Psychotherapy for times when life feels difficult, stuck or disconnected
I’m Dr Matt Hancocks, a Chartered Counselling Psychologist and UKCP-registered psychotherapist based near Ravenstonedale in Cumbria.
I offer thoughtful, confidential psychotherapy for adults, both online and in a private woodland setting in the Lakes and Dales.
My work is particularly focused on men’s psychological lives, trauma and difficult childhood experiences, sexuality and identity, relationship difficulties, burnout, and periods of profound personal change.
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A space to make sense of what you are experiencing
People come to therapy for many different reasons. You may be struggling with anxiety, depression or the effects of something that has happened. You may feel overwhelmed by work, relationships or responsibilities, or have a persistent sense that something in your life is not quite right.
Sometimes the difficulty is more difficult to name. You may feel disconnected from yourself, caught in familiar patterns, or burdened by experiences from the past that continue to shape your present.
Therapy provides a confidential space in which you can slow things down, think more freely and begin to understand what is happening beneath the surface.
It can help you to:
- explore thoughts and feelings that have been difficult to express;
- understand patterns in your relationships and emotional life;
- recognise how earlier experiences may still be affecting you;
- approach difficult decisions with greater clarity;
- reconnect with parts of yourself that have become neglected; and
- develop a more hopeful and liveable relationship with yourself and your future.
You do not need to have everything clearly understood before making contact. Part of the work can be discovering together what needs attention.
The areas I work with
I work with people experiencing a wide range of psychological and emotional difficulties, including:
- anxiety, depression and persistent low mood;
- stress, burnout and feeling overwhelmed;
- relationship and intimacy difficulties;
- bereavement, separation and other forms of loss;
- childhood trauma, neglect and abuse;
- post-traumatic stress and the effects of disturbing experiences;
- sexuality, sexual identity and LGBTQ+ concerns;
- men’s psychological and emotional lives;
- shame, self-criticism and low self-worth;
- addiction and compulsive behaviours;
- ADHD and the experience of neurodivergence;
- work-related difficulties and major life transitions; and
- a loss of meaning, purpose or direction.
Although I have a particular interest in working with men, sexuality and trauma, my practice is inclusive and I welcome people of all genders, sexualities and backgrounds.
How I work
I am an integrative psychotherapist. This means I do not impose one fixed model of therapy upon everyone. Instead, I draw upon different psychological and psychotherapeutic traditions according to your experiences, needs and way of making sense of the world.
My approach is relational, exploratory and psychologically informed. I pay attention not only to the immediate problem, but also to the experiences, relationships and emotional patterns that may sit behind it.
Our work may involve understanding the past, but therapy is not about remaining there. It is about recognising how the past continues to live in the present and developing greater freedom in how you respond to yourself, other people and the circumstances of your life.
Where appropriate, I can also incorporate EMDR into therapy, particularly when working with trauma and disturbing experiences.
The relationship between therapist and client is central to effective psychotherapy. I therefore offer an initial exploratory conversation so that you can get a sense of me and how I work, and we can consider whether working together is likely to feel helpful.
Therapy in a private woodland setting
From March to October, I offer face-to-face psychotherapy in a private woodland setting near Ravenstonedale.
Sessions can involve walking, sitting or a combination of the two. Some people find that being outdoors makes it easier to think, speak and sit with difficult feelings. The natural environment can create a greater sense of space and can make therapy feel less confined than meeting in a traditional consulting room.
Outdoor therapy is still psychotherapy. It is not simply a wellbeing walk or an informal conversation. The same professional, ethical and confidentiality standards apply.
Outdoor sessions can be combined with online therapy when the weather, darker months, travel or other circumstances make this more appropriate.
Online psychotherapy
I also work online with clients throughout the UK.
Online therapy can offer greater continuity and flexibility, particularly if you live some distance from Cumbria, travel regularly or find attending a fixed location difficult.
Some clients work entirely online. Others combine regular online sessions with occasional longer sessions in the woodland setting. We can discuss what arrangement is likely to work best for you.
Short-term and longer-term therapy
Therapy can take place over an agreed period or on a more open-ended basis.
Some people come with a particular difficulty and find that six to twelve sessions provide the space they need. Others choose to work for longer, particularly when exploring complex trauma, longstanding relationship patterns, identity or the continuing impact of childhood experiences.
We would review the work together rather than assuming at the outset how long therapy should last.
Sessions are normally held weekly, particularly during the early stages of the work. Where appropriate, we may later agree a different frequency.
About me
I have been practising as a psychologist and psychotherapist for more than twelve years.
My professional qualifications and registrations include:
- Doctorate in Counselling Psychology and Psychotherapy;
- Chartered Counselling Psychologist;
- HCPC-registered Counselling Psychologist;
- UKCP-registered Integrative Psychotherapist;
- Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society; and
- EMDR-trained therapist.
Alongside my clinical practice, I have worked extensively in organisational psychology, leadership, higher education and executive development. This gives me a particular understanding of the pressures associated with demanding professional roles, responsibility, organisational life and periods of career transition.
Whatever your background, I aim to offer a thoughtful, humane and non-judgemental therapeutic relationship in which difficult experiences can be approached with honesty, curiosity and care.
Fees & availability
Standard psychotherapy sessions last 50 minutes and cost £85.
Longer 90-minute sessions, including extended EMDR sessions where appropriate, cost £120.
I retain a limited number of reduced-fee places. These are agreed according to individual circumstances and current availability.
I offer a free exploratory conversation before regular therapy begins. This gives you an opportunity to tell me something about what has brought you to therapy, ask questions and consider whether I may be the right therapist for you.
I am currently accepting a limited number of new clients.
Get in touch
Taking the first step
Making contact with a therapist can feel exposing, especially when you are trying to put something deeply personal into words.
You do not need to write a detailed account of what is happening. A brief message explaining that you are interested in an exploratory conversation is enough.
You can contact me using the confidential form below, email me, or leave a message on 07771 684684.
I usually respond to enquiries within 24 hours during the working week.
Arrange an exploratory conversation
Please note, this practice does not provide an emergency or crisis service. If you believe that you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 or attend your nearest Accident and Emergency department. You can also contact NHS 111, your GP, or Samaritans free of charge on 116 123.
© Matt Hancocks
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