HICKS COUNSELLING & MENTAL WELLBEING

Navigate change with clarity

Postgraduate Psychotherapist in Training with an HNC in Counselling Skills, bringing life experience, compassion and care to people finding their footing when life shifts.

Currently in training. Not yet taking private clients.

Hicks Counselling monogram: an H with a lighthouse, sun and sea

About

A steady presence for life's turning points

Change rarely arrives at a convenient time. I want to offer people a calm, honest space to make sense of it.

I'm Ray. My working life has given me a close view of the many ways people meet change. Some meet it with confidence, some with worry, and many quietly carry more than others can see.

I've navigated changes in my own life too. Those experiences taught me what it means to be supported well, and they shape how I support others today, with compassion, empathy and a real sense of care, in a space that feels safe.

In 2024, while focusing on my career, I began retraining in counselling. I completed an HNC in Counselling Skills and I'm now studying for a Postgraduate Diploma and MSc in Psychotherapy and Counselling. Alongside my studies I continue to work in a professional business environment, and I have supported local charities, including as a board member. This site follows that journey, from training and supervised placement towards qualified practice.

I wish to support individuals who find it hard to talk, and anyone who is navigating change, loss or uncertainty.

Structured

Clear boundaries and a consistent, reliable space.

Pragmatic

Grounded in real life, not jargon.

Approachable

Warm, direct and free of judgement.

Safe

Confidential, ethical and supervised practice.

My journey

Every step, in order, with where I am now marked clearly.

  1. Understanding how people meet change

    Life and workFoundation

    A career working closely with people, and my own experience of change, taught me how differently we each respond, and how much it matters to be met with patience and care.

  2. Early counselling experience

    Peer support at workFoundation

    Through a peer-to-peer support network at a large UK employer, I supported colleagues through difficult life events, including bereavement and personal challenges, and helped colleagues feel heard at work.

  3. 2024 to 2026

    Counselling studies and HNC Counselling SkillsCompleted

    Retraining in counselling alongside work, building core skills in active listening, empathy, boundaries and ethical practice.

  4. Ongoing

    Placement, community and charity workOngoing

    Supervised counselling placement as part of my training, alongside supporting local charities, including board membership, and putting care into practice close to home.

  5. 2026 to 2029

    PgDip and MSc, Psychotherapy and CounsellingIn progress

    Postgraduate training at Glasgow Caledonian University, including person-centred, psychodynamic and cognitive behavioural approaches, with supervised placement practice.

Working together

Who this site is for

Placement providers

I'm building supervised placement experience as part of my postgraduate training.

  • Reliable, organised and comfortable working within clear structures
  • Committed to supervision and reflective practice
  • Experienced in supporting people through difficult times, through workplace peer support and charity work

Organisations

I understand how change lands on people at work, and how much a supportive conversation can help.

  • Open to conversations about wellbeing at work and supporting people through change
  • Future services will follow qualification

Individuals

I'm not yet able to offer private counselling. If you need support now, the helplines below are free and confidential, and your GP can talk you through local services.

Training & ethics

Where I am on my journey

Throughout my training I follow the ethical guidelines of COSCA (Counselling and Psychotherapy in Scotland) and BACP (the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy). They shape how I work at every stage, from placement to future practice.

Confidentiality
Respecting privacy and keeping personal information safe and secure.
Supervision
All client work during training is reviewed with a qualified clinical supervisor.
Boundaries
Clear, consistent boundaries that keep the working relationship safe.
Competence
Working only within the limits of my training and experience.
Ongoing learning
Reflective practice and continuing professional development.

Contact

Get in touch

For placement enquiries, professional contacts or questions about my training, email me. Every message is read and answered personally.

hello@hickscounselling.co.uk

Follow the journey

Need to talk to someone now?

Support is available any time. These services are free and confidential.

Samaritans116 123, 24 hours
Breathing Space0800 83 85 87
NHS 24111
ShoutText SHOUT to 85258
EmergencyCall 999