Mike Swift

Hello, I'm Mike - a counsellor working in Bristol, Bath and online. We all experience times in our lives that are difficult and often painful. We might approach family or friends for help, but sometimes that may not feel enough, or we may not feel able to talk to those around us about what's really going on. Maybe you want to explore a specific problem, or have the time and space to look at your life in depth. Either way, counselling can offer you the support to talk things through to try and make some sense of it all.  It can feel hard to reach out for help, the idea of it can be daunting. I remember it well myself. If we work together, my aim will be to support you throughout the process in a way that works for you. I welcome people from all walks of life including LGBTQ+. I champion and celebrate the uniqueness of every person. 

Common reasons people have counselling are: anxiety, depression, relationship issues, issues in friendship groups, low confidence, low self-worth, self-criticism, stress, work-stress, abuse (past or present), anger, self-harm, eating disorders, identity/gender issues, sexual problems, drug use, addiction, bereavement, loss. I have a specialist interest in working with behaviours that we know are bad for us but we struggle to change. I also want to acknowledge the toll that Covid-19 has taken on people's mental health. The last two years have been disorienting and distressing, especially for those who have been directly affected by the virus: personal illness, the illness and death of loved ones, job loss and the key workers who have kept going through awful conditions. Perhaps you're experiencing issues around this, or existing issues have been exacerbated through the pandemic. Whatever challenges you are facing, my hope is that I can help. I look forward to hearing from you. Mike