Gary Aldridge – Counsellor in Hertford, Hertfordshire
I’m Gary Aldridge, a qualified counsellor and BACP Registered Member based in Hertford, Hertfordshire. I provide face-to-face counselling in Hertford and online counselling across the UK.
I have worked as a counsellor for more than a decade, alongside around 15 years of professional experience within addiction and recovery services. Over that time, I have worked with people experiencing addiction, trauma, anxiety, relationship difficulties and some of the most challenging periods of their lives.
My approach is integrative and humanistic. This means I don’t believe that one therapeutic approach fits everybody. I aim to understand you as an individual and draw upon different therapeutic ideas and approaches according to what you are experiencing and what you would like to change.
My professional experience
A significant part of my professional career has been spent working within addiction services, particularly residential rehabilitation and detoxification.
I have worked with people at different stages of addiction and recovery — from those beginning to recognise that alcohol or drugs have become a problem, through to people entering detox or residential rehabilitation, experiencing relapse, rebuilding their lives in recovery and preparing to move on from structured treatment.
This work has also given me considerable experience of the impact addiction can have on partners and families. I understand how difficult it can be to know when to help, when to step back, how to establish boundaries and what to do when someone you care about does not appear ready to change.
Alongside my addiction experience, I have undertaken specialist Level 5 and Level 6 training in working with complex trauma and PTSD. This has developed my understanding of how trauma can affect emotional regulation, relationships, behaviour and the way people respond to situations long after the original experience has passed.
I also work with couples experiencing relationship difficulties, including communication problems, recurring conflict, loss of trust, affairs or betrayal and difficulties with intimacy.
Counselling, teaching and developing others
Alongside my counselling practice, I teach counselling and support the development of trainee counsellors. Teaching has become an important part of my professional work and keeps me actively engaged with counselling theory, ethical practice and the continuing development of my own therapeutic approach.
My wider professional experience has also included leadership within health and social care and addiction services. This has given me experience of working alongside a range of professionals and supporting people whose needs may extend beyond counselling alone.
How I work as a counsellor
I believe counselling works best when you feel able to talk openly without feeling judged or pressured to be somewhere you are not yet ready to be.
I won’t tell you what you should do or assume that I know what is best for you. Instead, we can work together to understand what is happening, recognise patterns that may be keeping you stuck and explore what you would like to be different.
Sometimes that involves understanding experiences from the past. At other times, our work may be much more focused on what is happening in your life now and developing different ways of responding to it.
My aim is to provide a relationship that is supportive and appropriately challenging — a space where you can feel heard while also being encouraged to think more deeply about yourself, your relationships and the changes you want to make.
Professional and ethical practice
I am a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and work within the BACP Ethical Framework. I undertake ongoing professional development and clinical supervision as part of maintaining safe and ethical practice.
Thinking about counselling?
Choosing a counsellor is a personal decision, and finding someone you feel comfortable talking to matters.
I offer a free 15-minute introductory conversation so that you can tell me a little about what has brought you to counselling, ask any questions and get a sense of whether working together feels right.
Face-to-face counselling is available in Hertford, Hertfordshire, with online counselling available across the UK.