John McGuirk

Curious Beginnings: Though quiet, withdrawn and risk-adverse when I was young, I found myself increasingly drawn to truth, difference, and adventure. After school I studied art & design, then psychology, philosophy, and literature. I questioned everything, so that when I finished, I knew less than I did before and was left with more questions than when I started. A good thing! Still, I struggled to know where I fit in when it came to me and society, and jobs, and living a good life.

New Adventures: Terrified at the prospect but drawn by a thirst for something big and new - and also not knowing what else to do with my life - I took a leap and moved to Japan. I stayed there for 3 years, teaching English. Just as terrifying, I backpacked around South East Asia for 9 months, visiting the beaches of Thailand, the temples of Cambodia, monasteries of Tibet. I'd always had an intuition that the way we did things was not the only way, and this was my way of seeing that for myself.

I came back to Bristol after 4 years, having learnt to meditate deeply, question everything, and seen with my own eyes that there was no right way to live. Only choices. And, consequences. I had to make up my own mind what was best for me, what felt right and good.

Lost & Found: I still struggled to see my place in the world. I did a MA in Buddhist Studies in Bristol, deepening my interest in Buddhist psychology, fascinated by the way the mind really worked. How did the mind even do this thing we call "experience"?!

Then, at the end of the course - panicking that as I approached my 30s I still hadn't found my place in the world - I had a chat with my friend at the time. I told him my struggle. I told him I wanted to contribute, to help people live their truth and face the challenges of life. I told him I wanted to do work I valued, that involved being close to people, but couldn't think what that was aside from being a Buddhist monk! I told him I wanted to continue to explore the mind, and to develop myself.

He shook his head and smiled: "Why don't you become a psychotherapist?"

I owe him a debt of gratitude. I love this work! It’s the right thing to do for someone like me.

Since then, I have studied and practised a vast range of counselling and psycho-therapeutic approaches, including counselling and psychotherapy, movement therapy, creative writing & journaling therapy, body-contact psychotherapy, somatic therapy, mindfulness-based therapy, Jungian psychotherapy, internal family systems (IFS) therapy, constellations therapy, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

Through the practises above, I have encountered what I like to call beautiful moments of “magic” in my life, and I hope to help others share these moments, too!

In my work with clients, I draw upon many of these psychological and philosophical ideas and approaches in both western and eastern cultures.

In practise, then, here's what you can expect:

Acceptance: Together, we will aim to create a space where you can explore and express whatever is going on for you, without fear of judgement. That includes your thoughts, your feelings, your actions, your identity, your sexuality. When we fully embrace what is going on for us here, now, without trying to avoid it, then we can move forward and grow. In this way, like many of my clients, you might experience how valuable and transformative it can be to have a space where you feel free to be fully yourself.

Challenge: That said, I am not just a nodding head. I seek to explore internal conflicts and contradictions in the self. I offer different perspectives. I test assumptions. I note when I feel like something is being avoided. I'll invite you to consider and even try out different thoughts and actions in your life. Many of my clients feedback that they appreciate how challenging I can be, as it gives them a chance to see things from a different perspective, and to try new things in their lives, even if that is just to try accepting things as they are, instead of always fighting them.

Techniques: Finally, in my work (like my life!) I use many different techniques, including empathy, body work, mindfulness, behavioural experiments, imaginative exercises, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, thought-challenging, and ritual as different ways to transform the self and/or achieve personal goals.

Generally I aim to tailor my approach to you, as different things work for different people at different times. I aim to do this in collaboration with you, so that we can find out together what works best for you.

I have worked in mental health for over a decade. I worked full-time at Positive Step, North Somerset as a counsellor for adults, and then worked at Off the Record, Bristol as a therapist for young people, a supervisor for therapists, and a Team Leader, project developer, and trainer in the organisation. In the past, I also worked for Swiis Healthcare, Bristol as a senior support worker, helping adults with learning difficulties, and before that I worked as a care assistant for BUPA Healthcare in a Bristol Nursing Home alongside people living with dementia.

As well as having an established private practice for counselling and supervision, I worked for Young Somerset as a freelance Clinical Director, and supervised advocates at Bristol Mind as an external supervisor. I’ve also offered mentoring & supervision for NHS practitioners using ProReal in the NHS.

I have and currently offer clinical supervision to on-site therapists at Richard Huish College, The Nelson Trust, City of Bristol College, Young Somerset, St. Peter’s Hospice, St. Mungo’s, ProReal, Bristol Mind, and Off the Record.

If you want more details on this you can visit my LinkedIn Profile here.

• FdSc Counselling Degree at City of Bristol College

• Post-Graduate Certificate in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) at Exeter University

• Post-Graduate Diploma in IAPT High Intensity CBT (incl. specialist training in working with Children & Young People)

• Masters Degree in Buddhist Studies at Bristol University

• IAPT Low Intensity Master Class in Working with Long-Term Health Conditions at Exeter University

• BPS Certificate in Supervision

• BPS approved Multidisciplinary Supervision Training

Social Media, Young People, and Mental Health (Reclaim Social Podcast) by Lightful

What do Men Want from Mental Health Services? - BBC Radio Bristol

Why Are Young People Turning to Prescription Drugs by Maria da Silva

Social Media: Not a "Likeable" Story by Kyle Arthur

Youth in Revolt? by Charlotte Millington

• Drug Addiction(s)

• Relationships

• Anger

• Abuse

• Anxiety

• Complicated Bereavement & Loss

• Bullying

• Crisis Management

• Depression

• Feeling Lost and Out of Control of Life

• LGBTQI

• Infidelity

• Long-term Health Conditions

• Men’s Issues

• Mindfulness and Meditation

• Self-Esteem

• Smoke Cessation

• OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)

• Panic Disorder

• Porn/Sex Addiction

• Stress

• Spiritual Crisis

• Trauma

• Ethically Non-Monogamous & Polyamorous Relationships

• Worry or Generalised Anxiety Disorder