Welcome to Acacia Psychological Services. We are a private psychotherapeutic practice in the heart of Manchester, specialising in meaning-centred, evidence-based psychological services.
For individuals, we offer coaching and counselling with BACP registered practitioners. For workplaces, we offer executive coaching, workplace wellbeing services, training and compliance programmes.
Currently, services are available 10:00 - 20:00, Monday - Friday, via Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams, with face-to-face services resuming later in the year.
Get to know our coaches, counsellors, and associates.
Our Mission
We are an LGBTQIA+ owned, ethical, local business on a mission.
Availability
See our business hours and general availability.
COVID-19 Safety
Keeping you and our team safe in face-to-face sessions.
About Meaning in Life Psychology
Meaning and Wellbeing
What do you want from life? What gives you purpose? What makes you feel like you matter? The psychology of personal meaning has far-reaching implications for our wellbeing and our practitioners can help you tap into it.
Since neurologist Viktor Frankl, reflecting on his time in Auschwitz, wrote his famous phrase, "if you have a why, you can bear any how," psychologists have been studying the effects that a personal sense of meaning can have on our wellbeing.
While the core of any therapy is a positive and trusting relationship between client and practitioner, our approach takes seriously those things which make you feel like you matter, which help you understand your place in the world, and which drive you to higher goals and a sense of purpose.
Books, videos, papers and more on meaning and its cultivation.
Our Personal Services
Personal Services
Whether you want to heal the past, understand the present, or craft a new future, you don't have to do it alone.
Our therapies focus on cultivating character strengths, positive identity, and meaningful ways of engaging with the world around us, so that you can take steps towards a better life.
We pride ourselves on creating safe, confidential spaces for clients to explore the meaningful aspects of life, identity, work, relationships and beyond.
Invest in your potential and build a meaningful future with our coaching offers.
Counselling
Overcome struggles and master your emotional reactions with our counselling and psychotherapy services.
Our Workplace Services
Meaningful Workplaces
At least one in six workers experience common mental health problems, including anxiety and depression, and poor mental health is the number one reason for staff absence.
Whether you're a manager wanting to build a resilient team, a senior leader looking for executive coaching, or want to get some training as an investment in your people and your businesses' ISO 45003 compliance, we can help.
We offer workplace wellbeing training, workshops, and resources, as well as executive coaching for leaders at every level of corporate or third-sector life.
See our range of workplace wellbeing training and workshop offers.
Executive Coaching
Face the challenges of leadership confidently with our executive coaching offers.
Strategy & Compliance
Develop an effective wellbeing strategy and work toward ISO 45003 certification.
Wellbeing Action Plans
Take a simple proactive step toward staff wellbeing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some common questions relating to our coaching, counselling, and workplace services.
Can't find the answer you're looking for? Our team are happy to answer any questions you have - get in touch today.
If you find yourself feeling unsafe or in crisis, contact your GP, ring 999, or go to your local Accident and Emergency ward.
There are many issues and situations coaching and counselling can help with, such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, relationship issues, self-image, stress, self harm, bereavement and loss. The reasons people seek therapy are highly individual. Get in touch and our team can talk you through your options with no obligation.
Yes! We are also LGBTQIA+ owned.
Yes, we are always looking for ways to make our practice more accessible. Let us know your specific needs using the contact page.
Bank transfer is preferred but we accept all major debit and credit cards as well as some popular cryptocurrencies. Some individual practitioners accept cash payments, none accept cheques.
Yes, all of our coaches and counsellors hold enhanced DBS certificates and are insured through Holistic Insurance Services
Yes. We offer coaching, counselling, workshops and training via all popular video conferencing software.
Yes. You can view our working agreements for coaching and counselling services on our documents page. Working agreements help you and your coach or counsellor set the boundaries and expectations of your sessions.
