Hi, I’m Ricky.
I’ve been where you are now — searching for someone who might understand and help. So, I’d like to make that search a little easier by sharing a little about me.
About me
I was born a cheeky and happy young man, but after years of abuse and neglect throughout my childhood, I reached the grand age of seventeen determined to escape. Then, a car collision left me paralysed. The years that followed this traumatic event brought depression, anxiety, low self-worth and a loss of identity. I felt different, and for a long time, I had lost hope in life.
‘One day you will wake up, and you will realise that little by little, you are no longer hurting like you once were.’
Ricky Western
Why do I share this?
Perhaps you can relate to some of what I’ve shared, and I want you to know that I didn’t become a counsellor without understanding, through my own experiences, how profoundly life can change us. I know what it feels like to struggle, to lose your sense of identity and to wonder whether things can ever feel different.
But this is only half of my story… and there is another side to it — one of hope, healing and discovering that life can change again.
‘Trauma is a fact of life, it does not, however, have to be a life sentence.’
Peter Levine
Today, I’m a husband and dad to beautiful twin girls, as well as a person-centred, somatic and trauma-informed counsellor. I’m passionate about helping others and continue to learn through ongoing training so I can offer the best support I can. I specialise in stress and trauma and believe that, while trauma doesn’t define us, it can change how we see ourselves, others and the world. My aim is to provide a safe, supportive space where you can explore your experiences at your own pace.
‘The wound is the place that the light enters you.’
Rumi
I have worked with organisations including Mind in Mid Herts, Walk the Walk and The Road Victims’ Trust, while also building my own private practice, where I hope to welcome you. I’m a registered member of the BACP and fully insured, with experience supporting people from a wide range of backgrounds and with many different physical and psychological experiences.
Outside of counselling, I enjoy keeping active, running in nature, spending time with my family, exploring new places and restaurants, reading, and discovering new films and series.
‘One day you will tell your story of how you overcame what you went through, and it will be someone else’s survival guide’.
Brené Brown