What does loneliness mean to you?
We can look at when you feel disconnected, what you miss and what being close to someone means in your life.
Being around people and feeling connected to them aren't always the same thing. If friendships have changed, relationships feel distant or you don't feel understood, counselling gives you somewhere to explore that experience.
Explore loneliness and connectionLoneliness isn't always about how much time you spend on your own. You might have colleagues, friends, a partner or a busy family life and still feel that there isn't anyone you can really talk to. Sometimes the conversations are there, while the sense of being known or understood is missing.
For someone else, loneliness may have followed a change in circumstances. A relationship has ended, you've moved somewhere new, work has changed or friendships that once felt close have become harder to maintain. You might be meeting people regularly and finding that connection doesn't come as easily as you'd hoped.
There's no single explanation for feeling lonely. Counselling isn't about assuming you need more friends or encouraging you to become more sociable. It begins with understanding what connection means to you and what may be missing.
Loneliness can affect different parts of life, including the way you see yourself and your relationships. Some of these experiences may be familiar; others may not fit at all.
Sometimes being on your own feels welcome and restorative. At other times, it can feel very different. The distinction matters, and it's yours to make.
My approach is humanistic and relational. We can explore your experience of loneliness through conversation, paying attention to relationships, expectations and the things that might be difficult to put into words. There's no requirement to become a different kind of person.
We can look at when you feel disconnected, what you miss and what being close to someone means in your life.
There may be familiar patterns around trust, closeness, expectations or withdrawing. We can explore these without judgement.
Rather than prescribing social goals, we can consider what feels important to you and how you want to relate to other people.
The counselling relationship itself can also offer an experience of being listened to and understood. It isn't a substitute for friendships or other relationships, although it can be a place to reflect on them.
I offer individual counselling for adult men, whether loneliness is something you've been living with for a long time or has become more noticeable following a recent change. You don't need to know exactly why you feel disconnected before getting in touch.
Meet at my practice at 18a Clermont Road, Brighton, close to Preston Park station. Men from elsewhere in Sussex are welcome to attend.
Meet via Google Meet from a private place that works for you, wherever you are in the UK.
Sessions are 50 minutes and cost £65. I also offer a free 15-minute introductory call if you'd like to ask a question or get a sense of how I work.
Counselling can give you time to explore what loneliness is like for you, how it affects your relationships and what connection means in your life. It doesn't guarantee that you'll feel less lonely, and it can help you understand experiences that may have been difficult to talk about.
Yes. Having people around you isn't always the same as feeling close to them. You may have regular contact with others and still miss the sense of being understood, accepted or able to speak openly.
We can explore what happens for you when meeting people or developing friendships, including any uncertainty, past experiences or expectations that feel relevant. Counselling isn't a course in social skills; the focus is on understanding your experience.
No. Loneliness concerns the connection you feel you have with other people, while social anxiety involves fear or worry around social situations. They can overlap, although you don't need to decide which description fits before coming to counselling.
Yes. The end of a relationship can change your everyday life, routines and sense of belonging. We can explore loneliness alongside any other feelings or questions that come with separation. You can also read more about relationship and divorce counselling on the website.
Yes. Online counselling is available for men across the UK via Google Meet, alongside in-person sessions in Brighton & Hove.
One-to-one counselling costs £65 for 50 minutes. A free 15-minute introductory call is available if you'd like to speak before arranging a session.
If you'd like to ask about counselling for loneliness, availability or how I work, you can send me a message using the form below. There's no need to have everything worked out before writing.
You can also read more about me and MEN TALK TOO.
CONTACT INFO
Phone: 07410 040348
Email: contact.mentalktoo@gmail.com
Address: 18a Clermont Road, Brighton, BN1 6SG