Coaching and counselling may look very similar but have very different aims and methods. An easy way to think of them is that counselling deals with healing – whether that’s healing from trauma, mental illness or workplace stress; whereas coaching deals with development or enhancement – whether developing skills, building character strengths or enhancing our sense of meaning and purpose in life.
Coaching is for anyone seeking to deepen their self-awareness, build new skills or broaden their personal horizons. But the reasons people seek coaching are highly individual. Get in touch and our team can talk you through your options with no obligation.
Counselling is for anyone seeking healing and understanding of mental health concerns. Many people seek counselling in times of pain, change and uncertainty, such as mental health problems or illness, relationship problems or the break-up of a relationship, depression, anxiety, work stress, bereavement, insomnia etc. But the reasons people seek counselling are highly individual. Get in touch and our team can talk you through your options with no obligation.
You can ask your therapist any questions related to how they work and their training, their professional memberships as well as their experience, but how you feel in session is most important.
Do your sessions feel comfortable and safe? Do you feel seen and understood? If not, it is important to raise your concerns. A good coach or counsellor will acknowledge your concerns and work with you to resolve them. If your concerns cannot be resolved your coach or counsellor can offer you an introduction or signposting to other practitioners who may be a better fit.
We offer both fixed-term and flexible/ongoing coaching and counselling. Fixed-term services are between 4 and 12 sessions. If you’re looking for sessions longer-term, flexible sessions might be the better option for you. Although some therapy services make an estimate, we believe that this is not ethical. Ideally, you will find the right time to end your sessions together with your therapists to ensure that you are leaving with a positive experience of autonomy and independence. Most coaches and counsellors offer regular reviews every 5-6 sessions to check how you are doing. It is not in the interest of you or the coach/counsellor to encourage sessions for longer than necessary.
Personal services (coaching and counselling) are currently priced at £60 per hour. Discounts are available for fixed-term bookings (e.g., a block of 6 sessions), students and people who are unemployed.
Workplace services are priced based on your organisation’s size and charitable status. Get in touch for a quote with no obligation.
Counselling sessions are usually weekly, in some cases bi-weekly. Coaching sessions are usually weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. We do not recommend less frequent than this as it would not allow for continuity which can make therapy less effective, however, this is entirely up to you and your coach/counsellor to agree on.
It is important to attend sessions regularly. If you need to cancel it is important to do this at least 24 hours in advance otherwise you will have to pay for the missed session.
You can contact us via our contact form or by WhatsApp, email or phone. Our contact details are on our Contact page.
If contacting us by phone it is very likely that you will get through to voicemail. Please leave your name and number and also indicate what times it is ok for us to contact you. This is especially important if you are leaving a landline number that you share with others as we want to protect your privacy. We will be touch within 24 hours and you can discuss your needs and availability. If you do not hear back from us, please try again. Most likely it might have been a glitch in the email system, or your voicemail was not clear enough. All your details will be held in strict confidence.
Once you have arranged an appointment, we suggest that you reflect on what you would like to find out about therapy and what you would like the therapist to know about you that is most important for you. That way you can both determine if you are a good match.
We are unable to offer couples coaching or counselling at the moment. However, we work with new associate therapists, coaches and organisations all the time – check our team profiles page for more details.
We can only offer services to adults (18+) at the moment. However, we work with new associate therapists, coaches and organisations all the time – check our team profiles page for more details.
If you think that your therapist is not the right match, raise this with him or her. If you don't feel you can or don't want to, please make sure that you give them enough notice when cancelling your next session. We always recommend giving feedback to your therapist about how you are feeling in therapy as this gives your therapist a better insight what works and what doesn't and he/she can tailor their approach to your individual needs better. If you want to see a different therapist at the centre, please send an email to us asking to see someone else.
Check in with your therapist regularly about your progress. Sometimes taking the last few steps on your journey on your own can be more empowering whilst staying in therapy for too long can become frustrating. Your therapist's goal is always to help you not need therapy, hence, if you reflect on your journey and where you are at will help you find the right time for yourself.
Some clients also like to keep a diary of their therapy process which can be very helpful.
