Matthew Higgins

Matthew Higgins became a therapist relatively late in life, in his late 50s, bringing a wide range of life experience and earlier professional work into his counselling practice. He adopts a non-judgemental, person-centred approach that gives people time to express themselves fully while he focuses on listening and empathising without pre-conditions or judgement.

He emphasises that the therapeutic setting should be a safe, respectful place where clients can bring their whole selves, be treated with dignity, and feel that their experiences are understood and valued. Aware that therapy often involves discussing emotions and reactions not raised elsewhere, he aims to offer confidence, reassurance, and congruence throughout the counselling process.

Matthew qualified in Leeds, West Yorkshire, in 2021 with a Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy and completed placements that totalled 100 hours of client work as part of that training. He continues to work professionally with the same organisations, including a charitable counselling service in North Yorkshire and a charity specialising in bereavement services, and he also works with the Samaritans supporting people with suicidal thoughts or plans.

Although he works with clients of all ages, he often finds strong rapport with people of a similar age, where issues common in later life can be particularly relevant - bereavement, new relationships after separation or loss, taking on new families in later life, redundancy, career change, and loneliness or isolation.

Matthew sees counselling as non-formulaic. His training was broadly in the Carl Rogers person-centred model, yet he recognises that some clients benefit from approaches that are more directional and that sometimes challenge views, attitudes, or behaviours. He is a male, older, non-religious, liberal therapist with three years of professional experience.