RICHARD WHITELAW

I’m a counsellor and coach based in Marsden, West Yorkshire. I’m a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I’m an integrative practitioner, which means that after establishing a good working relationship with you, we’ll collaborate to find the best approaches to support the changes that you would like to make at a pace that suits you.

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My experience includes years spent volunteering and counselling in suicide respite and bereavement settings. I have an extensive professional background in the funded arts sector. For 14 years I worked at senior leadership level in two national music organisations where I specialised in developing and leading professional development programmes for artists and composers.

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I trained in coaching with Relational Dynamics 1st in 2014 and, as part of my role as Director of Programmes at Sound and Music, I went on to develop and lead a national coaching programme for composers. I received my Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy from the University of East London in August 2018.

Drawing on my extensive background in music, I have delivered training in a range of organisations and academic institutions to composers and instrumentalists. This broad ranging work aims to give participants tools and perspectives that they can use as they negotiate the competitive field of professional musicianship.

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As a coach and counsellor I’ve worked with dozens of individual clients. I’m experienced at working both face to face and remotely online or via telephone. I can work at great depth with clients, or help to focus attention on strategies and immediate planning according to need. I have worked as a coach, trainer and facilitator for many cultural organisations including Trinity Laban Conservatoire, The London Philharmonic Orchestra, The National Theatre, The Royal Academy of Music, Snape Maltings, Sound and Music, Jazz North, Ty Cerdd and Cardboard Citizens. I’m Chair of Trustees of the Marsden Jazz Festival and I hold a PhD in Electroacoustic Composition from the University of Birmingham.

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Sessions and Fees

The work we do together might be brief or longer term, depending on what you want to change or improve in your life. There will be something that you want to be different and better than it is now. We can work to identify the changes you would like to make and to get to work on them.

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If you are interested in working with me, or finding out more, please be in touch so we can set up a free 30 minute consultation call. There is no obligation to continue with the work after the consultation call.

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Counselling and coaching sessions are typically in regular weekly slots and last for 60mins. We’ll agree the number of sessions that we will do when we start and then review once the agreed amount has been completed. I am fully insured to deliver my work, I abide by the Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions laid out by my professional body, the BACP, and I receive regular supervision in my work by a qualified supervisor.

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Due to the situation with coronavirus I am currently not offering face to face sessions, so all sessions with be online or over the phone.

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If you are representing an organisation please just contact me directly and we can have a chat about what you need.

Fees

For private clients I currently charge £40 per session

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Scheduled sessions must be cancelled with 24hrs prior notice to avoid them being charged to the client.