Counselling in Southend
Supporting you
every step of the way
There there is no shame turning to counselling for support when you need it.
Whether you think more than you feel or keep things inside, you’ll be met with kindness and understanding, just as you are.
Counselling helps you explore why you respond to situations and others in the ways you do. When you’re trying to get back to “how things were,” it’s easy to stay stuck in stress or anxiety. Think of counselling as a journey, helping you to make sense of your life while strengthening your capacity to accept or change and move forward with more clarity, insight and peace.
If this resonates, you’re welcome to reach out for a free 30‑minute chat when you’re ready to see if it feels right. I can move as quickly or slowly as you want.
You are not alone
Counselling is for anyone, and this space is built on fairness and equality. Whoever you are and whatever you bring, you’ll be met with kindness, respect and empathy. You won’t be told what to think or feel, you choose what you want to explore and I will support you and be present, providing the insights and perspectives you may not have noticed.
It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, I welcome people from all cultures, genders and backgrounds. If you are living with or exploring Autism or ADHD, I have the experience you might find reassuring and valuable.
Themes I work with
Click on your presenting issue to learn more about how I can support you.
Common Themes
Anxiety and Stress, Depression and Low Mood, Imposter Syndrome
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Behaviours
Self-Harm, Sleeping, Avoidance, Rumination, Porn Addiction
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Relationships
Affairs, Betrayal, Separation, Divorce, Parenting, Abandonment
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Grief
Change, Loss, Bereavement, Retirement, Redundancy
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Trauma & Abuse
Emotional, Physical, Sexual, Bullying, Domestic, PTSD
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Identity
Self Esteem, Confidence, Gender, Trans Spirituality, Neurodivergence
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Vanquish the tiger in your mind
Anxiety is your survival radar, telling you something is wrong. While our ancestors faced physical threats, today’s threats lurk in the mind, replaying the past and undermining us with chronic worry that can erode confidence and lead to depression.
Specialising in the link between anxiety, stress and the need to function, I will first give you the tools to stabilise anxiety and decrease your stress reaction so we can work on the ‘why’ behind them, whether that’s rooted in trauma, conflicts with learned behaviours that no longer serve you, or imposter syndrome. Click below to get in touch.
Jettison the weight you are carrying
Behaviours
Although you don’t always realise it, your behaviours are always driven by how you think and feel. When self-critical thoughts or anxiety become overwhelming, you may adopt distraction habits like doomscrolling, shopping, over-eating, substance use, or other compulsive patterns like acting out, porn addiction or sexual promiscuity. These aren’t signs of being ‘broken’, but rather your mind’s way of desperately trying to manage an internal load that has become too heavy.
In our sessions, I provide a safe space to decode the feelings beneath these actions. Together, we can explore how past trauma or imposter syndrome shaped your responses, helping you find a more balanced and nourishing path forward. If this resonates, please click below.
The art of relating
Our wellbeing depends heavily on the quality of our relationships, yet these often suffer when we feel threatened, worried or overwhelmed. If you are struggling but keep it to yourself, others may perceive you as defensive or avoidant but these are behaviours you recognise that are not ‘the real you.’
Often, adult relationship patterns are shaped by childhood upbringing or social conformity. I help you bring these learned behaviours into your awareness so you can decide if they still serve you or if it is time to form new ways of connecting that enhance you. If you would like to discuss sessions, please click below.
Are you avoiding the inevitable?
Grief is the natural way we handle any kind of change or loss that we find destabilising. While bereavement is generally a natural part of life, grief shows up for all types of endings, and it can a few minutes to adjust or years if we struggle to face deep emotional ruptures like child loss, suicide or other unexpected loss. It really depends on how deeply the loss impacts your inner world. Because your experience is unique, there is no right way or set timeline to feel it. If you allow yourself to trust your own rhythm, the process does its work and you emerge as an integrated whole person.
It is common to feel overwhelmed by suffering, especially when losses are sudden, frequent, or when you feel pressured to hide the pain. We often hear that we should stay busy or avoid difficult feelings, but grief is something that requires you to embark on a journey through it. Counselling offers a space to be with your grief exactly as it is without any expectations. If you find the weight of the pain too heavy to carry alone, reaching out for support is a meaningful next step. I don’t have to have been what you have been through to help you get back on track with your grief.
Find your inner peace
Trauma is a physical and emotional threat that keeps your nervous system on high alert long after the event happened. Whether stemming from life-threatening events, bullying, or domestic situations, this ‘stuck’ survival mechanism makes it really hard to feel grounded and safe, often leaving you feeling fragmented or disconnected from the present.
In our sessions, we move at a pace that feels safe for you to gently process these experiences. By understanding how your body has tried to protect you, we work to release the grip of the past and reclaim your sense of agency. If you are ready to begin this journey, please click below.
