Counselling Qualifications

I am an accredited therapist with an Ofqual Level 4 Counselling Practitioner Diploma. That allows me to practice ethically as a therapist. You can find me on the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society's listings as well. I have also received OCEEFT training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and am seeking accreditation currently as a Positive Psychology Practitioner (Ofqual Level 5).

My Specialisms

What differentiates therapists from each other is what we focus on, what inspires us. I am particularly inspired to help individuals cope and master stress, anxiety, emotional turbulence and trauma. If you are finding facing emotions hard or don't know how to navigate emotions, I can help you with that by recognising that emotions have a purpose and shape us how we find meaning in life. If we ignore them, we lose out on some of that meaning, we become fearful and begin to feel stress, anxiety and panic. We might even fall into depression.

Other issues I can help with are below:

Anxieties (see my self-help blog for free coping resources - youcentred.co.uk/self-help), stress and burnout
Feeling emotionally overwhelmed
Men's mental health (see my self-help blog for free coping resources - youcentred.co.uk/self-help)
Loss, grief and bereavement
Depression, consistent low mood, feeling sad
Relationship issues
Feelings of loneliness and isolation
Feeling lost
Self-harm and suicidal ideation
Self-esteem and confidence
Neurodivergence
Social media influence
Trauma from past experiences
Gaining confidence
Finding motivation
Finding purpose and meaning in a life domain
Becoming more optimistic
Work related issues

Approach to Counselling & How I Work

All engagements for potential counselling start with a free 30 minute chat where we can discuss what brings you to counselling and whether my experience might be right for you. At the end of the day therapy costs money so it is important to work with the right therapist for you, your issue and the way you think. It is also an opportunity to ask questions. You can book that either by visiting my website, emailing me or calling me directly. Booking a session directly is the fastest way.

You can choose in-person counselling in my room in SS3 9LE or online via video.

In the first session, I will mainly listen to you as you begin to tell your story. In subsequent sessions, I will use my skills as a counsellor to play statements back to you, paraphrase things you say in a slightly different way so you can hear the same statement from another angle, and at times I might also challenge what you say if I see an opportunity for growth. This is working with you in a non-judgmental space. At the end of the first session we will decide if we want to work together in the longer term. Most engagements last between 12 and 24 sessions. I will never provide you with an y answers because those answers would be from my perspective and not yours. I may however offer you psychoeducation from time to time to help you see things in perspective.

Therapies & Rates

Please note the rates detailed below are there to give you an idea of the therapists standard rates, we strongly advise you contact the therapist for more detailed rates and any offers they may have.

Therapy	Appointment Type	Rate
Counselling	In Person	£55 per 50 minutes
Counselling	Online/Telephone	£55 per 50 minutes

Additional Rate Information

I offer a reduced fee of £45 for key workers and students (including counselling trainees). If you are autistic or havre ADHD I also offer a flexible pricing structure if you cannot complete the standard 50 minute session - £25 for 30 minutes. I also charge £70 for home visits (within Southend-on-Sea) if you can't make the stairs or have mobility or accessibility requirements. However home visits are dependent on the space you provide being therapeutically safe, which means somewhere we cannot be overheard or be disturbed, and also on a risk assessment which we can go through over the phone.