It is important that you give the therapist at least 24 hours’ notice in case you need to cancel your appointment. Don't just not turn up. No-shows are a loss of a session for someone else who might need it, and a waste of time and money for the therapist. We try to accommodate you and in return rely on the courtesy of a cancellation in case you have changed your mind or would like to rearrange.
Get In Touch
Contact Details
We try to respond to all messages within 1 working day.
Hi, I'm Peter. I am a fully qualified, experienced, BACP-registered coach, counsellor and psychotherapist and I have supported clients from a range of ages and backgrounds on a wide variety of issues.
Formerly a team-leader at the mental health charity, Mind, I began counselling at a local drug and alcohol recovery charity. After studying on Europe's first Positive Psychology & Coaching Psychology Master's degree, I studied and wrote on the psychological benefits of a sense of meaning in life, particularly for young people.
I now offer Positive Psychology coaching and person-centred (humanistic) counselling online and in-person in the centre of Manchester.
Your First Session
Trust and a good working relationship are central to making progress in coaching and counselling. Our first session together will be a no-obligation chance for us to get to know each other and for us to establish what it is you want from this process. We'll spend around 20 minutes going through our working agreement to make sure we're on the same page.
What I Can Help With
Abuse, Anger management, Anxiety, Bereavement, Cultural issues, Depression, Disability, Health related issues, Identity issues, Infertility, LGBTQIA+ issues, Loss, Men's issues, Obsessions and compulsions, Post-traumatic stress, Redundancy, Relationships, Self esteem, Self-harm, Service veterans, Sex and sexuality related issues, Spirituality, Stress, Trauma, Work related issues
My Approach
My approach is positive and asset-based which means we focus on building your positive skills and abilities to help you help yourself.
Our work together is strictly confidential. I follow the BACP Ethical Framework and have up-to-date insurance and ICO registration. I also have my own supervision and love to stay up-to-date with CPD.
Coaching: Positive Psychology / Meaning-Centred
Counselling: Person-Centred (Humanistic)
Clients I Work With
Adults (18+), EAP
Delivery Methods
I work with clients online (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet) and in person at my premises in central Manchester.
We will be adding our associate network to this page in the coming months. Check back soon.
Our mission is to champion meaning-centred psychological services by making them accessible.
Meaning-in-life is a key component of psychological wellbeing. It can be the difference between an uplifting career or a dead-end job, between a fulfilling relationship and being stuck in a rut, between languishing and thriving. If we want to improve the mental health landscape for individuals and organisations, we must take people's sense of meaning seriously and give people the tools to make life more meaningful.
Values
Affirming - Our services are accessible, and our practitioners take what matters to you seriously without judgement.
Safe - Our services and practitioners are held to the highest standards of safe and confidential practice.
Effective - Our services are evidence-based and produce results clients want.
We make sure we're living up to our values through continuous professional development and client feedback.
Day
Hours
Monday
10:00 - 20:00
Tuesday
10:00 - 20:00
Wednesday
10:00 - 20:00
Thursday
10:00 - 20:00
Friday
10:00 - 20:00
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed
Personal appointments are currently available within 10 working days of enquiry.
For workplace service availability, contact us to discuss your needs.
Below are some of the practices we have put in place to ensure the safety of our team and our clients. If you are in a vulnerable group or have any need or concerns, please discuss this with your coach/counsellor before your session. We offer sessions online if you would prefer not to meet face-to-face.
Please do not attend your session if you feel unwell, have any COVID-19 symptoms, or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days. Do not rebook your session until after you have self-isolated.
Before your session
Your coach/counsellor will discuss any additional safety needs you may need/want.
Your coach/counsellor will have carried out a risk assessment on their premises and can share this with you at your request.
Your coach/counsellor will ensure that any touch points and surfaces are cleaned before each session.
Note that access to facilities such as toilets may be restricted. Your coach/counsellor will tell you if this is the case for their premises.