Beyond the Mask
Identity is what sits at the heart of who you are, encompassing your gender, spirituality, and neurodivergence. Often, we suffer because of the gap between our ‘Ideal Self’ – the person we think we should be to meet what others expect of us – and our ‘Real Self’, the person we actually are, which we may or may not be aware of. This conflict can lead to isolation, imposter syndrome, and low self-esteem.
I offer a person-centered space to navigate these layers with non-judgmental compassion, kindness and care. Whether you are exploring trans issues, neurodiversity or something else, we will work to bridge that gap by embracing your authentic identity over expectations that feel insurmountable or like they don’t work for you anymore. If you are ready to build a life congruent with your true values, please click below.
My support is available nationwide, online & phone, or in-person in Southend-on-Sea
“I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become” – Carl Jung
Hello, I’m Carl Argent
I believe lasting change happens when you feel safe enough to be yourself. As a therapist, I’m kind, down-to-earth and real, and I offer a space where you can finally slow down and breathe.
I am a person first and a therapist second. When we meet, I bring the real me into our sessions. I have navigated my own challenges, so I truly understand what it feels like to sit in the client’s chair, and just how daunting that first step can be.
While I bring my skills, and experience as a counsellor to our work, it is the human being you will talk to. I am here to listen and understand you with genuine care, respect, and dignity.
Some years ago, meditation “knocked on my door” and taught me a great deal about myself. Since then, I have committed to doing my own internal work so that I can provide a calming, soothing presence for you, supporting you as you find your own way forward.
My Training & Qualifications
I’m a fully qualified counsellor with a Level 4 integrative Diploma, accredited by the NCPS and registered with the BACP, following their ethical frameworks.
My training is primarily person‑centred, with elements of Gestalt and CBT, and I keep my skills current through ongoing professional development.
I’m also certified in online counselling, trained in EFIT, and trained by CRUSE in grief work.
I hold an Enhanced DBS certificate and I’m a certified Mental Health First Aider.
What’s counselling with me like?
I always say ‘I provide counselling, you do therapy’. I work with most issues apart from substance addiction and eating disorders, mainly in a person-centred way. It is all about you, and I work with you as we explore your world together.
Built on Mutual Trust
Having been a client myself, I know trust is everything. We build a grounded, honest partnership where you can speak freely and without judgment.
Feelings Run Deep
You might feel unsure around emotions or struggle to manage them. Self‑regulation grows from understanding what you feel and why, bringing more calm to the turbulence in your life.
The Root
Men and women grow up with different scripts that follow us into adulthood. Those old messages shape how you cope and relate. Together, we’ll trace the roots and understand them.
I work Monday to Saturday starting at 9am and finishing at 8pm. I don’t charge extra for evenings and weekends.
What I charge for individual therapy
All sessions are weekly and most people need between 12 and 24 sessions. Grief might need only 8 sessions and trauma many more. It depends on how you engage.
Standard Session
50 Minutes
Maintaining momentum and focus each week.
Online / In Person / Phone
£50
The Full Hour
60 Minutes
If you need a bit more space and time to settle in.
Online / In Person / Phone
£60
Intensive Session
90 Minutes
Deeper issues like trauma need time
Online / In Person
£80
I have some selected reduced price slots for NHS workers, charity referrals, students, trainee counsellors and those on low incomes. Please ask during our initial chat.
The physical space
CHAIRS
LIGHTING
SPACE
A VIEW
Conveniently located on Richmond Avenue with free street parking nearby.
Served by bus routes 2, 7, 8, 9 & 21
The virtual space
Therapy is about connection, so you can choose online or phone sessions. I’m a certified online therapist, offering the same care and safety as in‑person work. Many people find phone sessions easier — no eye contact, no pressure, just the comfort of being heard. If that’s your preference, just mention it in our first call.
I use Google Meet for online sessions because it’s secure and meets GDPR requirements.
Before choosing online or phone work, make sure you have a private space where you won’t be overheard.
For online sessions, check that your broadband speed is at least 8 Mbps. (you can test this here).
Ready to take back control?
Therapy isn’t about staying in the past. It’s about understanding how your life story still shapes the way you think, cope and relate when things get hard. Old patterns can quietly steer your choices and your sense of worth. With the right support, those cycles can soften, and you can reclaim a clearer, more grounded sense of agency.
Together we work toward helping you feel more present, more confident in your decisions, and more connected to yourself and the people around you.
Do you have any questions? Have you read my FAQ page? Do you want to see if we are a good fit?
Get in touch
If you’d like to get in touch, please click on an icon below. We start with a free 30 minute chat to help you decide if I’m the right person for you. It’s light and informal to see if we click with no pressure to commit. If you decide to move forward into sessions, I can move at the speed you need.
