The Blended Counselling Practice | Brighton & Hove
Men's Counselling & Workplace Support in Brighton, Hove & Online
Walk & Talk therapy on Brighton beach, face-to-face, online or by phone.
"What works for you is what matters most to me."
While specializing in dedicated support for men and regional corporate teams, women are always warmly welcome to reach out for individual therapy.
Gary's empathetic approach helped me navigate one of the toughest periods of my life.
Welcome - I'm glad you're here.
I'm Gary Jessop, a counsellor based in Brighton and Hove, working across Sussex and online throughout the UK. My work is grounded in compassion and respect, creating a space where you can slow down and feel truly listened to.
"Sometimes the strongest thing a man can do is ask for help."
I have a particular focus on supporting men through stress, burnout, grief, and life's pressures — but women are always warmly welcome too.
Life can feel heavy at times - work pressures, relationship difficulties, burnout, bereavement, or simply feeling disconnected from yourself. You don't have to carry it alone.
Counselling with me isn't about fixing you. It's about giving yourself permission to pause, notice how you feel, and explore what's going on in a safe and supportive environment. You don't need to be in crisis to come to counselling. Many people come simply because something feels 'off,' or because they want to take better care of themselves.
My approach is simple: I believe counselling works best when it feels warm and human. The word "Blended" reflects the flexibility in how sessions can take place, depending on what supports you best. You can choose from in-house sessions at the Float Spa, online, by phone, or Walk and Talk sessions (by the beach or on the South Downs). This flexibility allows you to receive support in a way that suits you, with careful attention given to the relationship we build, so you can feel heard and understood.
I understand that some people like to read bullet points, or prefer to have more information before reaching out. With this in mind, I've created a Bullet Point tab, plus the normal tabs with more information — so please choose what is right for you.
It's okay to take your time.
It's okay to be unsure.
You are allowed to explore your feelings at your own pace.
Gary's empathetic approach helped me navigate one of the toughest periods of my life.
Individual Counselling
I offer individual counselling for adults in a calm and confidential setting in Brighton and Hove, as well as online across the UK.
Face-to-face
In Brighton and Hove
Online
Across the UK
Telephone
From anywhere
Walk-and-talk
Outdoor sessions
You are welcome to choose what feels most comfortable, and this can change over time.
Gary's empathetic approach helped me navigate one of the toughest periods of my life.
Walk-and-Talk Counselling
Walk-and-talk counselling offers a flexible, outdoor approach. We might meet at The Float Spa and walk down towards the sea, or begin at the Dyke and take a walk along the South Downs.
For many people, walking side by side can feel less intense than sitting opposite one another in a room. Being outdoors can feel grounding and spacious.
Some clients appreciate that it fits more easily into a busy schedule, and others find it a gentler way to begin their first counselling session.
Whatever feels right for you — in-room, online, by phone, or outdoors — we can shape the sessions around that.
People Come for Many Different Reasons
There is no single reason to begin counselling. You might be experiencing:
Anxiety, stress, or feeling overwhelmed
Low mood or emotional exhaustion
Burnout
Work-related pressures
Relationship challenges
Loss, change, or life transitions
Financial stress and wellbeing
Milestones
Sometimes we reach certain ages or stages - 30, 40, 50 and beyond - where we reflect on where we are and where we're heading. This might involve career change, starting a family, or simply noticing a sense of dissatisfaction and wanting to check in with yourself.
Bereavement and loss
Grief does not only follow death. Throughout our lives we experience chapters of loss, and the stages of grief can weave through our experiences without us fully recognising them. You don't have to navigate that alone.
Financial Wellbeing Support
Financial stress can feel overwhelming and affect many areas of everyday life. I offer a calm, confidential space to talk through your financial concerns, helping you gain clarity and reduce some of the pressure you may be feeling.
While I am not an Independent Financial Advisor, my experience working with numbers allows me to support you in looking at your finances from a different perspective and thinking about practical next steps.
If you're feeling stressed about money, you don't have to face it alone. I'm here to offer supportive financial wellbeing conversations to help you feel calmer and more in control.
Sometimes we don't fully understand why we feel the way we do - and that's okay. You don't need to arrive with clarity. We can gently explore things together, at a pace that feels manageable for you.
Gary's empathetic approach helped me navigate one of the toughest periods of my life.
Specialist Areas
Brighton, Hove and Sussex
Burnout can feel like deep exhaustion, detachment, loss of clarity, or a sense that you're running on empty. It often builds quietly. Together, we can explore what has led you here and consider what needs to change so that life feels more sustainable.
