Person centred therapy in Cornwall and online across the UK
Person centred therapy is grounded in the idea that you are the expert in your own experience. First established by Carl Rogers, it is a relational, emotionally attuned approach that helps you feel safe enough to understand what’s happening inside and explore change at your own pace (Rogers, 1957).
My work is calm, steady and human. I offer person centred therapy face-to-face in Cornwall — indoors or outdoors — and online across the UK. I also weave in gentle reflective practices such as therapeutic photography when helpful, drawing from contemporary research on imagery, emotion and meaning-making (Weiser, 1993; Cooper, 2007).
What person centred therapy is
Rogers proposed that people grow when they are met with empathy, genuineness and unconditional positive regard — the “core conditions” for therapeutic change (Rogers, 1957). Contemporary person centred writers deepen this into a focus on presence, emotional contact and relational depth (Cooper, 2007; Worsley, 2018).
Relational at the core
We don’t rush. We build a genuine relationship where you can say things as they are — without fear of judgement or pressure to “hold it together”.
Your pace, your process
Evidence suggests therapy is most effective when clients lead the direction and pace of the work (Sanders & Hill, 2014). You decide what feels important, and we move from there.
Emotion-focused and embodied
Person centred therapy helps you tune into your emotional world safely — a key driver of psychological change and wellbeing (Murphy & Joseph, 2013). We pay attention to feelings, bodily signals and patterns.
What person centred therapy feels like
Many people describe it as “a relief” — finally having a space where they don’t need to perform or tidy their story before speaking.
- A slower, spacious environment where you can hear yourself think
- A warm, grounded presence alongside you — not analysing you from a distance
- Conversations that unfold naturally, with careful attention
- Moments of silence, reflection and emotional clarity
- A sense of being met, not managed
These moments of genuine contact are sometimes described as relational depth (Mearns & Cooper, 2005).
Ways we can work together
Person centred therapy adapts to what your nervous system can manage and where you are in life.
In Cornwall (indoors)
Face-to-face therapy in a quiet, grounded space in Cornwall. A steady time to bring what you’re carrying, talk things through and notice how you actually feel.
Outdoors therapy
For some people, walking or sitting outdoors helps their body settle. Being in natural spaces can support regulation, perspective and emotional contact.
Online across the UK
If you’re elsewhere in the UK, we can work online. Research suggests online person centred therapy can be as effective as in-person work when the relationship feels strong (Murphy et al., 2021).
How therapeutic photography supports person centred therapy
Person centred therapy blends naturally with therapeutic photography for emotional wellbeing. Weiser (1993) described how photographs can reveal emotional processes, support grounding, and deepen self-understanding when used within a safe therapeutic frame.
In practice, this might look like using your phone or camera between sessions or during simple exercises: noticing what you’re drawn to, what feels heavy or light, and what resonates with your inner state.
Together we explore what those images evoke — always at your pace. This aligns with contemporary person centred and experiential ideas about imagery, emotion and meaning-making (Cooper, 2007).
You don’t need photography skills. The emphasis is presence and curiosity, not creating “good” pictures.
Themes we might explore
- inner and outer landscapes
- signs of overwhelm, safety or relief
- places your body feels a fraction lighter
- objects or scenes that “hold” particular feelings
- shifts in perspective or emotional tone over time
Is person centred therapy right for you?
- You feel overwhelmed, anxious or low, and want space to understand why.
- You struggle with self-criticism or not feeling “good enough”.
- You’re carrying past experiences that still affect you now.
- You feel disconnected from your emotions, your body or your sense of direction.
- You’re usually holding everything together for others, with very little space for yourself.
- You’d like a therapist who is calm, present and not easily shocked.
If you’re unsure whether this is the right approach, we can talk it through in a short call.
Begin person centred therapy
You don’t need perfect words. “Something doesn’t feel right” is enough to start.
References
Cooper, M. (2007). Person-centred therapy: 100 key points. Routledge.
Mearns, D., & Cooper, M. (2005). Working at relational depth in counselling and psychotherapy. SAGE.
Murphy, D., & Joseph, S. (2013). Person-centred therapy: A pluralistic perspective. SAGE.
Murphy, D., et al. (2021). Online person-centred therapy: Effectiveness and client experience. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling.
Rogers, C. R. (1957). The necessary and sufficient conditions of therapeutic personality change. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 21(2), 95–103.
Sanders, P., & Hill, A. (2014). Counselling for depression. SAGE.
Weiser, J. (1993). PhotoTherapy techniques. Jossey-Bass.
Worsley, R. (2018). The person-centred approach: A contemporary introduction. Palgrave Macmillan.
