Syd is an accredited Counsellor, CBT Therapist, Applied Positive Psychology Practioner, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Advanced Addiction Professional and Auricular Practitioner.
He works for one of the larger charities in addiction, the Forward Trust, which provide programmes in the community and HMPs, as a Health and Well-being Practitioner. He also has a private practice where he uses additional approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Existential Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Mindfulness Therapy, framed within an Applied Positive Psychology framework.
He is presently studying for a level 7 Diploma in Applied Positive Psychology Research with the Guild and completed his foundation certification in applied positive psychology through Penn State University. Syd would describe himself as an applied positive psychology counsellor, family-orientated, adaptable, and always looking for ways to help others. His top three Character Strengths are Love of Learning, Kindness, and Forgiveness & Mercy.
“I believe that my clients are the experts on their story and have many strengths that will assist them to overcome their challenges and on their journey. It takes courage to adapt or seek change to want a more fulfilling life. I am here to sometime guide but mostly support and empower them on that journey.”
His area of specialisation is Grief, Trauma and Addiction. He has helped clients with: Abandonment, Adoption and Foster Care, Aging and Geriatric Issues, Attachment Issues, Avoidant Personality, Body Image, Caregiver Issues and Stress, Chronic Pain Illness and Disability, Commitment Issues, Communication Problems, Control Issues, Coping with Natural or Human-Caused Disaster, Divorce and Separation, Domestic Violence, Drug and Alcohol Addiction, Emptiness, Expats, Family of Origin Issues, Family Problems, Fatherhood Issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and Shame, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Isolation/Loneliness, Jealousy, Life Purpose, Men’s Issues, Midlife Crisis, Money and Financial Issues, Mood Disorders, Obsessions, Compulsions, and OCD, Panic Disorder and Panic Attacks, Phobias, Post-traumatic Stress, Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling), Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-Harm, Self-Love, Smoking/Vaping Cessation, Social Anxiety and Phobia, Somatization, Workplace Issues.
He has followed various career paths qualifying with the American College of Sports Medicine and helped to set up a Sports and Cardiac Rehabilitation Centre in Chelsea and Harley Street, London, and was a freelance Teaching the Teachers (Fitness and Exercise) course director for the Y.M.C.A. Worked for the NHS as a regional health promotion officer for SW London Surrey and Sussex, championing coronary heart disease prevention (CHD) and Health in the Workplace. In his annual report (1992) The Look After Your Heart Programme was introduced to 3.9 million employees over three years. He has personally assisted over 60 businesses to restructure and refinance. Managed several successful property developments and has run three small businesses.