During your session
Your coach/counsellor will be able to provide anti-bacterial hand gel.
Your coach/counsellor will not be able to provide tissues or refreshments. Please feel free to bring your own.
Social distancing will be adhered to at all times during session. If your coach/counsellor’s premises do not allow for social distancing, they will let you know beforehand.
Your coach/counsellor’s premises will be well ventilated.
After your session
We ask that you take any belongings, including any tissues or refreshments, with you.
We've all wondered about the meaning of life, but the meaning of our individual life is just as important.
Meaning in life has three main characteristics:
Comprehension - a sense that your life and your place in the world make sense.
Significance - a sense that we matter and that our lives are important.
Purpose - highly motivating, long-term goals.
Of course, these aren't the only things that make our lives meaningful, but they are useful central aspects we can work with in coaching and counselling.
Our approach is non-judgemental and client-led. This means that your frame-of-reference, your experience and understanding of your life and the situation, is considered the "expert" opinion. Your coach / counsellor is not there to prescribe or diagnose, instead we use coaching and counselling skills to help you explore your experience in a transparent, non-judgemental, and empathic environment.
Having a sense of meaning has many physical and psychological benefits. The evidence for the importance of meaning in life is clear:
"MIL decreases substance misuse (Csabonyi & Phillips, 2017) and need for psychiatric intervention (Battista & Almond, 1973), while ‘strong negative associations’ exist between MIL and ‘depression, anxiety, interpersonal sensitivity and general psychological distress’ (Debats, Van Der Lubbe, & Wezeman, 1993, pp. 343-344). Presence of MIL also increases life satisfaction (Santos, Oguan, Magramo, Paat, & Barnachea, 2012) and ‘global psychological wellbeing, self-acceptation, environmental mastery, and positive relations’ (Garcia-Alandete, 2015, p. 89)."
Hughes & Lomas (2021); European Journal of Applied Positive Psychology
New research is published regularly in this field. If you are academically minded, you may like to check the Journal of Positive Psychology and European Journal of Applied Positive Psychology for the latest research.
Our practitioners are trained in positive psychology and are not only experienced counsellors but active academics in the field of meaning in life research. We take what makes you feel a sense of comprehension, purpose and significance seriously and provide a non-judgemental space for you to explore what makes your life most meaningful.
Below are some resources for you to learn more about the psychology of meaning-in-life:
We offer effective Positive Psychology Coaching in the heart of Manchester.
"For many, coaching is a life-changing experience that dramatically improves their outlook on work and life while improving leadership skills. Coaching helps people tap into their potential, unlocking sources of creativity and productivity."
Association for Coaching
Sessions last for an hour each and are priced at £60. We offer coaching online through video-conferencing software (Zoom etc.) and in-person in central Manchester.
Trust and a good working relationship are central to making progress in coaching. Our first session together will be a no-obligation chance for you and your coach to get to know each other and for you to establish what it is you want from this process. You'll both spend around 20 minutes going through our working agreement to make sure you're informed and comfortable with the process.
Our coaches are members of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and work under the BACP Ethical Framework. All coaches hold an up-to-date extended DBS certificate.
Our coaching practitioners are trained in positive psychology and are not only experienced counsellors but active academics in the field of meaning in life research. We take what makes you feel a sense of comprehension, purpose and significance seriously and provide a non-judgemental space for you to explore what makes your life most meaningful.
"Am I living in a way which is deeply satisfying to me and which truly expresses me?" - Carl Rogers
We offer confidential help with any personal issues affecting work, self-esteem, relationships, sexuality, race, identity issues, mental health and general well-being.
Our approach to counselling is person-centred. Every person is unique - this includes our experiences and our needs. We do not believe in a 'one size fits all' approach to therapy. Trust and a good working relationship are central to making progress in coaching and counselling. Our first session together will be a no-obligation chance for you and your therapist to get to know each other and for you to establish what it is you want from this process. You'll both spend around 20 minutes going through our working agreement to make sure you're informed and comfortable with the process.
