Most of us were never really taught how to talk about what’s going on inside us. We learned how to cope, to carry on and to not make a fuss. Therapy is a different kind of conversation, and it works best when it doesn’t feel like therapy — when the room is comfortable, the person opposite you is easy to talk to, and there’s no pressure to perform or have it all worked out.
I’m Ryan, a qualified counsellor based in Redruth, working with adults across Cornwall both in person and online.
I work with adults of all ages and walks of life, with whatever they bring through the door. That might be anxiety that won’t quieten down, a grief you haven’t been able to put words to, a relationship that’s lost its way, or a creeping sense that you’ve been performing a version of yourself for too long.
Some of the people I see can’t quite put their finger on what’s wrong, only that something is off. Others arrive carrying much heavier histories — addiction, prison, difficult family backgrounds, or things they’ve never told anyone. Both are welcome, and both get the same compassion and care. No story is too small, and none is too much.
If you’ve been putting this off, you’re not alone. Most people leave it longer than they wish they had, and many tell me afterwards that the first session felt far less daunting than they’d imagined. There’s no need to wait until things feel like a crisis before reaching out.
Person-centred counselling isn’t about me sitting opposite you with a notebook, diagnosing or directing. You set the pace, and we work with whatever you bring, in whatever order feels right.
Some sessions are full of words. Others can feel more reflective and thougthful, sometimes silence is where a deeper intrinsic understanding happens. You won’t be pushed to express emotions, to perform or open up before you’re ready. And you won’t be judged for your story. My job is to listen carefully, reflect honestly, and help you make sense of what’s underneath the surface.
Over time, you may begin to recognise your own patterns more clearly, quietening the inner critic and having more control over the unconsious influences that fuel those challenging thoughts and feelings.
Sitting with you in what you're feeling, rather than rushing to fix it. That's usually where the real shifts begin, and where you start to feel less alone with it.
Counselling is somewhere you can drop the mask and be met as the person you truly are. Not the version you show at work, or for your family, or the one that gets you through the day. It's a space to just be yourself.
There's no part of your story that will be too much or too heavy. Whatever you bring stays in the room and is always met with compassion and care.
Counselling is the third chapter of my working life. I started out as a steelworker at a local shipyard here in Cornwall. The shifts were long and the conditions were tough, but it was an incredible experience for a 16 year old out of school. After that I trained as a graphic designer and ran a small creative studio for many years. Both careers taught me different things: one about resilience and showing up when it’s tough, the other about curiosity, craft, and looking at the world from more than one angle. Both shape the way I sit with people now.
I came to counselling through volunteering in listening roles. People often told me I was easy to talk to, but I was drawn to the stories people shared and the connection that only seems to happen when someone feels properly heard. That stuck with me, and eventually became this.
Away from work, it’s mostly walking Reggie the Labrador, a house that’s perpetually mid-renovation, a Triumph Bonneville that gets ridden more in theory than in practice, and a love of collecting vinyl and occasionally playing music.
I hold a Level 5 Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling, with further training in counselling studies, counselling skills, and Mental Health First Aid. I’ve also completed the Samaritans Core Training, which deepened my ability to stay present with people in moments of real distress.
I’m a registered member of the BACP, fully insured, and hold an Enhanced DBS certificate. My work is regularly supervised, in line with BACP requirements, to make sure the care I offer remains thoughtful, ethical and safe.
My counselling room is in The Buttermarket on Station Road in Redruth — a quiet, comfortable space that’s easy to reach by car or on foot from the train station. I see clients from across Cornwall, including Camborne, Truro, Falmouth, Hayle, St Ives, Penzance and the surrounding villages.
If travel doesn’t suit you, or you’d simply prefer it, we can meet online or by phone.