Shaun Canavan Counselling Services

Online Counselling for Adults Across Hertfordshire and the UK

A calm, steady space to help you navigate difficult life changes

Life can change in ways we never expected

There are times when life shifts, suddenly or slowly, and the ground beneath us doesn’t feel as solid as it once did. A bereavement, a relationship ending, a change in identity, a loss of direction, or a period of emotional heaviness can leave you feeling unsure of yourself and uncertain about the future.

You might be trying to carry on as normal while something inside feels unsettled or painful. You may be grieving someone you love, feeling low or disconnected, or moving through a transition that has left you questioning who you are and where you’re heading.

These experiences can be lonely, confusing, and exhausting. They can make everyday tasks feel harder and leave you searching for a place where you can simply be yourself without pressure or expectation.

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Counselling offers that space.

A steady, grounded place to talk

As a counsellor, my role is to offer a calm, containing environment where you can slow down, breathe, and gently explore what’s happening in your life. You don’t need to arrive with everything figured out. You don’t need to have the right words. You don’t need to “be okay.”

We take things at your pace. We follow what feels important. We make sense of what you’re carrying, together.

I aim to help you feel supported, understood, and less alone as you move through whatever change or loss you’re facing.

About me as a counsellor

I’m Shaun, an integrative counsellor based in Hertfordshire. I work online with adults who are navigating grief, depression, emotional overwhelm, identity changes, and difficult transitions.

People often describe my approach as warm, steady, and grounded. I’m someone who listens closely, stays present, and offers thoughtful guidance without rushing or pushing. I believe counselling works best when you feel safe enough to be honest, and supported enough to explore the parts of your life that feel tangled or heavy.

I am an Accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), fully insured, and registered with the ICO.

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How I work as a counsellor

Counselling with me is relational, gentle, and shaped around your individual needs. I draw from an integrative framework that includes:

• Person‑Centred Therapy — a warm, non‑judgmental space to explore your experiences

• CBT — practical tools to shift unhelpful patterns

• Attachment‑informed work — understanding how early relationships shape present emotions

• PCE‑CfD (Counselling for Depression) — a NICE‑recommended approach for low mood and emotional disconnection

• Emotion‑Focused Therapy — supporting deeper emotional processing

• Psychodynamic perspectives — exploring underlying patterns and inner conflicts

• Trauma‑Informed Therapy - isn’t a single model — it’s a way of working that prioritises safety, choice, and empowerment. It recognises how overwhelming experiences can shape emotions, relationships, and identity.

• Coaching‑informed approaches — gentle guidance toward meaningful change

These approaches are woven together in a way that feels natural and supportive, always guided by what feels right for you.

My background and what it brings to the counselling room

Before becoming a counsellor, I spent over 25 years in the emergency services and earlier served in the Royal Marines. Those years taught me a great deal about how people carry grief quietly, how identity can shift after life‑changing events, and how overwhelming emotions often sit beneath the surface.

I’ve sat with people in some of the hardest moments of their lives. I’ve seen how loss, trauma, and sudden change can reshape a person’s world. These experiences inform the calm, grounded presence I bring to counselling today.

My therapeutic training guides the work, and my lived experience helps me meet you with depth, respect, and humanity.

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What I can help you with

People come to counselling for many reasons. I regularly support individuals with:

• Bereavement and complex grief

• Low mood and depression

• Emotional overwhelm

• Identity changes and life transitions

• Relationship challenges

• Workplace stress and burnout

• Living with trauma

• The emotional impact of demanding or frontline roles

You don’t need to have the right words before you arrive. We can find them together.

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Counselling during times of change

Life transitions, whether chosen or unexpected, can stir up a mix of emotions. You might feel hopeful one moment and lost the next. You may be grieving the life you had, even as you move toward something new. You might be questioning your identity, your relationships, or your direction.

Counselling offers a space to explore these shifts with honesty and compassion. Together, we can look at what feels unsettled, what feels painful, and what feels possible. I aim to help you reconnect with your sense of self, find steadiness in uncertainty, and move forward in a way that feels authentic and manageable.

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What clients say

(Shared with permission)

Bereavement: “After a tragic bereavement, Shaun guided me with kindness, empathy, and expert reassurance. I felt truly listened to and validated. Life now feels brighter, and my path through grief is clearer.”

Depression & Relationship Difficulties: “Shaun helped me navigate complex feelings and challenge negative thought patterns. The tools he gave me now support me every day. I’m very grateful for his help and support.”

These reflections speak to the steady, compassionate space I aim to offer.

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Beginning counselling

Starting counselling can feel daunting, especially when you’re already carrying a lot. It’s important that you feel comfortable with the person you choose to work with.

I offer a free, informal online or phone consultation so you can ask questions, share what’s on your mind, and get a sense of whether we are a good fit.

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Sessions are available:

• Online

• By phone

Counselling is a place for clarity, connection, and renewed strength. Whatever you’re facing, you don’t have to face it alone.

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A final thought

“There will always be rocks in the road ahead of us. They will be stumbling blocks or stepping stones; it all depends on how you use them.” — Friedrich Nietzsche