Chris Spowage
Tailored Psychotherapy & Hypnotherapy
Hi, I'm Chris, welcome to Gold Top Counselling, your trusted provider of counselling in Lancashire.
I offer personalised and affordable psychotherapy services, specialising in sight loss counselling, depression, anxiety, stress, trauma, childhood abuse, inner child therapy and the Rewind Technique for PTSD.
I can provide face to face counselling sessions, as well as offering the option of online and telephone counselling. Prices start from £25 per hour, with additional discounts available for those under 18 or facing financial hardship.
About me
The first major point in my life was when I got sent to boarding school because of an eye condition which meant I could see long distance, but short distance and detail was affected, so I couldn’t read standard print. During this time I suffered physical, sexual and mental abuse from my house master and his friend over a five year period. Eventually escaping from my abusers, I never did talk about this to anyone.
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After school my career was as a self employed milk man, until 2008 when I was diagnosed with bone cancer. After a five year battle with cancer, I eventually got the all clear and went to work in a petrol station.
In January 2019, I woke up and was totally blind - it turned out that I had suffered a stroke in the night which destroyed the cells in the brain that deal with sight. However this has provided me with the opportunity to work with my beautiful guide dog, Sheena.
This traumatic experience led to my brain still needing to see and brought back images of my child abuse, flashbacks where I was diagnosed with PTSD. I ended up having 12 months of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) Trauma Therapy with sound to confront the trauma of my childhood abuse.
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Now being totally blind and experiencing counselling and the difference it could make, I decided to plunge into a career of counselling and psychotherapy. With my experience of going to a boarding school with others who had sight impairments and physical disabilities, plus now being totally blind myself has given me the experience I need to specialise in counselling and psychotherapy for sight loss.
I am a qualified Psychotherapist with a Foundation Degree in Person-Centred Counselling & Psychotherapy. I am insured with the Psychologist Protection Society and I am also a member of the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society.
Testimonials
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"I actually can't believe how well counselling seems to have worked for me and I will be forever grateful for Chris's help, guidance and inspiration. I can tell that his caring nature comes from personal experience and an understanding of what it must be like to be in my shoes. I looked forward each week to our chats and missed them when counselling came to an end.
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Since our final session I have felt able to tackle all situations, and believe me, some have been quite challenging. I have used the things we discussed and the coping mechanisms you taught me to great effect. I have to admit though that the frustration and anger I felt on the road was a difficult one to overcome and I did have a couple of lapses. After talking to my family about it, and particularly my son I am happy to say that I can now stay so much calmer.
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Over the course of my life I must have said "thank you" a million times but I don't think I ever meant it more than I do now.
Thank you. You have not only helped me but my family too. We are all feeling the benefits of my better moods and outlook."
Lee, Recent Client
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