My name is Robert, welcome to my therapist's page.
As we all know, life can be pretty hard and it takes courage to reach out for support. I really do believe that you have within you the resourcefulness you need in order to live a life with depth, meaning and self-compassion. I feel that my role is to help you recognize this and empower you to find a way of tapping into your own wisdom.
I have been practicing counselling and coaching for the last 25 years and am a qualified MBSR Mindfulness teacher having trained with the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, USA. I have worked both in a psychiatric hospital and a community setting offering my therapeutic services to people in need of support. I am the author of Managing Depression with Mindfulness for Dummies and am currently writing another book on men’s mental health.
I feel fortunate that I have had the opportunity to spend five years living at a Zen Buddhist monastery in South Africa where I studied mindfulness based psychology and human behaviour.
As for my own journey, I have in the past experienced my own mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression as well as PTSD and now continue to live well with these. I feel blessed that I can draw on this lived experience for inspiration and feel I can often empathize with my clients and their struggles.
My style is pretty casual, yet structured, relaxed and solution focused. I work in a trauma informed and compassionate based way and like to think that I offer my clients a safe and nourishing space in which to express themselves just as they are.
My counselling work includes the following:
# Emotional Resilience Coaching – A fantastic approach for people who wish to develop a greater awareness of their feelings as well as learn practical emotional regulation skills.
# Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) – Excellent for clients who wish to engage in cognitive attention training who might be struggling with light to moderate anxiety and low mood.
# Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) – A wonderful modality for people who struggle with chronic stress as well as illness and for those who simply wish to learn mindfulness meditation.
# FLASH Therapy – This is based on EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) and is an incredibly powerful intervention used to treat symptoms of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) as well as for the processing and releasing of difficult emotions.
# Mindful Self-compassion Training – This evidence based modality can be helpful for those of us who struggle with a strong inner critic as well as feelings of shame and wish to learn how to be kinder to themselves.
I am based in the UK and live in Bournemouth near the sea with my wife and our four-year-old daughter. Whenever time allows I enjoy drinking a milky coffee sitting in a coffee shop and watch the world go by. I’m also learning to play the piano and of course enjoy soaking up the sun at our beautiful local beaches.
I am an accredited member of the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society as well as the British Association of Mindfulness Based Approaches.
May 2017
Qualified MBSR Mindfulness Teacher University of California
San Diego Medical School, USA
October 2011
NVQ 2 Health & Social Care (Mental Health)
Futures Training, Bournemouth
May 2011
Certificate in Personal Coaching
The Coaching Academy, London
January 2004
Buddhist Philosophy, Chinese Culture & Mindfulness Based Psychology
Five-year fulltime apprenticeship training programme
Nan Hua Buddhist Monastery, South Africa
July 1988
Bachelor’s Degree (Transpersonal Psychology & Metaphysics)
UOM, California, USA
August 1997
Diploma in Professional Hypnotherapy
Midland Institute of Hypnotherapy, UK
CPD TRAINING
November 2024
One Day Mindfulness Retreat – Non Judging
Oxford Mindfulness Foundation
October 2024
Understanding Attachment Styles
Betterhelp Therapy Training
October 2024
Advanced DBT Skills
When The Crisis is Addiction
Betterhelp Therapy Training
May 2024
Embracing Suicidal Parts: Using Internal Family Systems Therapy to
Heal Traumatic Wounds.
Crisis Safety Planning with Youth and Teens.
Suicide in Historically Marginalized Communities. PESI UK
May 2024
Trauma Informed Practice
Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust
April 2024
Flash Technique for Trauma: Rapid Trauma
Processing for Clinicians, Dr Phillip Manfield, PESI UK
March 2024
Safeguarding Adults Level 3
Lantern Trust, Weymouth
January 2024
Motivational Interviewing: Skills & Strategies
Training Express Ltd
October 2023
3-Day Residential Mindfulness Meditation Retreat
Othona West Dorset
September 2023
The Oliver McGowan Training on Learning Disability and Autism,
Basic Life Support, Health & Safety Training, Conflict Resolution
Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust
August 2023
Putting Polyvagal Theory into Practice:
Essential Strategies for Creating Safety and Connection with Trauma Clients, PESI UK
April 2023
Leader as Coach - Coaching for Embodied Mindful
Compassionate Leadership - NHS England
April 2023
10-Week Mindfulness Based Fatigue Management Course
New Leaf Occupational Therapy Services, UK
March 2023
Introduction to Self-harm, Dual Diagnosis & EMDR FLASH (Trauma)
Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust
March 2023
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Essentials & Essential TraumaTreatment Strategies.
March 2023
Trauma Basics for Youth Workers, Center For Adolescent Studies. PESI UK
February 2023
PTSD Stabilisation 5 Week Course
Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust
January 2023
EMDR Group Resource Enhancement Protocol (Trauma)
Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust
June 2022
Safeguarding Children & Adults Level 2
Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust
March 2022
Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness Workshop
Oxford Mindfulness Centre, Oxford University
March 2022
Mindful Inquiry Workshop
University of California San Diego Centre for Mindfulness
January 2022
5-Day Silent Mindfulness Meditation Retreat
European Association of Mindfulness Based Approaches
October 2018
8-Week Compassion Based Living Course
Helena Yoga Studio, Bournemouth
January 2017
10-Day Residential Mindfulness Meditation Retreat
International Meditation Centre, Wiltshire
January 2016
Neuroscience and Physiology of Mindfulness
Neuragy Limited, Christchurch
January 2013
Prevention & Management of Violence & Aggression
Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust
Clinical Counselling Supervisor: Robert William Hawkes
Mindfulness Supervisor: Dr Cathy-Mae Karelse
Member of:
NHS Psychological Professions Network
BAMBA (British Association of Mindfulness Based Approaches)
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