Grief & change
Bereavement support, loss, life transition, emotional overwhelm and adjustment.
Belfast, Ireland and online across the UK
Clarity, confidence and connection through life's challenges.
I offer counselling, mentoring and community wellbeing support for people, groups and organisations navigating grief, change, uncertainty, confidence, belonging and new beginnings.
My approach is warm, reflective and practical: a calm space to be heard, make sense of what is happening, and take steady steps forward.
The feel of the work
Calm, humane and uncluttered.
This practice is grounded in simplicity, reflection, emotional steadiness, connection to place and community, and enough practical structure to make things feel more manageable. It is not a separate therapy model; it is the tone and value base of the work.
01
Stillness
A confidential space where you can speak openly and be properly heard.
02
Balance
Attention to emotions, relationships, responsibilities and practical next steps.
03
Growth
Support that respects your story while helping you move forward at your pace.
How I can help
Four pathways of support, shaped by counselling, advocacy, community and enterprise.
My services sit at the meeting point between emotional support and practical mentoring. They are shaped by counselling practice, crisis listening, advocacy, volunteer leadership, complex casework and years of public-facing enterprise.
Confidence & self-worth
Support for self-esteem, voice, identity, motivation and rebuilding trust in yourself.
Belonging & barriers
Mentoring for people facing exclusion, isolation, unemployment, displacement or complex systems.
Enterprise & future leaders
Practical mentoring for emerging leaders, social entrepreneurs and community builders.
Counselling
A quiet space for loss, pressure and self-doubt.
Counselling can support you when grief, anxiety, low self-esteem, stress or change feel difficult to carry alone. My work is person-centred and integrative, with CBT-informed understanding where appropriate.
Bereavement and grief
Support for loss, adjustment, emotional distress and the personal meaning of grief.
Self-esteem and confidence
Space to rebuild trust in yourself, your voice and your ability to move forward.
Anxiety and overwhelm
Support with worry, stress, emotional overload and the pressure of daily life.
Life transitions
Support through change, uncertainty, identity shifts and new beginnings.
Mentoring
Support for confidence, purpose and manageable progress.
Alongside counselling, I offer mentoring shaped by community work, enterprise experience and a deep belief in people's capacity to grow. This may suit people rebuilding confidence, returning to work or study, developing a project, or seeking clearer direction.
Confidence building
Purpose and direction
Support planning
Resilience
Practical next steps
Community wellbeing
Helping people and communities feel connected, included and able to move forward.
My community work includes support with refugees, asylum seekers, vulnerable adults, employability barriers, confidence-building, inclusion and youth empowerment. I can support organisations with mentoring, wellbeing conversations, facilitation, community engagement and reflective practice.
- Community engagement and inclusion support
- Mentoring for emerging leaders and community builders
- Wellbeing-focused workshops and group support
- Associate counselling and structured referral work
- Practical insight from enterprise, tourism, heritage and stakeholder development
What this experience adds
A practice built around listening, dignity and practical navigation.
Crisis listening
Experience staying calm, present and non-judgmental when people are distressed or overwhelmed.
Advocacy and independence
Support for people navigating barriers, systems, disability, loss of confidence and practical challenges.
Confidentiality and complexity
Board-level experience handling sensitive histories, legislation and careful decision-making.
Volunteer and visitor leadership
Experience coordinating volunteers, supporting teams and creating welcoming human environments.
About Anthony
Care shaped by counselling, mentoring, community work and lived enterprise experience.
I am a counsellor, mentor and community wellbeing practitioner based in Belfast. My work brings together counselling, bereavement support, mentoring, community development and more than forty years of experience working alongside individuals, organisations and communities across Ireland and the UK.
Today, I work as a PEACEPLUS Programme Lead Coordinator with GEMS NI, supporting community connections, youth empowerment, inclusion and wellbeing initiatives across Belfast. Alongside this, I provide bereavement counselling through Cruse Bereavement Support and support people navigating grief, loss, anxiety, low confidence and life transitions.
My professional experience includes supporting people in crisis through Samaritans, assisting individuals with sight loss through RNIB, and contributing to governance and safeguarding as a Director of Adopt NI. These roles deepened my understanding of empathy, resilience, ethics, confidentiality and the importance of creating safe and supportive environments.
Before moving into counselling and mentoring, I spent many years developing businesses, tourism initiatives and community projects in County Wicklow. As founder of Avoca Tours and a contributor to regional tourism development, I worked closely with local communities, public bodies and partner organisations to create opportunities, build connections and celebrate local heritage.
These experiences continue to shape my approach today. Whether working with individuals, community groups or organisations, I believe people thrive when they feel heard, valued and supported to discover their own strengths and direction.
Contact
Start with a simple enquiry.
You can contact me to ask about counselling, bereavement support, mentoring, community wellbeing, organisation support or referral arrangements.
Please avoid sending detailed sensitive information in your first message. A short note with your contact details and the kind of support you are seeking is enough. This website is not a crisis service.