Chris Bristow

Dip PST,CertCC Relate (BACP & BASRT member)

Hertfordshire and North London

Chris joined Relate six years ago and, after completing his initial training as a relationship counsellor, went on to study Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as an integral part of Relate’s psychosexual therapy (PST) Diploma course, held at Herbert Gray College, Rugby. He completed the PST Diploma in 2004 and still works for Relate Herts Central branch, based in St Albans, as a remedial counsellor and sex therapist. He is now seeking to train with Relate as a clinical supervisor. Chris is currently undergoing additional CBT training with the National Centre for Eating Disorders as a practitioner specialising in obesity, bulimia nervosa and anorexia.

Chris worked as a local newspaper editor in Hertfordshire for many years after a successful career as a London-based journalist. His communication skills, broadminded outlook and easy-going style were highly transferable to the world of counselling and his non-judgemental approach served him well during the decade up to 2000 when he operated as a Samaritan volunteer, befriending the depressed and suicidal. During this period (1994-1995) he also completed a foundation year in psychodynamic counselling run by the Westminster Pastoral Foundation. Chris, 54, a father of three, is bound in his work by the professional codes of ethics of both the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the British Association for Sexual and Relationship Therapy (BASRT). He uses an integrative counselling style that draws on an eclectic mix of therapeutic approaches to help individuals and couples with a broad range of life difficulties including loss, abuse, domestic violence, bereavement, sexual dysfunctions, fractured communication, or its complete breakdown and a range of stress-related problems.

Chris has been interested in spirituality, yoga and relaxation techniques since travelling extensively in India as a young man. His exploration of the mind/body link continued during training with the West London School of Massage where he achieved the International Therapy Examination Council’s (ITEC) certificate in anatomy, physiology and massage, and it continues to the present day with the selected application of relaxation and mindfulness techniques to help clients cope more effectively with hectic, frenetic lifestyles that, for many, have become synonymous with ‘normal’ 21st century living.