Sessions last for an hour each and are priced at £60. We offer counselling online through video-conferencing software (Zoom etc.) and in-person in central Manchester.
Our counsellors are members of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and work under the BACP Ethical Framework. All coaches hold an up-to-date extended DBS certificate.
We can help you make the changes that you want in a confidential, calm, and non-judgemental way. Please feel free to contact us to explore more about what service you feel would best suit your needs.
Whether you're looking to help your team beat the post-lockdown blues, build resilience, or handle stress, our bespoke and off-the-peg workshops and trainings are for you.
Did you know that looking after your team's mental health is part of your duty of care as an employer? 17m people in the UK suffer from a common mental health concern. Our workshops and trainings provide you and your people with the knowledge needed to tackle issues head-on and thrive.
"Fostering employee wellbeing is good for people and the organisation. Promoting wellbeing can help prevent stress and create positive working environments where individuals and organisations can thrive. Good health and wellbeing can be a core enabler of employee engagement and organisational performance.""
Chartered Institute of Personnel Development
Workshops
All workshops can be adapted to timings between 1 hour and 1 day (i.e., 8 hours).
Workplace Wellbeing
Managing Stress
Making Work Meaningful
Digital Wellbeing & Working from Home
Returning to Work Well
Team Building & Relationship Management
Mindfulness
Having Mental Health Conversations at Work
Training
Mental Health Awareness - General (half-day & full day)
Mental Health Awareness - Senior Leadership (half-day)
Creating Meaningful Workplaces (half-day)
Workplace Wellbeing Champion Training (full day)
Developing Wellbeing Action Plans for Managers (half-day)
Bespoke Packages
Our team of coaches and counsellors love to create trainings and workshops tailored to your specific needs. Get in touch for a custom project plan with no obligation.
Costs
Our offers are flexibly priced based on the size of your organisation and the required timings. Half-day is equivalent to 4 hours, full-day is equivalent to 8 hours.
Want to maximise your development, find your leadership style, or just want a sounding-board for those difficult ideas? Our team are pioneers in the field of coaching psychology.
We are expert coaches; getting to the core of issues and developing excellence is what we do. We offer flexible executive coaching to suit you.
To see our coach profiles, visit our about us page.
Executive and leadership coaching offers are limited and bespoke. For a custom coaching programme, get in touch today.
Creating an effective staff mental health and wellbeing strategy is central to your duty of care. Our Wellbeing Audit gives you the information you need.
With 17m people in the UK experiencing a common mental health concern today, having an understanding of your employees' needs is essential. We offer an effective, sensitive and evidence-based wellbeing audit to get you ahead of the curve on potential wellbeing risks, gaps in policy and implementation, and opportunities for maximising staff resilience.
Our comprehensive Wellbeing Audit offer includes:
Self-Report Staff Feedback & Review
Peer-Reviewed/Validated Assessment
Policy and Implementation Review
Wellbeing Risk Assessment
Actionable Recommendations
Workplace Wellbeing is important to us, and our wellbeing audits are designed to be accessible to organisations of any size, especially in terms of price. We also offer discounted prices for charities and community groups.
Get in touch to discuss your organisation's needs, today.
Don't wait until problems arrive; small, practical steps today can make all the difference tomorrow.
Mental health is the number one reason for staff absence. Helping your people stay well is a win for everyone - who wouldn't want to work in a well workplace?
For managers we offer training on developing wellbeing actions plans that work for your context. For wider teams we have a range of workshops on topics from managing stress to having mental health conversations at work.
We can also develop and deliver bespoke wellbeing actions plans for your organisation, or deliver existing WAPs from the mental health charity, Mind, as a neutral, sensitive third-party.
Workplace Wellbeing is important to us, and our offers are designed to be accessible to organisations of any size, especially in terms of price. We also offer discounted prices for charities and community groups.
Get in touch to discuss your organisation's needs, today.