Brighton, Hove and Sussex
Grief can feel confusing, lonely, and unpredictable. Bereavement counselling offers space to process your loss in your own way and in your own time. I provide support with warmth, patience, and respect for your individual experience.
Brighton, Hove and Sussex
Suicide is a subject that pops up far too often. I have attended the Livingworks Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, and also cover this within Bereavement. I am here to help support where I can, offering a safe, non-judgemental space where it can be talked about openly.
Help for people in crisis
I am not an emergency counselling service and it may take time to arrange an initial appointment.
If you require mental health support right now and need to speak to someone urgently, please consider calling The Samaritans who are available 24 hours a day, every day on 116 123 or text SHOUT to 85258.
Gary's empathetic approach helped me navigate one of the toughest periods of my life.
About Me
I'm Gary Jessop. Before stepping into the wellness world. I worked in the corporate world and crewed a 68ft yacht in the Clipper Round the World Race - not as an achievement, but as a reset. Facing the ocean's challenges, both physical and emotional, gave me a new perspective and reminded me that time and tide wait for no one.
Years later, when burnout caught up with me in the corporate world, I knew it was time for another kind of change. That journey is part of what brought me into counselling - because I know first-hand that sometimes we all need support, or simply somewhere to offload.
My sister gave me a compass with a note saying "So you always know where you are." We always know where we are - but sometimes we feel our journey has gone off track. I'm here to help you navigate.
'Sometimes not having what we want or what we thought we wanted leads to a better road'
Gary's empathetic approach helped me navigate one of the toughest periods of my life.
Session Pricing
All session types are priced the same - face-to-face, online, phone, and walk-and-talk.
50 minutes per session
- Review session in the fourth meeting to plan for the future
- Option to continue with more sessions or plan an ending
- Endings are important and thoughtfully planned together
90 minutes per session
- Longer time for deeper exploration
- Works particularly well for walk-and-talk sessions
- Available for all session types
All session formats - face-to-face, online, phone, and walk-and-talk - are priced the same.
I kindly ask for 48 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule. Where this isn't possible, the full session fee will apply - though I always appreciate a message and am happy to have a conversation if something unexpected comes up.
Getting Started / What Happens Next and How I Work
Reaching out for support can feel like a big step - and it's completely okay if you're feeling unsure or nervous about it.
If you feel ready, click the Get in Touch button and send me a brief email. You don't need to explain everything - just a few lines about what's bringing you here and a request to arrange an initial call is enough.
We'll then arrange a telephone consultation. This isn't a therapy session, but a gentle first conversation - a chance for us to introduce ourselves, for you to share what feels comfortable, and to ask any questions. Finding the right fit matters.
If you decide to continue, we'll arrange your first session at Float Spa, where there is a calm and welcoming reception. From there we'll meet in the therapy room, or, if you'd prefer, we can begin with a Walk and Talk session outdoors.
I usually suggest starting with six sessions, with a check-in around session four to reflect on how things are feeling and decide together what's next. Your time slot will be reserved for you, with flexibility where possible if life changes.
You don't need to have the right words or all the answers before reaching out. We can begin wherever you are.
Other Support I Offer
In-House Workplace Counselling
Brighton, Hove and Sussex
Look after your team and they will look after you.
Supporting your staff's wellbeing is not just important — it is essential. When people feel supported in the right way, the benefits ripple throughout the organisation: increased productivity, reduced sickness absence, improved morale, and a healthier, more positive working environment.
I offer a bespoke in-house counselling service designed to understand the culture and needs of your organisation. By working within your workplace — for example, on a monthly basis — I provide a confidential and supportive space where staff can feel heard, valued, and understood.
Read more to discover how this service could support your team.
Men's Compass Room
Men's Counselling — Hove
What I've seen in men's counselling sessions is that many men experience feelings of isolation, the pressures of work taking over, or simply get so wrapped up in life that they forget how to meet new people.
That inspired me to create the Men's Compass Room — a safe, confidential space for men to come together, have unfiltered conversations, and be heard. I'm also introducing a Pickleball social, new to many of us, as a way to gather, have some laughs, and connect in a relaxed environment.
While this is not a formal counselling session, being part of a group of men sharing experiences often brings its own sense of support and therapy. The aim is simple: create a space where men can come together, share experiences, reflect, and talk about the important things in life and be heard.
Men's Circle
1st Monday of the month
The Float Spa, Hove
£11 per person
Men's Pickleball Social
3rd Tuesday of the month
Hove Beach Pickleball Courts (behind Rockwater)
£11 per person
Help me build this community and be a part of it. Spaces are limited — book your place via Eventbrite.
